# Australia Cup final: South Melbourne vs Melbourne Victory

> South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory clash in a historic Australia Cup final with deep historical ties and potential upset.
- Title: Australia Cup final: South Melbourne vs Melbourne Victory
- Summary: South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory clash in a historic Australia Cup final with deep historical ties and potential upset. South Melbourne and Melbourne…
- Keywords: south melbourne, melbourne victory, australia cup, australian football, npl, a-league, australia cup final, sports, Australia, Cup, final, South
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/10/australia-cup-final-south-melbourne-victory-old-soccer-new-football
- Published: 2026-10-09T14:00:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: south melbourne, melbourne victory, australia cup, australian football, npl, a-league, australia cup final, sports
## South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory clash
South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory face off in a historic Australia Cup final on Saturday with a capacity crowd of 28,000 expected at AAMI Park.
## Historical ties between clubs
South Melbourne traces roots to the 1950s with four National Soccer League titles, while Melbourne Victory represents a modern football brand.
## Family connections
Jason Davidson, Melbourne Victory captain, has family ties to South Melbourne through his father Alan, who played there before a European career.
## Local rivalry
Marco Janković, South Melbourne's striker, and Harry Sawyer, Melbourne Victory's forward, are close friends who have a friendly rivalry.
## Supermarket incident
Janković joked about Sawyer reaching for kombucha at a local supermarket, saying it would 'settle in his stomach' before the match.
## Historical significance
The Australia Cup final represents a historic convergence of old and new Australian football with potential for a major upset.
## Crowd expectations
The match is expected to draw a split crowd, with Melbourne Victory's support facing a challenge in their home city for the first time.
## Player backgrounds
South Melbourne features A-League talent like Sebastian Pasquali and Paulo Retre, while Melbourne Victory has players like Guillermo May and Denis Genreau.
## Future implications
Janković highlighted the growing support and potential for South Melbourne to become a major force in Australian football.
## Key takeaway

South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory face off in a historic Australia Cup final with shared histories and potential upset.