Destined for A-League return? In-form Cannons star lighting up NPL VIC

A quick look at Adem Duratovic’s stat line and you will struggle to find a more in-form player across NPL VIC in 2026.

Duratovic scored four goals in Oakleigh Cannons’ 5-0 rout of basement boys Green Gully last week.

The 22-year-old forward has only four matches, yet bagged 10 goals in 2026. He has well and truly surpassed the four goals he managed in 27 appearances with Melbourne Victory last term.

He has eight goals in his past five matches for Chris Taylor’s high flyers.

This is a guy at the top of his game.

It is also a reminder of his quality and it raises the question - will he be back in an A-League environment soon?

Duratovic only joined Oakleigh this season, having departed Melbourne Victory following seven years in their youth setup.

It is at Victory where he wore the captain’s armband in their senior academy side. He helped them return to Victoria’s top flight at the end of the 2024 campaign.

“I have every confidence that any player in our NPL team can find a home somewhere at professional level, it doesn’t have to be at Melbourne Victory. It can be somewhere else across Australia or overseas,” Victory’s director of football John Didulica told the A-Leagues previously.

“We had George Mihailidis who hadn’t featured regularly in our VPL1 season team who is now with Austria Vienna. We have a very strong collective of players who I think are very capable.”

If Duratovic can maintain this level of football at a club challenging for silverware once more, you would imagine there would be A-League clubs taking notice.