Top game, great attendance, I believe I heard over 12,000 for this one. Which will be a timely reminder to Soccer Australia, that less than 2 teams in Melbourne won't do. In fact if Soccer Australia is considering a 12 team league with a 33 match season, I'd suggest, instead of playing each team 3 times, they would achieve a higher average attendance if for those 11 extra games, local derbies were arranged where-ever possible, ie. South v Carlton, Marconi v Spirit. Probably the 2 best fixtures in the NSL today in terms of passion from supporters. (Not including every Perth Glory home match...)
I just don't get South Melbourne. 'State of the art' technology has weeded out the trouble makers? Yeah, pull the other one. The scenes at the end of today's game were a bloody disgrace, bringing the club back about 10 years. For someone to stand literally on top of the players entrance and throw a bottle at full belt at John Markovski from no more than 3-5 metres is simply pathetic.
All those trouble makers have been banned for life at Bob Jane Stadium? How re-assuring. Let me guess the same old trouble makers have been escorted outside of Olympic Park and Bob Jane Stadium about 5-10 times each?
All those nut cases(at least 50) screaming abuse in Greek over fence at the end of the match. What on earth does that do for the club, the sport, themselves?
I compliment the club on its fine pre-match entertainment and Australian flag flying high accross from the main stadium. But unfortunately, being an ethic based club brings it unpleasant element. That's the reality.
At the end of this season, it appears as though about 2-3 ethnic clubs will reach the end of their participation in the NSL. NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE ETHNIC, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT COMMERCIALLY/FINANCIALLY INTERESTING TO INVESTORS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE NSL. No one is saying ethnic clubs are bad, no one is saying ethnic clubs shouldn't exist, no one is saying ethnic clubs can not exist if they are no longer in the NSL. South Melb however, are a very strong club, and their participation in the NSL is virtually guaranteed. But who have thought Melb Knights and Adelaide City would be looking down the barrel just 5-6 years ago, when they played each other in the NSL final.
That's not to say Carlton are the model to follow. Definately not, I'll be the first to admit some idiot enjoys bringing his Italian flag to Carlton matches. Their existance much more threatened than South Melb's today. Carlton's problems are in a completely different situation.