Preliminary finals are right around the corner in Bendigo Amateur Soccer League and there may be a striking sense of deja vu for Shepparton South and Tatura.
Having each finished in the top two last season, both clubs repeated the feat in a 2023 campaign that had two fewer teams participating in senior football.
Shepparton South, which faces Epsom on Sunday afternoon at Strathvale, will no doubt be strongly motivated by its heartbreaking defeat at the final hurdle last year, but coach Rob Harmeston won’t look ahead yet.
“Most of these boys were part of (the grand final loss) and I hope they’ll all have something special for me,” Harmeston said.
“Given the way we lost the league, I’m hoping everyone is up for it this time.
“To get past Epsom would be half the job done.”
For Tatura, though, having hosted Eaglehawk in a preliminary final a year ago, it deals with the same opposition again with a grand final on the line ― but in hostile territory this time.
Tatura coach Thomas Corso won’t be taking any steps on the road to potential back-to-back titles for granted.
“It could be a very similar run to last year, but in saying that, I think the quality of all teams has gone up, including Eaglehawk,” Corso said.
“This Sunday is big enough on its own, (Eaglehawk) will throw everything at us and they’re a very good side.”
Harmeston makes it clear that his side is fuelled not only by 2022 heartbreak, but by having failed to wrestle top spot from Tatura in the 2023 regular season.
“After some of our results this season, as much as we’ve been on top, it hasn’t gone our way,” Harmeston said.
“After falling short in the league this year, we’re still confident, but not looking ahead at all.”
Corso maintains, though, that no matter how imposing an opponent may be, no circumstance will lead him or his staff to alter how his side goes about its preparations.
“It doesn’t worry me what anyone else is doing, to be completely honest,” Corso said.
“We try and play our own game and don’t change for anyone, because ultimately it’s the same goal each game we play.”
Harmeston chose to highlight The News’ very own Liam Nash as the player he would most like to see a big outing from with stakes high.
Meanwhile, Corso identified attacker Aaron Niglia, who has run rampant this season in limited minutes, as potentially “unstoppable for us if he’s on his game”.
“A young, inexperienced team is always keen for silverware and another chance to play big finals is an exciting prospect for all of us,” Corso said.
“We have a big hurdle in front of us, though.
“There’s work to be done.”