Sunset on first season

I THINK IT’S A FANTASTIC INITIATIVE BETWEEN GNEFA AND THE SUNS TO COME TOGETHER AND SHOWCASE SOME OF THE BEST TALENT IN THE REGION TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST CLUBS IN THE COUNTRY. — DAVID DAVKOVSKI

September 13 2014

Shepparton News

It has been a tough first season for Goulburn Valley Suns, but it comes to an end tomorrow.

The Suns welcome inaugural National Premier Leagues Victoria champion South Melbourne — one of the country’s most storied and successful clubs — for the season finale on Sunday.

South won the title with two games to spare after second-placed Oakleigh Cannons went down to a winner from foundation Suns player Stipo Andrijasevic against Melbourne Knights two weeks ago.

They received the trophy on home soil last weekend, but the party is set to continue in Shepparton with Australia’s most successful soccer club bringing up a busload of supporters for the occasion.

Prior to kick-off, Goulburn North East Football Association’s under-16 girls and under-17 boys grand finals will act as a curtain raiser prior to the NPLV under-20 game between the Suns and South, which starts at 1 pm.

Melbourne Victory players Leigh Broxham, Rashid Mahazi, Andrew Nabbout and Dylan Murnane will also be in attendance from 11 am until 1 pm.

The seniors start at 3 pm and senior Suns coach David Davkovski hopes the high-profile of South Melbourne and the hosting of local fixtures before kick-off will result in a bumper crowd in attendance.

‘‘I think it’s a fantastic initiative between GNEFA and the Suns to come together and showcase some of the best talent in the region to one of the biggest clubs in the country,’’ Davkovski said.

‘‘South Melbourne has been around for a long time and they are an example of what we as a club need to aspire to.

‘‘We can only learn for them, on and off the pitch, from an operations point of view.’’

As for the game itself, there is not a lot to play for for either side.

The Suns have known their fate for more than a month, while South will likely use the match as an exercise to keep match sharpness at full-capacity ahead of its impending NPL finals campaign — where it will play NPL winners from other states.

‘‘We just want to finish well and be competitive,’’ Davkovski said.

‘‘At this stage, Geordie Lelliott and Joey Hogarty will both be in the team because we want to keep on showing the work we’re doing with these kids. They’re on top of the ladder and they’ve already won it, so we’re not expecting them to be off, because you don’t have off games when you’re as good as they are.’’

The Suns managed a draw at Lakeside Stadium earlier in the year and a similar result would be a hugely positive note for the Suns’ turbulent first season to end on.