Soccer’s big return this weekend

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Sarah Oliver

Melton Phoenix, Westside Strikers and Spring Hills will be three of 104 teams kicking off the opening round of the Australia Cup this weekend.

A nationwide knockout competition, The Australia Cup has been renamed after being known as the FFA Cup since it was introduced in 2014.

The change to the Australia Cup name marks a new era for a competition that routinely attracts over 700 clubs from all divisions of football across Australia, uniting the grassroots, amateur, and professional levels of the sport.

More than 200 Victorian clubs have entered this year’s cup. This round includes 48 state league 4 clubs, 45 state league 5 clubs and 11 regional clubs.

Melton Phoenix will face Casey Panthers, while Westside Strikers will play Seaford United and Spring Hills will be away against Darebin United.