Bulls question Australia Cup change
Macarthur FC coach Mile Sterjovski has expressed his disappointment at the rescheduling of the Australia Cup final, which has been brought forward by a week due to AAMI Park’s unavailability on Saturday week.
The decider between the Bulls and Melbourne Victory will now be played on Sunday night instead of the original date of October 5 when AAMI Park is hosting a monster truck event.
It’s a Football Australia switch that hasn’t pleased Sterjovski, who was counting on having three players – Frans Deli, Oliver Randazzo and Alexander Robinson – back from Young Socceroos duty in Saudi Arabia and available for the final.
“The match was supposed to played on the fifth of October which would have given us back three players from the Young Socceroos, so we’re going to have to deal with that,” the Macarthur mentor said.
“Our stadium (at Campbelltown) was available on that date but the authorities decided to move it to (Sunday), so we just have to deal with it now and just prepare as best as we can.”
The Bulls have suffered another blow with the suspension of their captain and star French striker Valere Germain, who was sent off in the dying stages of Macarthur’s 1-0 semi-final win over South Melbourne last Sunday night at Lakeside Stadium.
“In my opinion it was a little controversial. I don’t think there was any contact, and both parties agreed to that after the game,” Sterjovski said in reflecting on Germain’s second yellow card of the match, and subsequent sending off, for a stoppage-time foul.
“It’s a difficult blow for us.”
However, the Bulls side will include off-season recruit Luke Brattan, who was captain of the Sydney FC team that won last year’s Australia Cup.
“Starting at a new club, you’re ambitious and want to win trophies, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to start off well this season,” experienced midfielder Brattan said.
“They’re pretty hard to make, finals, so when you do make one, you’ve got to make the most of them.
“We’ve got our minds focused on the job, and we want to go there and win the trophy.”
Victory defender Brendan Hamill said his side was determined to “go one step further” after beating Adelaide United 1-0 in last Saturday’s semi-final at AAMI Park.
The winner of the final will also secure a spot in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two competition.
“We’ve got to do everything that we can to make sure that we lift the Cup, qualify for Champions League football and give the fans what they deserve, and that’s silverware,” Hamill said.
