A NEW chapter will be written in the Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne rivalry at Lakeside Stadium this Sunday.
A derby that has stood the test of time in Victorian soccer is set to ignite the tribes once more.
The two clubs have enjoyed classic battles for over 50 years, played by some of the greats of the game in this country with legendary moments adding to the rich history.
Knights coach Paul Magdic has experienced the derby from all angles as a supporter, a player and now as a coach, and he says nothing compares to the Knights-South rivalry within the Football Federation Victoria ranks.
“There’s no bigger rivalry in the VPL. It’s always a big game, an electric atmosphere. Of course I’ll be mentioning the rivalry during the week and what it means to the club.”
Magdic took a trip down memory lane to reflect on the moments he treasures from the Knights-South derbies.
One of his earliest memories was attending the Knights’ first National Soccer League grand final in the 1990-91 season, which happened to be the only time these two rivals squared off in the decider.
A crowd of over 23,000 flocked to Olympic Park to witness a thriller, won on 5-4 penalties by South Melbourne after the game was locked at 1-1 at the end of extra time.
The circumstances are a whole lot different for the Knights this weekend, in the VPL bottom three and desperate to get one over the arch-rival.
Magdic says his team has been a touch unlucky with results this season, but used the slow starts and strong finishes of Green Gully and Heidelberg United last season as a signal of hope that all is not lost.
“Last season, Heidelberg struggled to round 10 and then went on a run to be one of the teams in the competition,” he said.
“Green Gully won a championship after a terrible start. It’s amazing what a win can do for your confidence.”
It will be just an added bonus if that win comes against South Melbourne on the road on Sunday. Kick-off is at 5pm.
