It was a double farewell at Bob Jane Stadium on Sunday. Breakers' four-nil loss to South Melbourne ended their season when only a few weeks ago it seemed more likely than not that they would feature in their first-ever Finals play-off. For their part, the South faithful said their goodbyes to the club's longest-serving coach, Ange Postecoglou, who was leaving to take up his new appointment as National Youth coach.
Newcastle's task for this game was clear, if difficult. Not only did they need to win at the home of the reigning Champions on a day when South Melbourne was likely to work hard for their outgoing coach, but they also needed results elsewhere to form a particular pattern.
As it happened, nothing went Breakers' way on the night.
In fact, the misfortune began early. The enormity of the task had been increased in the fifth minute when South Melbourne swept into the lead.
John Anastasiadis converted unchallenged from a close-in header following a Goran Lozanovski corner from the right which was nodded on by Vaughan Coveny after just five minutes. Anastasiadis had earnt the corner himself when he forced Breakers' keeper Bob Catlin to save after Lozanovski sent him free.
The shell-shocked Breakers almost found themselves two behind within two minutes. Lozanovski - this time popping up on the left wing, crossed to where Anastasiadis had found space at the far post, but his header across goal was deflected Lozanovski - this time popping up on the left wing, crossed to where Anastasiadis had found space at the far post, but his header across goal was deflected wide.
Three minutes before the break, 350-game Paul Trimboli stretched the lead, cleverly striking the ball wide past Catlin from just outside the six-yard box. Coveny had crossed to the near post where Lozanovski met it with his back to goal. After assessing that a turn and a shot of his own was not on, he passed the ball to Trimboli whose placed shot hit the inside of Catlin's left post, breaking Breakers' hearts.
Breakers' coach Lee Sterry was fuming at these defensive lapses, and his side's missed opportunities at the other end. "We got punished for naivete. The first goal came from nothing - a bloke gets a free header at the edge of the box. The second goal scored right on half-time probably broke our back. Both first-half goals were soft."
For the last few weeks Coveny had been playing wide out on the left, rather than in his usual striker position. Postecoglou said that this change was as a result of running out of defenders and the need to play Fausto De Amicis at the back, but the change has brought another option to South's play. On many occasions, Coveny was able to use his speed to good effect wide, leaving space for the strikers in the middle.
In between these two South first-half goals, South had the better of the chances. Michael Curcija had two good opportunities, the better of which was the outcome of some excellent close-control from Trimboli. Michael Curcija had two good opportunities, the better of which was the outcome of some excellent close-control from Trimboli. Trimboli had in a single movement controlled the ball and spun past his marker some 35 metres out, then fed Curcija with a perfectly-weighted through-ball to which Curcija got a sliding touch, only to send it narrowly wide.
But Newcastle had gradually fought their way back into the contest, and for a period from mid-way through the half had grafted a few chances of their own.
The front pairing of veteran striker Andy Harper, and diminutive speedster John Buonavoglia began to settle and started to pose the South defence some tricky problems. Buonavoglia brought out the best in South keeper Chris Jones who saved low after Greg Owens' good work sent him Buonavoglia brought out the best in South keeper Chris Jones who saved low after Greg Owens' good work sent him free.
"In front of goal (we) were just not deadly," said Sterry. "That's the difference between an experienced side and an inexperienced side."
The game's destiny was confirmed with ten minutes remaining when Anthony Magnacca - brought on in a double change with Jim Tsekinis for Anastasiadis and David Clarkson - ran with the ball from the half-way line to score in a quick South break from defence as Newcastle pressed for the goal that would at least establish some hope.
Magnacca was clearly enjoying his game, as from the early moments of his introduction, he sought the ball, and brought it forwards and through tangles of Breakers' defenders at the slightest opportunity, and making several good chances for himself as a consequence.
By this stage in the game, there was no point in Newcastle doing anything other than press ahead, committing resources to attack, and leaving the barest of defences to cope with South's counter-attacks.
Not surprisingly, there was a fourth South goal. The coup-de-gras was administered by Curcija two minutes from the end after a sweeping move involving Tsekinis, Coveny, and Elias Demoutzidis, making his debut as a late substitute for Trimboli.
Postecoglou was chaired from the field by his players after completing some post-match television obligations, the disappointed Breakers' players having left the arena, ruing a season that had evaporated in the last few games.
"We played out best over the last six or seven games of the season," said Postecoglou. "I felt for Newcastle today. "I felt for Newcastle today. We were sharp today, and took a couple of chances - they missed a couple, and with the emotion of the day, it was a great way to finish a disappointing year.
"As a coach, that's the way you want to go out - most of us don't get that opportunity."