Carlton outplayed, outhustled, and out-desired against Minor Premiers South Melbourne by five goals to nil at South's Bob Jane Stadium tonight in wet and windy conditions. It was South's first home loss of the season, and the win propelled South and Carlton into a re-match in the Finals a fortnight hence.
After it was clear Carlton were going to triumph - and that was clear before the first half had ended - the crowd's attention was diverted to Gippsland, where Adelaide City was playing Falcons. What was at stake in the results of these two matches was runners-up spot, a week's break before the first Finals game, and a direct patch into the Grand Final.
Midway into the second half, the first progress score was announced - Gippsland were leading, and in so doing, levitating Carlton into the coveted second place.
But let's not be churlish here, it wasn't events at Gippsland that gave Carlton a triumphant end to their first Ericsson Cup home and away season, it was a rampant display in the wet at South's own ground. And South were League leaders.
With twenty-two minutes gone, Vlahos gave a hint of what was to follow when he whipped around Liparotti, faced Petkovic who successfully pushed him wide before shooting into the side netting from an acute angle. But a minute later Vlahos was celebrating a more productive effort. Marusic had shot from outside the penalty-area, Petkovic had blocked, but not held the ball, and Vlahos was first in to batter the ball home.
Six minutes later Markovski, a perennial thorn in at least the South supporters' minds, and tonight the players' as well, was brought down and converted the resultant penalty.
Before 40 minutes had passed, it was clear this was to be Carlton's night. Markovski was again the scorer, this time direct from a free-kick 25 metres out following a foul on Marusic.
South's midfield passing was going awry in the conditions, and because Carlton denied them the space, and to be fair, the ball on most occasions.
Eighteen minutes into the second half, Marusic caused an exodus of home supporters unwilling to bear any more. Markovski sent in a ball from the left, Marusic controlled it with his back to goal, turned to find some space, and found the net beating Petkovic low to his right post.
This was a signal from both benches to get substitutes into action. Carlton captain Sean Douglas was rewarded with an early shower, and Clarkson and Curcija came on for John Athanasiadis and Trimboli.
As a mark of South's attack being eclipsed, the first shot of note was unleashed by Damianos with fewer than ten minutes remaining. Although it beat Dean Anastasiadis, it rebounded from the angle.
Just before the end, Bresciano made it five when he picked up a misplaced defensive clearance, stepped around a challenge on the 18 yard line, and belted the ball past Petkovic.
And so now the crowd awaited scores from other grounds. When it came, it confirned two things: South would play Carlton again a fortnight later in the match to determine the first of the Grand-Finalists; and, no matter what that result, the Grand Final would be in Melbourne.