You can listen to all three interviews on the Tier Two Talk podcast here.
South Melbourne were crowned the inaugural winners of the Australian Championship on Saturday afternoon after a convincing 2-0 win against the Marconi Stallions. Marking the end of a 26-year wait for national glory.
“We were very organised. We knew what we wanted to do every single game,” South Melbourne head coach Sinisa Cohadzic said.
“When we started this journey, we said we're the best team, and it's come true.”
When Cohadzic took over South Melbourne at the start of May, after the departure of Esteban Quintas, the Hellas were facing one of their worst starts to an NPL season. Sitting 13th and in the relegation zone, two wins from their opening 12 games and in the midst of a 10-game winless run. The then-current champions of Victoria were facing an unfamiliar challenge and what seemed to be an impossible road back to national champions with the Australian Championship nearing kickoff.
Cohadzic would turn the Greek club's fortune around, ending the NPL season in ninth place and claiming their 10th Dockerty Cup. Though the club's most impressive feat would coincide with the club's return to the national stage, going undefeated throughout the entire tournament with eight wins out of nine.
“At some point during the year, we were really on the bad,” South Melbourne midfielder Nahuel Bonada said.
“We [were able to] turn things around because we have good people, and we worked really hard as well. So I can't be anything other than proud.”
South Melbourne’s success in the Championship largely reverts back to their defensive dominance. Zero goals conceded throughout the knockout stages and six clean sheets out of nine games, the Hellas defence was the strongest in this year's competition and ultimately proved the difference in their Championship-winning run.
“We've proven that over the past few years. We've always had a very solid defence,” South Melbourne defender Marco Jankovic said.
“Obviously, this year in the NPL, we let ourselves down a lot. But when you’ve got Javier [Lopez] between the sticks, saving penalties, saving goals. He makes it so easy for us. But we set up very well. And everyone works hard, not just the back four; everyone does.”
The sense of community was ever-present right throughout South Melbourne's return to the national stage, with adoring travelling support away from Lakeside and record-breaking crowds at home.
Saturday's final was no different, with a sea of blue and white filling the usually yellow and black stands of Heildebeg United, the Hellas supporters displayed a lot of mixed emotions at full-time. Relief that the South were able to get over the line after multiple grand final heartbreaks. Joy that the Hellas were once again Champions on the national stage. Justice that the previous four-time champions of Australia were able to compete in a national tournament after 21 years. Sadness for those who couldn’t see South Melbourne rise back to the national limelight. But the one overarching emotion felt both on and off the field was pride.
“It's all for them. It's all for the club, these people, to be honest,” Cohadzic said.
It's a big, big achievement for all of us, not just for the club; it's for all the people that come and support us, for the families, for ex-players, ex-board members, for all of them. We did it,” Bonada said.