Souths v Carlton

Round 14 report by David Arnold
South Melbourne v Carlton SC


Before the game, Hellas fans gathered at their end, Carlton fans at the other end. After the toss, the teams swapped sides so the fans had to as well. Do you think it's reasonable to allow 2-5 minutes for everybody to swap ends? What about having security clear an area for the large Carlton contingent to congregate in?

Nah, let's just kick off straight away and leave the Carlton fans to pick their spot between the Hellas fans. I realise I'm only a loser up in the stands with nothing better to do than highlight the inadequacies of security and policing at Bob Jane but still..

Very exciting game in front of a good crowd. Conory and Moreira named upfront for the blues (sigh) and DeAmicis was suspended? for Souths - good for Thompson who slaughtered Judas Vlahos.

Souths had the early running, but we had a 20 minute stretch in which we simply stuffed them no end. Marth headed over from a corner, Thompson dribbled into the box but hit the post, Moreira turned the defence but shot wide. Best stuff we've played for a long long time.

They scored when Trimboli? sent a channel ball which our defenders watched go past them (a familiar sight these days), somebody pulled it back to Trimboli who wrong footed Deano easily - his first goal of the season.

I think it was Blatsis who punched the ball away in the box contesting a header. We went absolutely mental and even the ref looked at us for a second or so before running away.

Souths defence was surprisingly ineffective given that Moreira and Conroy were pulling them apart and Thompson was playing brilliantly. Slater was crap, I've heard his knee's stuffed and he prefers playing behind the strikers.

Packer came on and sparked a fairly ordinary second half, as did Jonesy, who had 2 reasonable efforts from a header and free kick go over.

Carlton cannot claim to be squeaky clean in the fan deportment - about 20 bottles were thrown at Jones by some of our lower of IQ hooligans. Well at least the Mick Conroy "cheer" squad weren't there.

Gerard Healy, that well known supporter of the NSL, was allegedly broadcasting for 3AW. In all fairness, nothing REALLY happened. Only 1 flare!