“It’s probably the biggest game in the club’s history.”
It’s hard to argue those weighty words offered by Goulburn Valley Suns coach Craig Carley don’t place tomorrow night’s round seven Australia Cup tie against Hume City on a pedestal.
It’s also hard to argue he’s wrong.
The Suns gird up the loins for a David versus Goliath match at McEwen Reserve, taking on National Premier League (NPL) giant Hume City in a game which has the winner thrust beneath the national spotlight.
With 10 teams left in the Victorian bracket of the competition, whoever walks off the park victorious progresses to the next phase where the big boys come to play – A-League clubs, interstate NPL powerhouses et al.
And as expected, Carley desperately wants his side to be among that sort of company.
“The boys know what’s at stake and that’s a place in the national stage,” he said.
“We’re not shying away from the occasion, it’s probably the biggest game in the club’s history and we’ve been reinforcing that to the boys.
“These opportunities don’t come around too often in careers, so we want them to take their chance with two hands, go out there and give a good account of themselves.”
The last notable Australia Cup run embarked on by the Suns was in 2018 when the Orangemen won through to the seventh round.
An eighth round win was required to reach the national stage during that year’s Football Federation Australia Cup – now rebranded as the Australia Cup – but the Suns were unable to make it past NPL side Bentleigh Greens in a hard-fought 3-1 loss at McEwen.
Tomorrow night marks the furthest territory the Suns have traversed in the knockout competition, and standing in the way is Carley’s former club.
The Suns gaffer scored seven goals in 13 games for Hume in 2016 and also played in the Suns’ 2018 tie against Bentleigh.
Now, with one win all that separates the GV side from being beamed across the country in the competition’s next phase, Carley has more weighty words reserved for the occasion.
“I’ve watched plenty of footage of (Hume) now, and I really believe we will match them in every department,” he said.
“It’s just about being disciplined, staying focused and remembering your next job every single time. If we can do that in and out of possession, I don’t see why we can’t go out there and get the win.
“They’re a quality side, they’ve got some great players, but so do we too. I think we’ll shock a couple of people and hopefully make that national stage.
“It’s a brilliant platform for some players to prove themselves against bigger powerhouse NPL teams and show that they should be playing at that level.
“We’re going out on the front foot and going out there to win the game.”
One to watch for the home fans is striker Russell Currie, who has netted an astonishing three consecutive cup hat-tricks in as many games for the Suns.
• Tomorrow night’s game at McEwen Reserve kicks off at 7.30pm.