Men’s Geelong Holiday Inn & Suites Match Preview: Royals Ready for Redbacks Challenge
Cancel those Valentine’s Day reservations, Friday Night Football is back!
Fresh off a gritty opening-round victory, Essendon Royals head to Eltham North Reserve for their first away fixture of the 2025 VPL2 season, taking on newly promoted Eltham Redbacks under the Friday night lights.
Both teams started their seasons on a winning note, setting up an early-season clash with plenty on the line. The Redbacks marked their VPL2 debut with a 2-0 win over Box Hill United, while the Royals secured a 2-1 victory over Altona City, showing resilience in a physical encounter.
Eltham’s first-round win was built on high intensity and tactical discipline, with Billy Romas and Tremayne Sadler getting on the scoresheet and their defensive unit holding firm. With an energetic home crowd expected, the Royals will need to be at their best to navigate a tough away fixture.
For Essendon, the Round 1 win was hard-earned, with Jordan Adeyemi striking twice to give the Royals an early advantage before a tense second half saw them defend their lead despite going down to ten men.
Vince Lia’s red card before half-time means he will miss this match, presenting an opportunity for others to step up in midfield.
With both teams looking to maintain their momentum, this encounter promises to be a high-energy contest between two sides eager to make a mark in the early weeks of the season.
The Royals will be aiming to make it two wins from two, while Eltham will be looking to turn their home ground into a fortress. With the intensity of VPL2 football on full display, fans can expect a hard-fought battle under the lights.
The two clubs last played each other competitively in 2022 in Round 5 of the Australia Cup, at a time where both clubs were playing in their respective State League North-West and South-East competitions.
The Royals went down early on the night, but stormed back to win 4-2. The goals that night came courtesy of an own-goal, current captain Graham Kelly, Nobu Usui and Josh Markovski.
This is the first time the two sides have faced off in league action since 2010 back when both clubs were at the bottom of the Victorian football pyramid.
In that season, the Royals ran out 1-0 winners at Eltham North Reserve in Round 6, courtesy of a late goal from Rocky Musico. In the return fixture, the teams shared the points at Ormond Park, with Stefan Mungherli scoring for the Royals.
We’re calling all Royals supporters to get down and support the boys in what will be an exciting game at Eltham!
Match Details:
🆚 Eltham Redbacks FC vs Essendon Royals SC
📍 Eltham North Reserve – Pitch 1 (S)
📅 Friday, 14 February
⏰ 8:30 PM Kick-off
