Cup full of emotion for grandson

SOUTH Hobart and Devonport will fight for Tasmania’s only place in the nationwide FFA Cup when they meet on Monday, but the match will take on even more significance for Bradley Lakoseljac.

South attacker Bradley, 18, will be making his first appearance in the Lakoseljac Cup final, a competition named after his grandfather, Tasmanian football legend Milan, who died in 1999.

Milan’s family has already made its mark on the cup, with his son, Bradley’s father Brendan, scoring twice for Glenorchy in the final in the first year of the competition in 2000. Brendan’s coach at Glenorchy as they beat Kingborough 3-0 that day was Ken Morton, who now manages Bradley at South.

Brendan is now an assistant at South.

Bradley is expecting to feel a mixture of nerves and excitement when he walks out on Monday.

“Since the semi-final, it’s pretty much consumed my life,” Bradley said.

“I’ve watched pretty much every final since I was probably around five.

“I’ve always gone with my dad and we’ve always been lucky to be a part of that atmosphere.

“I never got to meet my grandfather, unfortunately, so this … has an extra special meaning as it is really what I remember my grandfather by and I’m hoping to get the job done on the day as sort of a tribute to him.”

Brendan said it would be surreal to see his son in the final: “I guess it came a lot earlier than expected. I always hoped that one day he would play in the memory of his grandfather but he’s taken his opportunities … and he’s holding his own in the team and doing quite well.

“To win it would be Tasmania’s equal to winning the Champions League.”

Brendan said Milan’s brothers, who live as far away as Croatia and Canada, will tune in to the live stream to watch the final.