Social club artefact Wednesday - Team of the Century team sheet

I found a small bunch of these during my social club clean out a few years back. Not being there on the team of the century night, I assume these were made available on all the tables. Of course, the team of the century concept has always been something that's baffled me slightly, not only because it was clearly influenced by both the AFL's centenary celebrations as well as the millenarianism that was in vogue at the time, but also because the club was barely 41 years old and well short of the century mark. Of course as with all such endeavours there was also controversy regarding the selections. George Donikian noted at the time (in an interview with the Four Diegos I believe; wherever the link to that transcript was, it's now gone) that Ulysses Kokkinos was left out due to character issues. But perhaps the most interesting decision was to have Michael Petkovic in as first choice goalkeeper, ahead of the very popular Peter Laumets. While Petkovic did have the runs on the board with two national championships, his tenure at South up until that time had been comparatively brief; then again, Oscar Crino's South stint was much shorter. Petkovic is also the only person in the team of the century to have begun his South career in the 1990s - his 1996 starting date coming in seven years after the other most recent inductees. More disturbing perhaps in hindsight, is that due to the circumstances we find ourselves in, there will probably never be another player that could be included in any future or revised team of the century affair.

Petkovic hero for Sivasspor, saves three penalties

Last time we checked in with Michael Petkovic, he was scoring a near length of the pitch goal. This time he's in more familiar territory for a goalkeeper, saving three penalties in a cup shootout for Sivasspor against Galatasaray. Sivasspor also lead the Turkish Super Lig halfway through the season

Sivasspor topple Galatasaray in Turkish Cup

Sivasspor became the first side to book a place in the Turkish Cup semi-finals with the league leaders beating Galatasaray AŞ 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the 4 Eylül Stadium.

Late dismissal
Having drawn 1-1 at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium in the first leg, Bülent Uygun's side lost their theoretical advantage within eight minutes of kick-off when Arda Turan scored for Galatasaray after robbing İbrahim Dağaşan. However, the Anatolian side responded on 30 minutes through a brilliant long-range strike from Yannick Kamanan. Sivasspor's Mehmet Yıldız was sent off deep into extra time but there was to be no winning goal.

'Cruel victory'
Australian goalkeeper Michael Petkovic then saved shoot-out penalties from Arda, Ümit Karan and Yaser Yıldız, with Hakan Balta the only scorer for Galatasasary, while Mamadou Diallo, Pini Balili and Kamanan scored for Sivasspor after Ali Kurtuluş missed their first effort. "Today there was good competition on the pitch throughout the 120 minutes, and although it is a cruel victory for us – as it always is with penalties – we are happy to be in the semi-finals," said Bülent Uygun.

Michael Petkovic, proven goalscorer

How about this for a long range effort?



At least someone South related knows how to shoot from range. Pity he's on the other side of the world when we need him most. Also saved a penalty, and his side won 3-2 to be a point off top spot. Always knew we had the better of the two brothers.