There is nothing like a derby in football. Matches that hold a greater significance than regular games, for intangible reasons, and wholly irrespective of where each team is on the table.
When two rivals meet in a final, however, the stakes go up even more. So when Melbourne Knights host fierce rivals South Melbourne this Friday night, expect tensions to be high.
The Croats/Hellas derby is steeped in history. Having first met in 1960, a game South Melbourne won 2-0, the two sides have together gone through several periods of transition in Australian football. Both have been forced into several name changes, and endured varying levels of success, yet a constant of each club has been the rivalry with the other.
It is hard to see where this competition stems from. The two sides have never been very close geographically, with Knights Stadium a reasonable 25 minute drive over the Bolte Bridge for South fans.
One of the key reasons the fixture is such a spirited one is the fact that the two sides have virtually been in the same division for over 50 years, and thus have had ample opportunity to forge what is now an extremely passionate rivalry.
The pair have contested a total of 98 games. South Melbourne hold the upper hand with 45 wins, while the Knights have been victorious 25 times, with 26 draws.
The height of the rivalry was perhaps reached in the early 1990s, with both sides vying for the now defunct National Soccer League (NSL) title. The two teams met in the 1990/91 NSL grand final, where South triumphed on penalties, and also a number of finals in the following years.
Perhaps it is the quality of the contests that adds to the reputation of the fixture. The 1994/95 NSL preliminary final, whereby a Mark Viduka hat-trick ensured a 3-2 Knights victory, is the stuff of legend in Australian football circles.
Earlier this season a captivating 2-2 draw took place, with Ljubo Milicevic doing what he does best and making headlines with a goal at each end.
There is nothing to suggest this game will be any less entertaining than any of its predecessors. The contrasting form of each side adds to the intrigue ahead of what could be a record crowd at Knights Stadium.
Melbourne Knights, who were all the rage and looking odds on for the VPL title less than a month ago, have lost their last 2 games and conceded a worrying 8 goals. This is in stark contrast to South Melbourne, who secured their finals spot with a brilliant 4-0 victory over Port Melbourne in the final round before clinching a last gasp win against Green Gully in last week’s elimination final. Andrew Barisic is likely to hold the key to the result – the former Gold Coast striker has scored 8 times in 10 games since returning for a third stint with the Knights.
The match will be the first time the two sides have met in a final of any sort for 16 years. Who will triumph is anybody’s guess but if you have time on your hands, you might want to head down to the game and watch history being written.
Kick off is at 7.30pm.