NewsCorp to livestream over 1000 of country Victoria’s best soccer juniors
Three Geelong teams were crowned champions at the Country Championships, while another side made a grand final. Catch up on all the replays.
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Aware of a defensively strong Albury Wodonga team, Geelong under-14 girls soccer coach Ivan Kovacev’s instruction heading into a grand final clash on Monday was to score early, something his side did, helping steer it to a Country Championships title.
Two goals in the first 11 minutes of the game put Geelong in a dominant position and was a lead it never relinquished, going on to claim a 3-0 win.
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“We scored in the eighth minute, I told the girls I’d like an early goal just to take some pressure off the game,” Kovacev said.
“Then we got another goal three minutes later.
“I wanted them to spread the ball wide and they did it perfectly.”
The win continued an undefeated run for the side throughout the three-day tournament, Kovacev full of praise for the defence as well as the attack.
“The defence were as strong as anything, they gave Albury nothing,” he said.
“Our keeper really wasn’t troubled, which is what I wanted.”
The under-18 girls followed suit in a tough clash against Latrobe Valley, rebounding from a 3-1 loss on Sunday to win 2-0 in a decider.
A Geelong penalty shot found the back of the net at the 28-minute mark, the game still evenly poised until the final moments when the home side added another to secure a two-goal grand final win.
Coach Tony Horrocks said the group had learned plenty from their loss to Latrobe Valley earlier in the tournament.
“We took the opportunity (on Sunday) to really have a look at how they work and how they really go about their business,” he said.
“We knew they were going to throw absolutely everything at us like they did in that first game on the Sunday.
“We just wanted to take some of the energy and passion out of that.”
The game plan worked, Geelong defending strongly in the first-half to take some sting out of the contest, then reaping the rewards with two goals in the second-half.
The under-12 girls made it three grand final appearances from the three Geelong girls sides, however went down in their decider 4-0 to Albury Wodonga.
The under-13 boys were the only boys side to make a grand final after going through the five qualification games undefeated.
The decider against Ballarat went down to the wire, the sides unable to be split and crowned joint champions after a 3-3 draw.
Geelong sides bound for grand finals
All of Ivan Kovacev’s expectations “have come to fruition” so far at this weekend’s Country Championships, his under-14 girls side bound for a grand final against Albury Wodonga at Myers Reserve today at 9:30am.
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The under-18 girls have also made a grand final, their decider against Latrobe Valley to be played at the same venue at 11:45am.
The under-12 girls and the under-11, 12 and 13 boys have to wait for their age group’s final rounds to be played this morning.
“Everything my expectations were … have come to fruition, they’ve played really well as a team,” Kovacev said.
“We beat Bendigo I think it was 5-0, Ballarat 4-0 … (Sunday) we had our toughest match against Albury, they were quite a defensive unit and we ended up winning 1-0.
“Then this afternoon we played Sunraysia and just beat them 3-0.”
Now due to face Albury Wodonga, Kovacev said he had some clear instructions for his team to counter its defensive game style.
“We’re going to try and spread the play … they (Albury Wodonga) were trying to get a hold of the midfield … so I said basically let’s try to push them out wide,” he said.
“Let’s try and create those gaps so that we can feed the ball to our forwards.”
Young talent time: Geelong soccer’s best to shine
Geelong junior representative coach Ivan Kovacev declared his side was brimming with “quality right across the park” as he prepares for this weekend’s Country Champs.
In charge of Geelong’s under-14 girls team, Kovacev was bullish about his side’s prospects, as the state’s best regional players descend on the city for the soccer tournament at Stead Park and Myers Reserve over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
Here’s a list of players to look out for:
UNDER-12 BOYS
Nate Bradley (captain) and Liam Jones (vice-captain) are set to lead Geelong’s under-12 boys side at this weekend’s Country Champs. Regarded as coach James King’s “two strongest” players, Bradley (above) and Jones will take their places in the middle of the pitch. King was full of praise for their ability to track back and help defend as well as being dangerous in front of goal. “The level of soccer that they can play is just outstanding,” King said. “Extremely fit, great little athletes, so they’ll be up and down the wings all day, help the defence and hopefully go and kick a few goals as well.”
UNDER-18 GIRLS
Captain Amanda Dzajkic (pictured left) and her deputy Rosie Skerratt provide the perfect mix of attack and defence for Geelong’s under-18 girls side. “They play in the midfield … very, very similar players but one’s more attacking minded and the other one’s more defensively minded, which is a great combination for us,” coach Tony Horrocks said. “Both can influence the game, that’s why we’ve got them in there.” Horrocks said the girls’ ability to help the team link from defence to attack would be important this weekend. “They’re well supported … by a good spread of talent across the team … it’s a really good (group) of players that we’ve got.”
UNDER-14 GIRLS
For under-14 girls coach Ivan Kovacev, his choice for a captain for the tournament was a “no-brainer”. Striker Anastazia Simic (above) is set to lead the team, while one of Kovacev’s Geelong Rangers young guns – Ede Aiberti – will assist her as vice-captain. “I chose Anastazia because throughout the trials and trainings I could always hear her voice out there,” Kovacev said. “Shewas a good communicator and for me, a good leader, so it was a no-brainer for me to choose her. Ede actually plays for my local team in the women’s competition … and plays well above her age. High-quality player and is not scared to take on much bigger bodies and has got the skill to go with it.”
UNDER-13 BOYS
The under-13 boys will be without its captain, Charlie Calil, due to Covid isolation, however coach Ando Munthe has confidence in Aron Pitout (pictured) and Jackson Van Beek to lead his side this weekend. “Aron is my left forward and Jackson is our goalkeeper,” he said. “The three of them (including Charlie), they’re great communicators on the pitch, they’re always supporting their friends even if they make a mistake. They’re always positive on the pitch.” Munthe said he had a talented group at his disposal. “They are one of the strong teams in the region, I think this team has a lot of speed and determination,” he said. “Their ball handling is amazing for under-13s.”
‘Hard to beat’: Geelong talent to shine at championships
AS Geelong’s junior representative soccer teams prepare for this weekend’s Country Championships at Stead Park and Myers Reserve, under-14 girls’ team coach Ivan
Kovacev says he has one of the most talented groups he has coached at his disposal.
The tournament has been cancelled in back-to-back years, but returns to action this Queen’s Birthday long weekend in Geelong.
“Without being over confident, I think that this is the best girls team that I’ve seen put together on a park, especially in the Geelong region (and) for any of the Country Champs teams that I had before,” Kovacev said.
“It’s just quality right across the park.
“Credit should go to the community clubs that got them to this stage, us coaches are just there to try and jell this team together.”
Kovacev has returned to the Country Championships after time away and said the level of interest in trying out for the squads is what stood out to him immediately.
“What the pleasing thing was for me, in the past we used to just get 16 girls rock up (to trials) and pretty much you were all in,” he said.
“To see about 33 of them turn up … was very surprising and very great and great for our team.
“I actually had to do about six trials to get it down to 16 players. Some of the ones that missed out were very unlucky.”
Under-12 boys’ coach James King says the level of talent in the region is strong and his side is “going to be very hard to beat” after a strong lead in.
“That’s the aim for us, is to make the Monday finals,” King said.
“There’ll be some of the most talented kids right across Victoria coming across, but they’re coming to our house, Geelong’s hosting.
“The expectation is to at least make Monday … especially after watching the team come together, we’re going to be very, very strong, we’re going to be very hard to beat.”
The side has played three practice matches in the lead up to the tournament, as well as training over the past six weeks as a squad.
“Trying to build that chemistry up was probably the aim over the last six weeks,” King said.
“The first two practice matches were probably a bit slower than I wanted, but this third one really got us excited because they really came together.”
Returning to Geelong’s representative teams after spending some time away, under-18 girls’ coach Tony Horrocks said he was confident of a strong campaign, but is wary of some talented opposition from other regions.
“We’ll be competitive, I don’t think there’s any issue with us being a competitive outfit, we can certainly match it with others,” he said.
“Teams coming out of the regions traditionally are very, very strong, there’s a good fellowship out there of country football and they always put forward great teams, very competitive teams.”
Horrocks side the side is ”busting” to get started.
“I think those who are coming down can expect an entertaining game, the girls are busting to start, they really want to get going, want to get it underway,” Horrocks said.
“I think there’s a lot of excitement, a lot of the girls who have trialled this time around missed out previously, so this is potentially their final go at it.
“The buzz around the camp is good, it’s really high at the moment, so I think everyone’s behind everyone and it’s very, very supportive.”
Championships two years in the making
Following back-to-back Country Championships being cancelled due to Covid, tournament director Lisa Brooks “can’t quite believe” that this year’s event is so close.
About 4000 people are expected to hit Geelong across the Queen’s Birthday long weekend tournament, with 64 teams from regional Victoria from under-11s through to under-18s attempting to be crowned country champions.
“I’m really looking forward to it, I can’t quite believe that we’re three or four days away having been in this position for two previous years and the rug being pulled from under our feet,” Brooks said.
“I’m excited for the players, I think it’s going to be a huge boost for the region’s economy … and it gives us the opportunity to showcase the region and the soccer facilities that we’ve got here in Geelong.”
NewsCorp is set to livestream 44 matches across the championships at Stead Park and Myers Reserve, including nine grand finals.
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Brooks said it is the first time this has occurred.
“That’s a really important partnership, it will be the first time ever that the Country Championships have been livestreamed and we hope that’s going to be a successful partnership going forward,” she said.
“We’ve got people coming from across the state … it gives an opportunity for those that can’t attend … (to) still tap in and watch some local soccer games for the best players in the state.”
For Brooks and her team of volunteers, the tournament has been more than two years in the making and has involved plenty of organising.
“It’s massive but it is a great team effort, we’ve got a great team of people, the organising committee have been meeting monthly for pretty much the last two years,” she said.
“There’s hundreds of volunteer hours that go into a tournament like this, not just through my role as tournament director but there’s stakeholder liaison … there’s sponsorship.
“The event is completely self-funded, so there’s dealing with grants and funding opportunities with big stakeholders in the region.”
Geelong will take three girls and five boys teams into the championships, Brooks confident that they will claim some success come Monday.
“I’m pretty confident that all the Geelong teams will perform well, I certainly know from looking at training and the coaching feedback that I’ve had so far that they’re all going to give their best,” she said.
“It’s a big workload for them, I think that’s our biggest issue is managing the workload and the number of games that they’re going to have to play across the weekend and looking after themselves.
“I’m confident we’ll have a few pennants and a few trophies at the end.”
HORVAT PRAISES IMPACT OF COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Former Socceroo and North Geelong Warriors graduate Steve Horvat says this weekend’s Country Champs will ensure budding stars aren’t slipping “through the cracks”.
Geelong is set to welcome the best junior soccer players from across regional Victoria for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend tournament, with News Corp to livestream 44 matches, including nine grand finals from under-14s to under-18s at Stead Park and Myers Reserve.
Horvat, the director of A-League champions Western United, said the Country Champs tournament was crucial to the development of players across the state.
“I think it’s incredibly important because there’s a lot of emphasis put up at the top end of the state representation and all the rest of it,” he said.
“I believe that players develop at different stages of their young footballing lives, so to have an opportunity to play in a tournament like this and to showcase what you can do, I think is a fantastic initiative.
“A lot of players slip through the cracks and don’t make it or don’t get identified, so it’s a great opportunity for these players to show (what they can do) and to enjoy and get together.” A star junior himself, Horvat never featured in a tournament such as the Country Champs, which rose to prominence in recent years, only to be postponed in back-to-back years due to Covid.
Reflecting on his junior days, Horvat stressed the importance of national tournaments at grassroots level.
“It makes you understand what you need to do to get better because (you’re) then exposed to players from around the country,” he said.
“You work out pretty quickly that I might be doing well in my state but there’s a whole range of other areas where there’s talented kids.”
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Originally published as NewsCorp to livestream over 1000 of country Victoria’s best soccer juniors
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