Deakin Ducks thrive in Australia Cup

North Geelong’s teenage striker Sonny Brimmer is one of the leading forwards to start the VPL2 season with two goals in as many games. He opens up on his impact.

Sonny Brimmer has two goals in two.

Sonny Brimmer would like nothing more than to score a goal against Essendon Royals and make it three consecutive goals from the opening three matches of the VPL2 season.

Nevertheless, the goal-a-game North Geelong striker would much rather his Warriors return with all three competition points in tow from their clash with the Royals at JH Allan Reserve on Saturday.

“Obviously, it’s great to get off the mark early in the season, scoring in the first two games, but all credit goes to the boys and the coaching staff,” the talented yet humble teenage sharpshooter said ahead of the Round 4 showdown with the Royals.

The 18-year-old attacker came off the bench in both the opening two games to score goals against Geelong in the season opener at Stead Park and then last week against Box Hill United at home at Elcho Park.

“We were unlucky not to come away with the three points against Geelong,” Brimmer said.

“But to win our first game at home was massive for us. And we are looking to continue what has been a great start to the year this week against Essendon.”

According to Brimmer, he expects the Royals to be a tough opponent on their home turf, despite the fact their start to the VPL2 season has been indifferent – a win and a loss from their opening two matches.

“Looking ahead to Essendon, they’re going to be another tough side,” he said.

“Their defence will be hard to break down and they will be dangerous with their quick attackers. But I am backing us and the boys will give it their 100 per cent.

“We’ve all been working extremely hard this pre season, to be ready for anything that gets thrown at us.”

Meanwhile, Geelong SC will host its third consecutive home match of the VPL2 season, when it entertains Pascoe Vale at Stead Park at the later kick-off time of 6pm.

Just like the Warriors, the Lions will be looking to maintain its unbeaten start to the season over a side that has won one and lost one from its opening two games.

‘Promising signs’: New signings have Ducks poised for 2025

Deakin Ducks will hope their emphatic 5-2 victory over Bendigo Amateur League side Epsom 5-2 in the first round of the nationwide Australia Cup last Saturday will provide the newly promoted outfit momentum for a successful season in State League 4 this year.

Jeremiah Jacoby scored bagged a brace for the Students, while captain Luke Dahl, Michael Broughton and Marcus Lindeberg all chipped in.

It was a triumphant homecoming for Lindeberg, who has returned to the ‘Duck Pond’ after last year taking out the State 5 league title with champions Lara United.

Both Lara and Deakin have been promoted to the higher State 4 competition, after the Ducks finished in the second promotion spot behind their cross-town rivals from the northern suburbs.

“It was a pretty good effort for our first full match of the year,” a humble Ducks coach Sam Robinson described his side’s comfortable win over the Bendigo outfit last week.

“They were an organised team, so we had to work hard to break them down.

“There were some promising signs, but we also recognise there were a few moments we didn’t execute as we would have liked.”

Jeremiah Jacoby. Picture: Mark Wilson

Aside from the returning Lindeberg, the Ducks also fielded new recruits, former Bell Park duo Johnny Augello and Tobias Kogei, as well as new signing from Surf Coast, Hugh Tharratt.

Looking ahead to next week’s Round 2 of the Australia Cup, Deakin has drawn a difficult opponent.

Croydon City took out last year’s State League 4 title and will compete in the State League 3 (South-East) division in 2025.

“Croydon City will be a tough challenge for us next week. They had a really successful season last year in SL4, so it should be a good test to see where we are it,” a cautious Robinson said.

“Hopefully we can build on (last) Saturday’s effort and get some consistency ahead of Round 1 of the State League 4 season in mid March.”

In other Round 1 matches featuring local sides, Surf Coast annihilated Boronia 8-0, Bell Park accounted for Spring Hills 2-1, Colac Otway Rovers went down 1-5 to Baxter, while Ocean Grove forfeited its match against FC Noble Hurricanes.

Barwon and Lara United automatically progressed through to Round 2 after they were granted byes to the next stage.

Round 2 of the Victorian qualifying phase of the Australia Cup will be contested next weekend.

Originally published as Deakin Ducks thrive in Australia Cup