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This event, a standout on the local sporting calendar, highlighted the top regional and national football talent and garnered strong community support. The match drew an impressive crowd of over 2,000 attendees with many travelling from Melbourne, regional Victoria and southern NSW, all eager to witness the clash between A-League giants Melbourne Victory and the Goulburn Valley Suns from the Victorian Premier League.

The excitement was buzzing as Melbourne Victory supporters queued for autographs, photos, and the chance to get up close with the stars before the match at the Shepparton Junior Soccer Association Gala Day.

The evening’s formalities began with the national anthem, performed by local identity David Quinn, perfectly setting the scene for the match. Mayor, Cr Shane Sali, took to the pitch for the ceremonial coin toss, marking the official start of the match at 6.30pm. The game itself was a display of skill and strategy, with both teams delivering a high-level competition that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, said it was fantastic to see the community support major sporting events in the region.

“The evening was a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together and cheer on the Goulburn Valley Suns while enjoying top-level football. This event was a significant win for our region, reinforcing our reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events,” he said.

“We are proud to have hosted such a landmark occasion and have the nation’s largest football club have so much faith in our region. We look forward to the prospect of welcoming many events and partnership opportunities with Melbourne Victory into the future.”

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, said she was thrilled to see the success of the team’s trip to Shepparton over the weekend and the reception their side received from the community.

“It was great to see thousands involved from the Junior Gala Day in the morning all the way to the showpiece event with our A-League Men’s side against the Goulburn Valley Suns, that showcased the hunger for the game in one of the football-rich regions of Victoria,” she said.

“Melbourne Victory is a Club for all Victorians and we hope the weekend inspired footballers in the Greater Shepparton region to get involved in the game with their local clubs and head down the highway to Melbourne to watch Victory’s Men’s and Women’s sides this season. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Greater Shepparton and forming connections through all levels of the Club and community.”

Goulburn Valley Suns General Manager, Jacqui Stojanovski, said the club were appreciative of the opportunity.

“We are so grateful for the opportunity to have partnered with Council and Melbourne Victory for what was such an exceptional event, that highlighted our club, our outstanding facilities and our combined passion for the game in this region,” she said.

“We look forward to welcoming such tremendous support again from our community throughout our entire home and away season.”

The event demonstrated Greater Shepparton’s growing capacity to host major sporting events. Council’s ongoing investment in sports infrastructure and community involvement continues to position Shepparton as a vibrant and active destination to host events like these.

Council remains committed to supporting sports in the region and looks forward to hosting more unique and high-profile events in the future. These events bring significant benefits to the local economy and promote healthy and active lifestyles within our community.