Mathers is still managing to outfox rivals

Matthew Galea

July 15 2014

Shepparton News

Brent Mathers’ heroics in the centre of Tatura Soccer Club’s defence continue to surprise even himself.

The wily 36-year-old Ibises legend continued his fine form this season helping Tatura to a crucial 6-0 win against Kyabram Phoenix in Regional Premier League on Sunday.

Mathers has been at the Ibises since his junior days, playing at the club as an under-12, before moving up the ranks to the seniors.

He moved to Croydon City in Melbourne for a year in 1999, before moving to Moreland for four years, before returning to the region to play with Shepparton United.

Mathers returned to Tatura in 2005.

The ‘‘Silver Fox’’, as he is affectionately known at Tatura, has revelled in the role coach Tom Black has him playing in the centre of defence.

‘‘I didn’t think I’d still be playing seniors at this age, but my knees have surprised me to be perfectly honest,’’ Mathers said.

‘‘I played mainly reserves last year and won the best-and-fairest there, but then I finished the season in the seniors and came third in that best-and-fairest, so it was a bit odd like that and I wasn’t sure I’d play seniors again this year.

‘‘But Tom has got me at centre back and put strong players around me with Adrian Corbo next to me and Tom Leech and Oriol Fernandez at full-back, so it’s a good back four.

‘‘My job is pretty much just to keep the shape and make sure we push up as a group and get the midfielders back to help defend.’’

Sunday’s win against Kyabram went a long way to securing finals for the Ibises after a tough two years, with the Ibises now nine points clear of Cobram Victory with three games to play.

‘‘I suppose it’s been well-documented how tough the last two years have been,’’ Mathers said.

‘‘Tatura is a strong and proud club though, so it’s nice to see a bit of reward at season’s end and to play off in a final would be amazing.’’

The soccer landscape has changed massively in recent years, particularly in the past year with the introduction of Goulburn Valley Suns, but Mathers believes it is for the better.

‘‘I suppose the seniors have been spoken about a fair bit and to have had three senior coaches in 17 games is a bit embarrassing for the sport,’’ Mathers said.

‘‘But David (Davkovski) is a good guy and it’s good to see a local guy in the job. He’s doing his B Licence as well, so credit to him.

‘‘As a pathway for the kids, though, it’s fantastic and it’s something we never had as kids and every club has to be supportive of it.’’