Bragging rights were shared as South Melbourne drew one-one with Carlton in the big Melbourne derby at Bob Jane Stadium last Sunday. A magnificent piece of Simon Colosimo close control resulted in his second half equaliser after Zeljko Susa's first half piledriver from a free-kick.
But the season may have ended for South defender Robert Liparoti, who was stretchered off the ground in agony after twisting his knee in a contest with Carlton livewire forward Archie Thompson late in the game.
"As a group, we were pretty mediocre today," said South coach Mickey Petersen, making his home debut in charge after two tough games on the road. "But I'm more disillusioned and disappointed with Lipartoti's injury. He's been diagnosed as needing a knee reconstruction."
Up until that point, Liparoti was a contestant for player of the match, such was his influence at the heart of the somewhat makeshift South defence. Swaddled in protective headgear to protect a broken nose suffered in last week's game in Perth, Mehmet Durakovic looked ready to step into the lead role of the Phantom of the Opera, and midfield general David Clarkson was required to play on the wing to allow newcomer Patrick Kisnorbo to hold a more familiar central position.
Carlton too needed to re-shuffle following the dismissal last week of captain Andrew Marth, returning the armband to one-time captain Sean Douglas who was an unplayed substitute in Carlton's last game.
From the very first of these now much anticipated of derbies, South and Carlton had never had a dull encounter, and this was not to be the exception. Both sides elected to utilise an attacking formation, and swiftly break, providing supporting numbers as they swept upfield.
Robert Middleby often left Clarkson in his trail down the left, and in one such move early, after skinning Clarkson, he passed to Thompson in the clear whose shot was well saved by Michael Petkovic.
Petkovic was well in charge throughout the game, commanding his area, and giving confidence to his defenders in doing so.
There was always likely to be a goal however, due to the great resources both sides committed to their attacks, and South's opener arose just 25 minutes in.
Vaughan Coveny, throughout engaged in an epic battle with his Kiwi team-mate Douglas, had managed to wriggle free and gallop goalwards.
Just at the edge of the penalty area, Steve Horvath brought him down. New signing Susa, an import from Melbourne Knights, stood in readiness over the ball. His shot fairly whistled by Dean Anastasiadis.
There then ensued a period of South domination which, with better luck for the hosts, may have extended the lead.
Clarkson hit the post from 20 metres following a lay-off from Paul Trimboli, and Coveny was again through only to be brought down by Douglas shortly later. Nothing was to come from this free-kick however.
And just before the break, Liparoti - up for a corner - used his height to win a header that was destined for the bottom corner but for the hand of Anastasiadis making a save of excellence.
Whereas Carlton looked outclassed in the first half, they came to the fore in the second. Within ten minutes of the re-start, Andrew Packer had two wonderful opportunities.
"It was a typical tough old derby," said Carlton coach Stuart Munro after the game. "We gave the ball away far too often in the first half. You do that against a quality team like South Melbourne, they can hurt you."
"It took a few words at half-time to waken the guys up a bit, and I felt we turned the game around in our favour."
Packer's first arose as a consequence of a loose ball played by Andy Vlahos which fell to Carlton rather than its intended target. It was quickly moved to Packer who brought the best out of Petkovic in a diving save at his feet. Within seconds, the ball had been played back to Packer, this time wide on the right.
Petkovic this time needed to charge from his area in an attempt to close him down. Packer, aware of the possibilities, sent in a first-time looping shot which landed on the roof of the now unguarded net.
The signs were there, and the equaliser's arrival was both unsurprising and deserved.
Thompson, busy all game, found space on the right, drawing the defence towards him. Holding the ball up, he spotted Simon Colosimo making ground inside and gave him the ball. Colosimo - only off the plane from England two days before - used his close control to break through the South defence at the edge of the area, and with the assistance of Ange Motsiopoulos' wall-pass, swept the ball past Petkovic.
Motsiopoulos had only just entered the contest as a replacement for Packer, and - as last week - had provided a crucial touch to enable a Carlton score.
The game's balance held, but South's loss of Liparoti will be keenly felt.