After a dominant season on the pitch Shepparton South and Tatura will face off in the Central Victorian League One Men’s Super Cup final on Sunday, with soccer immortality on the line.
The first season of the previously named Bendigo Amatuer Soccer League has had the two Goulburn Valley sides dominate, with the duo ending the regular season holding the top two spots on the ladder.
South ended the year undefeated, with a positive goal difference of 99 and 52 points, while Tatura finished with one loss, a positive 88 goal difference and 49 points, 12 more than third-placed Eaglehawk.
Meeting twice this year, South holds the bragging rights going into Sunday’s contest, with a 3-2 win in round three and a 1-1 draw in round 11 showing how tight Sunday’s match will be.
Speaking ahead of the game Tatura coach Tristan Zito said it was “huge” for the club to be in the final.
“We haven’t won a premiership since 2011, so everyone is pretty pumped,” Zito said.
“There is a good energy around the club this week, we’ve had a few people at training and just enjoying the build up I guess.
“But when it comes to Saturday we’ll just be trying to get the win and bring home the cup.”
Zito said it was important his side trusted its own game, with the team showing it’s good enough across the regular season.
Set to feature the talents of Cody Sellwood, Zac Ferlauto and Aaron Niglia among others, the Ibises are sure to give South a good run for its money.
Tatura’s opposition is aiming to cap a near perfect season and South coach Rob Harmeston said it was only right the two best teams in the competition battle it out in the decider.
“Obviously there is a rivalry, there’s a history between the two teams, both being from the same league, but we’re going to approach it like every game we have had this year,” Harmeston said.
“We’re just going to really focus on ourselves and make sure that we do the things we have to do."
The last time South lifted a title was 2017 and Harmeston said in order to win this time around the team had to focus on doing what it had done right throughout the season.
The South mentor was coy when asked about squad availabilities this weekend, with a number of sore bodies potentially dropping out of the side.
“We’ve achieved winning the league which I believe shows you as the best team all year and this is just going to be who’s the best on the day, which makes it a bit more exciting,” he said.
If the last two times the teams have met tells us anything, it is that Sunday afternoon’s contest is sure to be a cracker.
All the action in the Central Victorian League One Men’s Super Cup will start at Epsom at 3.30pm.
Central Victorian League One Men’s Super Cup Final
Shepparton South v Tatura - 3.30pm Sunday - Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve.