Meet Shepparton coaching icon who set AFL star and emerging Socceroo on path to success
Former GV Suns academy coach David Davkovski has reflected on a ‘pretty awesome ride’ after helping to launch the careers of AFL stars and emerging Socceroos alike.
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The 46-year-old was an integral figure in the soccer community in Shepparton for nearly three decades before his recent move to Queensland.
Prior to his relocation, he built a reputation as one of the brightest minds in the game in Victoria.
Having served as a coach for the GV Suns academy, alongside launching his own academy via the Shepparton Junior Soccer Association, he established a legacy across various different sports.
In recent times, Davkovski has mentored young Socceroos hopeful Joseph Shay, being on hand with advice to the starlet, as well as advising his parents as he looks towards launching a professional career with the Melbourne Victory.
The 16-year-old, who grew up in Shepparton, is tipped for the top and will represent Victoria at the Emerging Socceroos Championships in Sydney in May.
The talented centre-back is a shining example of Davkovski’s coaching prowess, with the latter having mentored the teenager since the beginning of his journey in the game.
“I coached in and around Shepparton for almost 30 years. I’ve been very fortunate to have been part of many players’ journeys in that time,” Davkovski said, as he looked back over his career in coaching.
“I’ve seen some wonderful young athletes come through, both boys and girls. It’s been a pretty awesome ride.”
The seasoned coach boasts an enviable CV, having served as the GV Suns academy’s technical director previously. When his children started playing the game, he returned to grassroots coaching - embarking on what proved to be a highly rewarding period in his life.
He recalled encountering the aforementioned Shay and explained how the gifted defender is a shining example of the ethos that he tries to instil in each and every one of his players.
“We brought him in and started working with Joseph and the young players,” he said.
“I really have enjoyed empowering young athletes to be the best versions of themselves - something that resonates quite well with young players.
“Joseph first played to me prior to the GV Suns, after I had set up an academy through the SJSA.
“If you ask Joseph or anyone else, they’ll say that we’re always working on them being good 16 or 17-year-olds even at seven and eight.
“We’re always talking about what kind of player we can mould them to become.
“Whilst winning is great, the development journey is critical.”
Having embarked on a similar pathway during his own playing days, Davkovski has been on hand to offer some words of wisdom to the Shay family as Joseph continues to work towards a professional career with the Melbourne Victory.
“With Joe, even though he towers over me now, he was a timid young man but he worked hard through the week and that was always evidenced at the weekend,” he said.
“Something that we use in the coaching realm is we ask ourselves ‘is the child coachable?’. Joe, for us, got the captaincy straight away because, not only was he coachable, but his leadership stood out.
“He’s gone on to do so many cool things in such a short space of time.“
He also spoke in glowing terms about Josh Rachele - who he coached on the soccer field during his youth.
The 22-year-old eventually represented the under-17s Australian national team in soccer - before deciding on pursuing a career with the Adelaide Crows in the AFL in 2021.
“Josh is another notable one [I coached] - he didn’t quite stick with the round ball.” he said, as he proudly looked back at his time as Shelley’s soccer coach.
“He switched to AFL and got drafted No. 6 at Adelaide Crows but he’s an example of one of the young players where I am lucky enough to have been part of their journey.”
In addition, it is a source of immense pride for Davkovski that he previously provided the Melbourne Victory’s Zoe Jarvis with the platform to pursue a career in soccer. The midfielder first turned out for the GV Suns’ academy before she was snapped up by the A-League giants.
“[With] Zoe Jarvis, she’s at Melbourne Victory and doing really well at the moment,” the coach said.
“Something I’m really serious about is making sure the players have the fundamental skills to play at as high a level as they can.
“I’m very fortunate to be a part of their journeys. It’s a wonderful challenge trying to extract the best out of them.
“With the kids, it was so important to grant them the freedom to play.”
When it comes to the secret behind his success on the sidelines, the coach is open about his principles and his dedication to enabling youngsters to reach their maximum potential.
“Each player is different and while you’re working and trying to get the best out of them, it’s hard,” he said.
“That’s where environment comes into it but we’re very clear with the parents about what we’re trying to achieve.
“Also, my co-coaches that I’ve had with me for many years work side-by-side with me. Whether its under 10s, under-12 or under-14 training, we work on the same things so it’s about repetition.
“I don’t think there is a magic wand as such, there’s a lot of ingredients to ensure we get the desired outcome from the players but we always had a good environment from the parents to sponsors to coaches - we always brought in good people.”