Wednesday, 11 December 2002 12:00 AM
Most opposition teams feared travelling to Middle Park and continue to do so at Bob Jane Stadium. Throughout the years South Melbourne has and continues to have a formidable home record, which includes many consecutive home wins.
South Melbourne is currently on a five match undefeated streak at Bob Jane Stadium this season. In Round 3, the Albert Park club drew their first home match against Sydney United, but have since defeated Perth, Olympic, Knights, Marconi and Parramatta.
The Blue and Whites have had numerous home winning streaks, which range from four to seven consecutive victories at Middle Park and most recently Bob Jane Stadium. (does not include home finals games at another Melbourne venue).
South Melbourne has won seven successive matches at home on four occasions being in 1983, 1990/91 into season 1991/92, 1997/98 and 1998/99 into season 1999/2000.
As the saying goes “one game at a time”, but if Danny Wright and his players are victorious in their next two home matches, then the current South coach will join Ferenc Puskas, Ange Postecoglou and Len McKendry as the only NSL coaches to have achieved seven home successive wins at the Club. And who knows, with any luck Wright could go one better and push the streak to eight, creating another historic moment at South Melbourne.
Winning Streaks at home are as follows
(does not include home finals games at another Melbourne venue)
5 in a row:
1978 – Rounds 15 – 24
1981 – Rounds 1 – 9
1981 – Rounds 17 – 24
1989/90 – Rounds 1 – 9
2000/2001 – Rounds 23 – 30
1996/1997 – Round 19 until Elimination Final vs Knights Second Leg
2002/2003 – Round 5 – 11 (current)
6 in a row
1992/1993 – Round 24 – 26 until 1993/1994 in Round 6
1998/1999 – Rounds 9 – 20
7 in a row
1983 – Rounds 18 – 28 until 1984 Round 1 (Len McKendry)
1990/91 – Round 26 until 1991/92 Round 11 (Ferenc Puskas)
1997/98 – Round 9 to Round 23 (Ange Postecoglou)
1998/99 – Round 25 – Major Semi Final Leg 1 vs Sydney United until 1999/2000 Round 6 (Ange Postecoglou)