Sharks swimming along in first season

THE region’s newest football club is flying in its inaugural season, with confidence building ahead of a major tournament later this month.

South Coast Sharks Football Club has yet to drop a game in 2024, accumulating wins over Maryborough, Melton, Moorabool Valley and Sunbury since April 21.

The club plays in the AFL Masters Vic Country competition, and Sharks head coach Luke Vassallo described the side’s hot start as a product of the commitment from his players.

“Momentum is a massive thing, so winning always helps and success breeds success in a lot of ways,” Vassallo said.

“The momentum that we’ve seen through our games is very similar to that of a game itself – once you get momentum with the ball, you tend to bang a few goals together and break your opposition.

“I’ve tried to instil a bit of professionalism around the group, albeit being Masters, and have been really big on communication. It’s about commitment and once we have that, it’s about following through.”

The Surf Coast community will have another chance to see the Sharks in action later this weekend.

South Coast heads to Bob Pettitt Reserve to host Bendigo in its second home game of the season in what Vassallo expects to be a hotly contested contest.

“It’d be great to get everybody in the community around for the game this week,” Vassallo said.

“We were lucky to secure the ground in Jan Juc, so we’ll have a bit of an event with the other side after the game.

“The game begins at 4pm sharp. Bendigo are telling us they have a pretty strong side, so we’re excited to engage in another tussle.”

The Sharks’ performances this season will culminate in the AFL Masters Victoria’s lighting premiership in Shepparton on June 29.

Preparations are already under way for the second annual Eliza McGowan Cup to take place later this year. It is expected to be held in the final week of the Bellarine Football League’s final round in mid-August.