Unbeaten and Unmatched: Melbourne City Crowned 2025 National Club Champions

The Melbourne City Powerchair Team has returned home from Brisbane as 2025 National Club Champions, after an unforgettable, undefeated campaign at this year’s APFA Club Championships.

Across six days of high-intensity competition, the team played 12 matches, won all 12, scored 51 goals, conceded just 5, and kept an incredible 9 clean sheets — delivering the most dominant tournament performance in club history.

From the outset, the mission was clear: we were there to win.

The campaign began with early arrivals on March 11 and 12, including the debut of England international Chris Gordon, who joined the squad for the tournament. A high-intensity training session with local players and a scrimmage against other internationals set the tone before competition kicked off — a first for the team and a key contributor to our sharp start.

Day one brought commanding wins over Auckland FC (11–0) and Lions FC (7–0), showcasing our attacking firepower with goals from across the squad — including a rare goal from goalkeeper Luke David. The momentum continued with clinical wins over reigning champions Western Sydney Wanderers (6–0) and Brisbane Strikers (1–0), where patience and tactical discipline paid off in a tight contest.

The following days saw statement victories over long-time rivals Adelaide Comets (4–0) and national powerhouses Newcastle Jets (4–3), where a dramatic comeback was sparked by Santo Bongiovanni’s hat-trick and a clutch match-winner from Chris Gordon.

Victories over international-loaded Football St George (3–1) and a rising Sydney FC (4–1) side helped the squad finish strong heading into finals. Then came redemption against Hills United (2–0) — the team that beat us in last year’s Grand Final — followed by another dominant win over Adelaide (6–0) to close out the group stage.

In the semi-final, a goal in the opening 30 seconds from Santo — assisted by Chris — set the tone in a 1–0 win over Football St George. And in the Championship Final, the team rose to the occasion once again, with Chris Gordon finding the net twice to secure a 2–0 victory over Newcastle Jets and officially claim the 2025 National Club Championship.

🔢 By the Numbers:

• 12 games

• 12 wins

• 51 goals scored

• 5 goals conceded

• 9 clean sheets

Individual Highlights:

• Chris Gordon: 13 goals, 12 assists

• Santo Bongiovanni: 12 goals, 8 assists

• Tristram Peters: 8 goals, 4 assists

• Shaun Mott: 8 goals, 4 assists

• Rebecca Evans: 8 goals, 2 assists

• Luke David: 1 goal, 2 assists, 9 clean sheets

🟦 Powered by People Who Believe in the Game

This triumph was made possible thanks to the incredible support of our community and our valued partners.

We’re especially grateful to our Major Sponsor, OnSide, whose belief in our mission has helped elevate our program both on and off the court. Their support enabled us to prepare and travel in ways we’ve never been able to before — and it showed in our performance.

We also extend a heartfelt thank you to our Supporter Partner, Maica, for coming on board and backing our team.

🌍 Looking Ahead

Just one day after lifting the trophy, five of our players — Rebecca Evans, Luke David, Santo Bongiovanni, Tristram Peters, and Shaun Mott — returned to the court as part of the Poweroos national team training camp, preparing for the upcoming Asia Pacific Oceania Cup in Brisbane this October. The tournament is a key qualifier for the 2026 Powerchair Football World Cup in Argentina.

💬 “What a week. What a team.” – Luke David, Team Captain

“We knew this was possible, but to go unbeaten and bring the trophy home is something we’ll never forget. The players, the support staff, the families — this win belongs to all of us. And to have organisations like OnSide and Maica backing us means we’re not just celebrating this moment — we’re building something for the future.”

Thank you to everyone who supported our journey. We can’t wait for what’s next. 💙⚽