IF it’s to be their farewell as a group, they want to do it in style.
Football Federation Sunraysia’s under-18 boys’ squad have been a successful unit throughout the junior soccer representative ranks and will aim to defend their home turf in this weekend’s Victorian Country Leagues Junior Championships.
The tournament’s first ever journey to Mildura is set to attract 1400 of the state’s best regional talents from Saturday to Monday, with a record number of local sides participating.
Sunraysia under 18 boys are defending champions after dominating in Ballarat last year, going undefeated and scoring 28 goals across six games including a commanding 5-0 victory over Albury Wodonga to claim the title.
The under 18 girls and under 15 boys, who have shifted to under 16 this year, were runners-up in a strong tournament for Sunraysia.
The majority of the current under-18 boys’ squad have been together at a representative level through every age group since under 12, with coach George Moraitis mentoring them for the whole journey.
Campbell Brown, 17, who plays as a right midfielder, says he and his under-18 teammates can repeat the win.
“Since we were about 10 we’ve had a pretty strong team going through a few tournaments and hopefully we can go back-to-back this time,” Brown said.
“It’s much better than travelling five or six hours like we usually do – nice to be able to sleep in our own beds.”
Defender and midfielder Darcy Aunger, 17, said the squad had become like family over the years.
“These tournaments stop at 18 so we’re coming towards the end but this team has been pretty strong since the age of 10,” Aunger said.
“George has been coach for the entire time.
“We all feel like family, really.
“We’ve always clashed heads with Albury over the years and they’re a pretty strong team who will be thereabouts again.”
Attacking midfielder Tenace Moraitis, 17, said the squad hoped to make their final Victorian tournament together a good one.
“We’re like family, feel really close with all these boys, and there’s a few who have come in and out of the team over the years but we still make them feel welcome,” Moraitis said.
Tournament grades include under 12, 14, 16 and 18 girls, as well as under 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 boys.
“It will be good – I think everyone is really excited about it and it’s the most teams I think we’ve ever had from Sunraysia, which is fantastic,” Football Federation Sunraysia general manager Susan Watts said earlier this week.
“It’s obviously a lot of kids, and from what I’ve heard accommodation is booked out and restaurants and eateries, especially on Saturday night, are pretty heavily booked as well, which is great for Sunraysia.”
The championships begin on Saturday.
