It’s not too often that these two sides meet whilst high up on the ladder, so I have taken the time to do a short preview on the ‘original Melbourne derby’. To be honest, after Tuesday night’s disaster against Oakleigh I didn’t even feel like going to this match let alone writing about it. No one wants to go into one of the biggest matches of the season coming off a draw that feels worse than a loss. Even though that point momentarily put us top of the table, it felt like we had been relegated. But, what’s done is done, and there is no point dwelling on something that can’t be changed.
Tuesday’s result aside, this is one of the best starts to a season in the clubs history. If someone offered you five wins a draw and a loss a week before the season you would grab it with both hands. It’s not too often that we Knights fans are looking down on the rest of the league and Oceania team of the week South Melbourne. A win will see us go five points clear of them, and though some might argue they have a game in hand, that’s fine because they still need to win it. Going into the match the side is looking good with minimal injuries in comparison to this time last year, with the bench looking stronger week after week. Marijan Cvitkovic (injured) and Josh Brekalo (illness) were I believe the only players unavailable for selection on Tuesday night, giving Andrew Marth close to a full squad to select from. Both Andrew Barisic and Tomislav Uskok got on the scoresheet again this week and are looking in great form to take their tallies to five goals or beyond. I would go a little further into individual form, but seeing as though some people at South still seem to think Alinejad is running up and down the wing I don’t want to give too much away.
South on the other hand look to be in turmoil despite their undefeated run. As seems to be the norm in the past few years there, the supporters feel they need to take it upon themselves and drive players out of the club. It hasn’t taken them long this year to start a hate campaign against one of their better players Nick Epifano. Right or wrong, the supporters have put the club in a pretty shit situation ahead of the derby. Does the club now allow him to stay on after calling supporters ‘greek cunts’ and wanting to fight them with his family after the game? Or do they sack him to the delight of the supporters which may cause unrest in the dressing room with the rest of the playing group? Don’t sack him and give the players a license to behave however they please, or sack him and show the players that they need to cop it from the supporters or else. Either way, I wouldn’t want that kind of thing happening at my club this week. Tis a real shame @smfcmike from twitter couldn’t do anymore to rehabilitate Epifano before it came to this. And don’t worry mate, you don’t need us to cause problems before the match, as you lot are doing a great job of it yourselves.
Things that would be really nice to see change at Lakeside, but most likely won’t;
The Microsoft word designed dressing room door sign which hasn’t had the correct Knights logo, possibly ever. So much for the best media team in the country.
The wall of fame in the players race to feature something, anything.
The bar to stay open beyond the 60th minute mark or whenever it is they decide they can’t sell alcohol.
Those fucking seagulls.
I have been able to call every Knights match this year bar the Oakleigh one, which ended in a draw. I feel much the same this week, and as much as my heart would love to say we will smash their undefeated run to pieces, I can’t.
South Melbourne 2 – 2 Melbourne Knights
