The last twelve months has seen the rivalry between South Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons escalate as the two battled it our for last years inaugural National Premier Leagues Victoria title. And in fitting style the two kicked-off the new season renewing the rivalry on Thursday night with last seasons champions South Melbourne hosting runners-up Oakleigh Cannons.
The game felt like a microcosm of their respective campaigns in 2014, with South forceful and resolute in their way to the title and Oakleigh wooing the crowd with their combination play. But much like last season South were victorious, irregardless of how fortuitous the hosts were. Much could be said about the fashion of their victory, in which the winner saw the ball ricochet off the backside of Adam Le Cornu past the hapless Honos, but regardless, it was first strike to South.
Debate over how to play football, and more specifically, which of South and Oakleigh play the better football, is as long as any argument. In these two sides, we have polar opposites in how they’re managed, their method of play and success with their approach. Oakleigh attempt a free flowing aesthetically pleasing brand of one touch football, while South look to start with a strong defensive unit and build from the back, grinding out rear-guard victories.
The coaches:
Former Brisbane Roar and Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg has turned around Oakleigh’s form in the last 18 months, transforming them into the side we see today challenging for top honours. Bleiberg works with an unconventional, unplaceable confidence, whether it be his addresses to the media or the way he responds to opposing teams. The Oakleigh boss wants to win with style and elegance. Compare his team, in the context of the league, to the Real Madrid’s or Barcelona’s of this world. He’s not one short for confidence, which seems to easily be construed as arrogance from the Israeli.
South Melbourne coach Chris Taylor has a proven track record at this level before last season’s championship victory, having also won the VPL with Dandenong Thunder in 2012. Taylor’s approach is quite different to Bleiberg, with the South boss taking on a more unassuming, hardworking play style which is solely about the end product. With the success he’s had, he’s quickly confirmed South Melbourne’s status as the leagues benchmark outfit.
Success or Style?
There are few who can have the free-flowing football and the cabinet room full of honours. That’s why we glorify the teams who can do both. Oakleigh without a doubt, played some of the most attractive football in the league last season and we saw long periods of their extensive play on Thursday night. Although despite the neat combinations between players like Ross Honos, Ben Clarke and substitute Dusan Bosjnak, they were unable to penetrate South’s goal. It was in this that the new wave South resilience played it’s hand, a team that has managed to somehow strengthen a record breaking, title winning squad, seemingly adding more names to their Harlem Globetrotter-esque roster.
Speaking after the game, South’s assistant coach Dimi Tsiaras addressed this resilience, noting while the performance wasn’t up to par, they still had the ability to grind out results.
“The performance wasn’t great but it was the first game of the season, you really want the points,” Tsiaras said.
“[The] second half we had a lead and sat back – not a great performance but the main thing is the three points.
“There’s going to be games were not going play well; away grounds you don’t really want to play. You’re just going to have grind it out.”
The rivalry between South and Oakleigh intensified when the Cannons ended their unbeaten run last season, before once again defeating them in the return fixture, but for Tsiaras, he’s of the belief this win went a long way towards redemption.
“Of course,” the newly retired Tsiaras said when asked if the win gave South the mental edge.
“Psychologically they know come finals we have the wood over them start away. To get the result the way we got it they’ll be hurting.”
So far it seems South’s no nonsense approach of grinding out and defending from the front has been the formula to success, but can they add a bit more creative edge to their solidity this season?