NOT SO BLEAK

MATTHEW GALEA

August 19 2014

Shepparton News

For the Goulburn Valley Suns, relegation is not the end.

In fact, it could be the beginning.

The Suns became the first club to be relegated from the National Premier Leagues Victoria on Saturday when they were defeated 3-0 by Pascoe Vale at Hoskens Reserve.

The mood post-game was sombre and while senior coach David Davkovski was disappointed to see the club go down, he felt there were positives to build on from the past month.

Davkovski took the job on an interim basis and knew survival in the top flight was unlikely when he took the reins and while he has been able to achieve positive results on the field, his bigger concerns have always been about putting the club in a good place going forward.

‘‘The feeling is okay. It’s not about the score line. It’s about salvaging something from every game for next year and I thought we achieved that with the way we played,’’ Davkovski said.

‘‘Obviously the result has confirmed relegation, so I feel sorry for the people at home and the volunteers and the guys that have done all the work behind the scenes.

‘‘Having said that, I’m also happy because we’re going to be a proper team next year.’’

That team will be one with a local face if Davkovski has his way.

That process has already started with the likes of Riley Hamilton, Joey Hogarty, Matt Gleeson and Geordie Lelliot all making senior appearances under Davkovski and will continue in the coming weeks.

‘‘We’ve already put things in place for next year and we’re trying to build these kids up for next season,’’ Davkovski said.

‘‘The mentality of the club is fixed if you ask me and that wasn’t just me that’s the board and everyone else involved.

‘‘We didn’t have a pre-season this year and I’m not looking for excuses, these are facts and those sorts of things make a difference.

‘‘We’ve got a really young team all the way through, even at goalkeeper we’ve got a 19-year-old and if big clubs aren’t looking at Phil (Petrovski) I’d be shocked because he keeps showing just how good he will be.’’

With no relegation from NPLV1 for at least the next two seasons, the Suns will be able to play and blood youth without the pressure of results.

The Suns still have five games remaining this season, starting this weekend at Knights Stadium in Sunshine where they will take on Melbourne Knights.