State League One heavyweights Caroline Springs George Cross and Essendon Royals go head-to-head in the pick of Victoria’s Australia Cup Preliminary Round 3 action this weekend.
The pair of ambitious outfits, who are both gunning for promotion this season will look to make an early statement when they meet at City Vista Pavilion on Saturday evening.
Caroline Springs George Cross, who were renamed following their relocation to their new $13million home - the City Vista complex in Fraser Rise competed in the NSL in the 1980’s and 90’s as Sunshine George Cross.
The club founded by Maltese immigrants has been home to the likes of Kevin Muscat, Andrew Nabbout and Craig Foster.
Saturday’s visitors – Essendon Royals have never sat higher than the Victorian second tier but have a number of impressive names on their books including former A-League midfielders, James Brown & Michael Ferrante as well as NPL Victoria stalwarts, Davey Van’t Schip and Leigh Minopoulos.
Both sides currently sit in the fourth tier of the Victorian football pyramid but would fancy themselves to sit several tiers above that had it not been for the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 seasons in Victoria.
George Cross were top of the State League One North-West ladder when the 2021 season was abandoned while the Royals were six-points adrift in fourth.
There were a number of high profile departures from City Vista Pavilion in the off-season with former Socceroo, Ivan Franjic, his brother Joseph Franjic and Brian Sumerskill all making the move to Heidelberg United, while former Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners midfielder Francesco Stella signed with Port Melbourne.
Meanwhile new arrivals Matthew Sesto, Adrian Mancini, Jason Hart, Aidan Farquhar, Andelo Svalina and Zois Galanopoulos are all in line to make their competitive George Cross debuts on Saturday.
James Brown, who had initially signed for George Cross before eventually ending up at the Royals is set to debut for the club alongside fellow new signings Will Abbott, Anthony Ramzy and Jake Montagnese.
Sadly Royals Head Coach, Vitale Ferrante will not be on the sideline for Saturday’s match as he is by the side of his son Oscar, who is recovering from a medical emergency.
Davey Van’t Schip and Michael Ferrante will assume coaching duties in Vitale’s absence.
MATCH DETAILS
Australia Cup 2022 – Preliminary Round 3: Caroline Springs George Cross v Essendon Royals
City Vista Pavilion, Fraser Rise
Saturday, 5 March (5:30pm KO AEDT)
