THE first ever Northern Inland Premier League All Stars challenge match tomorrow at Doody Park will also mark the final time that North Companions and Southern All Stars coach Gavin Thompson will bark orders from the sideline.
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Thompson took Norths to second in the southern conference before unceremoniously crashing out of the finals with two losses.
Thompson has the itch back, the itch to play and to leave the coaching and politics behind.
First of all though, he has a team of the best players in the southern conference to organise one last time.
“I don’t think I will need to do too much,” Thompson said.
“It is a great team of players so I might just have to organise who plays where.”
The coach is confident he knows how his opposition will play.
After years of coaching and playing against each other, Thompson thinks he knows the exact game plan that Northern coach Andy Lennon will go for.
“He will play a 4-3-3,” Thompson said. “Try to hold possession and then get behind the ball when they lose it.
“It’s always the way he plays.”
Thompson is planning on going in with a 4-4-2 combination.
“It will all come down to how serious the players take the game.”
Northern Inland manager Steve Griffiths believes there is no question about that.
“The players are generally excited to play in a showcase game and representative fixture.
“There are some very formidable combos in attack and defence.”
With players who have the passion of three-goal grand final hero Luke Purcell on the field, there is no question as to how seriously they will play once that whistle blows.
Unfortunately for the Northern side, 2013 Golden Boot winner and Joeys FC striker Dan Ferris has been a late withdrawal.
Ferris will not be replaced but a Rising Star will step up to the All Stars game instead.
The Rising Star fixture for junior players will be the curtainraiser to the main event tomorrow, kicking off at 1pm at Doody Park.
The All Stars will start at 3pm.
