While this Saturday’s clash between Tatura and Shepparton United presents as vital to both clubs’ Goulburn Valley League seasons, it is the conversations held off the field that will take centre stage at Tatura Park.
Always a highlight of the league calendar, the Family Care Cup (senior football) and Shield (A-grade netball) will once again be up for grabs with the Bulldogs and Demons desperate to add the silverware to their trophy cabinets.
But more important is what Family Care Cup day represents and the discussions it opens up surrounding family violence and other prominent community issues.
Family Care chief executive David Tennant said he was thrilled to see Tatura and Shepparton United combine forces to raise awareness for this issue.
“I am really proud to see these two clubs stick with this concept and continue to raise awareness,” Tennant said.
“I love what they do in the community and they make a great contribution to keep children safe and help to support families.
“Relative incidents of family violence increased during COVID — and we still have not got the message across to men that violence against women and girls is never okay.”
Honoured to host the event once again, Tatura netball operations manager Simon Pogue said it offered the community a chance to reflect.
“From a family violence perspective I think we are getting better at recognising it, but I think we would all do well to reflect on what family violence actually is,” Pogue said.
“Family violence is often misinterpreted and ill-defined, it is commonly referred to as domestic violence and that name conjures up an image of normality.
“So an event like this is vital in helping us as a community get that message across.”
Shepparton United president Rebecca Monk echoed the importance of this event in raising awareness through the community.
“It is really important that I look at our club and I’m sure Tatura looks at their club as being their family, so we firstly need to call it out within our family and support people in understanding what it is,” Monk said.
“It’s great we are supporting an organisation like Family Care and raising awareness, because it is not just about having people that are great at sport in our club, but is about them having good values.”
On the field, the Bulldogs will be desperate to make amends for their embarrassing 77-point loss to Shepparton Swans last weekend and get their season back on track.
“We have got to bounce back this weekend,” Tatura coach Paul Kirby said.
“We didn’t fire a shot against Swans. It was really disappointing.
“Our effort was down, our contested possessions was down, our one percenters, everything was down.
“We need to respond and I know that the boys will.”
For Shepparton United, this match serves as a fantastic opportunity to secure its second win of the season.
Facing one of the two teams sitting below it on the ladder, supporters will be viewing this clash as a golden opportunity to return to the winners’ list.
But while a win would be nice for this young rebuilding side, United coach Paul Serra said the result was not the be all and end all.
“I know for the supporters and the media this game is going to be built up, but for us it is just another one of the 18 opportunities we’ve got to keep improving,” Serra said.
“Wins are important and certainly we’ll be doing everything to win, but it is not the be and end all for us this year.”
In team news, Shepparton United will be without Charlie Di Stefano due to suspension, but regains young gun Oscar Ryan from NAB League duties.
While Tatura will be forced to make at least three changes, with injured duo Brad Ryan and Ben Cosgriff and the suspended Curtis Ryan set to make way.
Tatura welcomes Shepparton United to Tatura Park on Saturday with the first bounce set for 2pm.