THE Day has come!
Two of the most successful and powerful teams in Victorian football will go head-to-head to determine who will be crowned the 2024 Dockerty Cup Winners!
Will Oakleigh claim back-to-back Dockerty Cup Finals, or can South Melbourne claim the elusive Cup Vicory over the Cannons and bring silverware back to Lakeside?
OAKLEIGH CANNONS vs SOUTH MELBOURNE
2024 Dockerty Cup Final
Saturday, August 3, 3:00pm, The Home of the Matildas
PREVIEW
The rivalry is back on! These two sides have made a habit of facing each other at the pointy end of the season and 2024 is no exception.
South Melbourne and Oakleigh are amongst the best two sides in Victoria over the past five years and their history intertwines throughout.
After falling just short in 2022, Oakleigh claimed the Cup in commanding fashion last year and will be out to join the 21 Clubs to have won the Dockerty Cup on more than one occasion, and the 15th to go back-to-back.
Esteban Quintas' men will be out to spoil the party for the Cannons' and lift the trophy for a record-equaling ninth time in their history. South Melbourne's last Dockerty Cup victory came in 2015, when they defeated their opponent in this year's Final, Oakleigh at Lakeside Stadium 3-0.
In recent times, Oakleigh Cannons' claimed the 2022 NPLM Championship with a 5-0 thrashing over South Melbourne at Olympic Village and less than a year later South were able to exact revenge, defeating Chris Taylors' side in the 2023 NPLM Preliminary Final 2-1.
The two sides have faced off twice this NPLM season, firstly a 0-0 draw and then in Round 20, Oakleigh claimed all three points with a 2-1 victory, courtesy of an Oliver Kubilay brace.
South Melbourne have proved they can win these tough Cup matches the hard way, overcoming Heidelberg at Olympic Village 2-1 in the dreaded Play-Off after conceding the first goal in the 54th minute with two late goals from Andy Brennan and Nahuel Bonada sealing a monumental comeback and qualification to the Semi-Finals.
In their penultimate match of the Cup, South were also able to overcome the ever-attacking Hume City in the Semi-Finals 1-0 with Brennan once again stepping up for the home side. Despite playing an extra match in the campaign to their opponents, the South faithful will be in full voice once again, spurring their side to glory.
Oakleigh have managed to defeat three NPLM sides on route to the Final, defeating Port Melbourne in a tense penalty shoot-out, Moreland City and Avondale.
South Melbourne have reached the Final the hard way, overcoming Heidelberg 2-1 in a tough away assignment at Olympic Village, after getting past tough competition in Melbourne Knights, Eastern Lions, a historic clash with Preston Lions and St Albans.
The Key Battles
Since returning to South this season, Harrison Sawyer hasn't missed a beat, scoring a league-high 15 goals in the NPLM and four goals in the Cup. Oakleigh full-back Jacob Tratt has made an immediate impact since arriving at the Club mid-season and will create an imposing matchup for the South Captain.
Max Mikkola will also be a player to watch for South Melbourne, his long throws into the box and his innate ability to find the back of the net with Connor Hampson or Brodie Boyce shaping up as a likely matchup.
South's defence has only conceded 18 goals in the NPLM this season, however in the Cup their defensive line led by 2023 Gold Medal winner Jake Marshall and Jordan Lampard has allowed five goals in six matches. The Oakleigh attack of Alex Salmon and Pierce Waring along with the dangerous (Captain) Joe Guest will be wary of South's leaky record so far in the Cup.
If you were going to do anything else on Saturday afternoon, scrap those plans and get to The Home of the Matildas.
As for who wins? It’s a flip of the coin, and that’s just how it should be.
Broadcast: The 2024 Dockerty Cup Final will be broadcast live and free on the Football Victoria YouTube and Facebook Channels.
Ticketing:
- Pavillion Premium Seats: $25
- Southern Grandstand Seat: $20
- General Admission - Adults: $15
- General Admission - Junior (13 - 17 years): $10
- Child (12 & Under): $0
Purchase Tickets to the 2024 Dockerty Cup!
HEAD-TO-HEAD
South Melbourne: 18-18 Oakleigh Cannons
Draw: 8
Forfeit: 1
LAST TIME THEY MET
NPM Round 20 South Melbourne 1-2 Oakleigh Cannons
NPLM Round 7: Oakleigh Cannons 0-0 South Melbourne