South Melbourne legend Alan Davidson credits Melbourne’s Greek community with changing his life. Saturday night’s Australia Cup final will still leave him torn. His son, Melbourne Victory captain Jason Davidson, is the man trying to beat Hellas.
The former Socceroo has spoken about the friendship he was offered while he was being bullied in Melbourne in the 1960s. His mother, Kazuko, was born in Hiroshima and came to Australia as a war bride. He was one of the few Japanese children at his school, and a target.
“The Greeks were the only ones who would come to me and say, ‘you OK?’ Because I’d just been beaten up every day,” he told AAP. “That’s why I went to South Melbourne. They were the only ones that talked to me, so I stayed with them and I followed them.”
That path took him to the Socceroos and to friendships inside the Greek-Australian community that have lasted. More than two decades after South last played a national final, he will watch his son lead Victory against the club.
“I support South Melbourne because I owe my life to the Greeks,” he said. “But my son’s my son as well, and he’s the captain. Either way, there’s a winner for me.”
Ange Postecoglou has been clearer. “South Melbourne is my upbringing,” he told Channel 10. “They’re definitely my club and I’ll definitely be cheering them on. I was a junior, I was a ballboy, I ended up playing for the club, captaining the club, coaching the club, and that was it in terms of my dreams and aspirations.”
For Hellas the night is more than a trophy. The four-time national champions have spent more than 20 years outside the top professional league, building through Victorian football and, more recently, the Australian Championship and the Oceania Professional League. Paul Trimboli, who made 430 appearances, told the Herald Sun a cup win “would sit on the top row.” Former teammate John Anastasiadis, who coached the club after it left the National Soccer League, said reaching the final is already a win, and “something unprecedented.”
AAMI Park is sold out, with more than 30,000 expected, a new Australia Cup record. Kick-off is 7.35pm. For Davidson the crowd is secondary. South gave him a place when he needed one. His son has a chance to lead Victory to one of the biggest nights of his career.