Let's try this again - Round 9, South Melbourne vs Fawkner

Last week was fine, but last round's consideration of adjustment/motivational response game is gone. Done and dusted. The real stuff starts this week, again. Can we finally get this season started well and truly? We're a third of the way in now.

Also, sincere apologies for the drop in quality as evidenced in yesterday's piece, and over the past 2-3 weeks in general. Hopefully all South of the Border's troubles will be over soon.

Last time they met
Round 22, 2007, at Lakeside Stadium

South Melbourne 0 Fawkner 0

In a largely even and uninspiring contest, Fawkner managed to squeeze out a point under then new coach Vlado Vanis, and may have had a goal denied by the linesman adjudicating that a shot had not crossed the line. Otherwise, this was essentially a contest between one side intent on throwing away their finals aspirations, and one side trying desperately to survive relegation. Both ended up succeeding

Preview
Fawkner were just about everyone's pre-season relegation favourite even before it was realised that four and not two teams would be relegated. And yet, even though they're in the relegation zone, they're still fighting on, and even managed to take maximum points away to Heidelberg. So they're not necessarily the easybeats their position has them to be. But really, South should belt this mob. Their playing stocks are weak, they're scoring at less than a goal a game while conceding two, and it's about time our side, with it's many talented players finally clicked into gear and showed a signal of intent that they will not meekly acquiesce, but fight on, and play football in the traditional South Melbourne Hellas fashion, one of feverish, relentless attack. To say that's all we ask for is perhaps an indication that we've moved away from the win at all costs mentality of yesteryear; but these are strange times to be a South fan, and while the club must look to the past for inspiration and guidance, there is also another chapter that needs to be written in an unfamiliar new era. South by 2-3 goals.