NPL NSW Men’s Grand Final 2025 Preview

Sep 11

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Road to the Final

Rockdale Ilinden’s season has been one of dramatic twists and turns. After finishing fourth on the ladder, they hit their stride midway through 2025, stringing together an incredible 12-match unbeaten run that yielded 32 points from a possible 36. At one stage, back-to-back Premierships looked within reach, but a late-season slump – capped by six consecutive draws – forced them into the finals the hard way.

Rockdale rediscovered their edge when it mattered most. A thunderous early strike from Isaac Danzo sealed victory over Blacktown City in the Elimination Final, before a spirited 2-1 triumph against Premiers NWS Spirit booked their ticket to the decider.

Rockdale Ilinden FC Squad 2025 (Image taken from Rockdale Ilinden FC)

APIA Leichhardt, by contrast, enjoyed a steadier campaign. After a slow start, they rose to finish second, just two points shy of Spirit. Strong consistency in the run home – with just one defeat in their final 12 matches – set the tone for their finals charge. In the Semi-Final, they dispatched Marconi Stallions 2-0, courtesy of goals from Dredon Kelly and Presley Ortiz, to reach their first Grand Final since 2019.

Previous Meetings

APIA hold the upper hand in recent clashes. In Round 13, they prevailed 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller, with Seiya Kambayashi netting a last-gasp winner after Alec Urosevski’s sensational hat-trick had turned the game on its head.

Their Round 23 meeting was just as fiery, with APIA claiming a commanding 4-1 win despite a spirited Rockdale fightback. Add to that APIA’s 3-0 win over Rockdale in the 2024 Waratah Cup Final at Jubilee Stadium, and the Leichhardt side have plenty of psychological momentum heading into this showdown.

With 12 goals in just two league meetings this season, fans can expect fireworks.

Key Players

This clash pits the competition’s two most lethal strikers against each other.

Alec Urosevski (Rockdale): The league’s Golden Boot winner with 23 goals, capable of changing games in a heartbeat.

Presley Ortiz (APIA): With 18 goals to his name, his movement and finishing have been key all season.

Rockdale Ilinden FC Captain: Alec Urosevski

Supporting stars will also be decisive:

Brendan Cholakian & Isaac Danzo (Rockdale) pulling strings in midfield.

Seiya Kambayashi & Jack Stewart (APIA) offering flair and creativity.

Defensive rocks like Blake Ricciuto and Dredon Kelly will be tasked with shutting down some of the league’s sharpest forwards.

What’s at Stake

Rockdale will be desperate to banish the heartbreak of their 2024 Grand Final defeat, while APIA are hungry to end a six-year wait for championship glory.