More recently, they’ve watched him run rampant from the comfort of their lounge.
But on Monday night, Shepparton’s footballing mass took to the road to support their favourite son — Alou Kuol — in the flesh, when his Mariners took on Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
And what an experience it was.
Departing Shepparton, upwards of two hours on the road in the wet lay ahead of Kuol’s army.
That hardly mattered to the two bus loads of rugged up friends, fans and family.
An almost identifiable confusion was plastered on the faces of home fans when a sea of orange and navy surged in between the yellow alcove of Central Coast Mariners supporters at AAMI Park.
Most were Goulburn Valley Suns youngsters, there to watch their hero; the one that broke through the ceiling, the one they all aspire to be.
The first half passed with Kuol yet to be introduced onto the field by manager Alen Stajcic.
City was soon two goals to the good and while the clock ticked on, an almost palpable feeling of panic began to set in at AAMI Park.
Cries of “bring on Kuol” rang out in droves.
However, cue the 67th minute and it — the moment many had walked, driven or flew in for — arrived.
Kuol was on the field.
Signs and banners reading his name and number went up immediately, catching the eye of the commentators.
Though it wasn’t what was seen, but rather heard, which summed up the evening in a fleeting, albeit powerful, few seconds.
Upon his entrance, the sea of yellow, orange, navy and every other colour released a roar.
It was belted out by all ages, fluctuating in pitch and cadence, but unified by a purpose — Kuol.
He was only granted 25 minutes to conjure up magic in miserable conditions and, for the 19-year-old, it was a task far too unmanageable.
The whistle sounded, the game finished and 95 per cent of spectators filtered out of the ground.
But five per cent — the Shepparton lot — stayed.
Kuol, walking over to the corner grinning from ear to ear, met his partisan following to catch up like old times.
He spoke in the same manner he always has; cheerily and without an ounce of vanity, before showering his mates with a bottle of water and heading into the change rooms.
And that was it for the Shepparton lot.
A seven-hour trip in the pouring rain to watch their boy lose 2-0, somehow worth every second.
Because while the score line didn't display anything close to a desired result, the hundred strong smiling faces from Shepparton evidently did.
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