THERE will be much more on the line than just three points when fierce rivals Myrtleford and Wangaratta lock horns on Sunday.
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The long-time soccer rivals will be vying for the Darrel Van Der Steeg Memorial Shield, which is named after a former star of both clubs.
The shield was first introduced last year in memory of Van Der Steeg, who died aged just 24 in a tragic car crash near his Bendigo home in 2013.
Van Der Steeg also won the best-and-fairest award for Benalla, when the Rovers had a senior team in the AWFA.
Wangaratta coach Mario Antonello said his side was desperate to retain the shield after last year’s 4-2 victory.
“The senior match is a tribute to what sort of soccer player and person he was for both teams,” Antonello said.
“He was a really good servant at Wangaratta at junior and senior level.
“He played more of his senior soccer at Myrtleford.
“He had some really good friends at both clubs and we’ve got his younger brother (Ryan) and family at Wangaratta.
“We are really happy that we’ve got such a great family involved with Wang.”
The Melbourne arm of the Genoa International Soccer School is also hoping to pay tribute to one of its former players on Sunday.
“Darrel was a rock solid, hard-working midfielder,” Genoa’s Joe De Martino said.
“I sometimes employed him in the back line as well but he had more stamina than sitting in the back line.
“He was that first line of defence.”
Van Der Steeg represented Victoria Country and the Riverina at junior level and could play any position on the ground and score goals from long range.
Sunday’s match is a huge one for both clubs.
Wangaratta is third on the table and Myrtleford is fourth, and both have big expectations for the cup finals.
“We are still mathematically a chance of winning the league but we don’t expect to,” Antonello said.
“It’s the highest both clubs have been at the same time - for a very long time.
“We both need these three points.”
Wangaratta looks set to get back defender Aaron Taylor, while star winger Matt Vaccaro should be available for the Savoys.
Myrtleford beat Wangaratta 2-0 in round 10 , but Antonello knows they will be hurting from last week’s 3-0 home loss to Albury City.
”Their title chances have gone now,” he said.
“The scoreline would suggest that Albury City had control over the game.
“If I was Myrtleford, I wouldn’t be ashamed of losing to Albury City.
“They will be hungry and it’s probably not the week we want to play them.”
