A Knight of nights
THE Gold Coast Knights must tonight smash a long hoodoo if they are to become Premier League grand final champions for the first time.
The Knights, who have played under a variety of names since their St Anthony Croatia days in the 1970s, take on Broadbeach United in the big decider at the Croatian Sports Centre tonight.
As St Anthony the club won a PL title in 1984, then as Gold Coast Knights two more titles came in 2003 and 2008.
“The Knights have played in three grand finals but lost all of them to Burleigh Heads,” Football Gold Coast boss Damien Bresic, a Knights life member, said.
The Knights chase history just a season after winning promotion after winning the Coast League 1 double.
“It’s a grand final and anybody can win,” said Knights coach Alex Morrison when asked if he is concerned by Broadbeach’s vast experience in premiership deciders.
The Dolphins, who won the 2016 League title, are contesting an eighth grand final in nine seasons, winning five of those. “There are no guarantees in these matches because anything can happen,” Morrison added.
“Yes, Broadbeach have big experience in grand finals but once the first whistle blows it’s up for grabs – and we’ve had players who know what big matches are about.”
The big decider pits two teams who have dominated the competition this season.
The Knights edged the Dolphins in the race for the league championship but fell to their rivals in the major semi in a penalty shootout.
In Round 5, Broadbeach won 4-0 at Broadbeach; in Round 12 it was 4-0 to the Knights at the Croatian Sports Centre; and in Round 19 it was 1-1 at Broadbeach.
It was the semi-final victory that convinced Broadbeach coach Lee Vernon his side can do the job tonight.
“We showed want we’re capable of in that last game,”
he said. “If we take our chances then we’re right in with a big shot but our focus is on being more clinical when we go into our attacking area.”
Vernon hailed the Knights’ strike combo of Andrew Barisic and Teddy Watson, who have scored almost 50 goals this year.