The Melbourne Victory are A-League Champions for 2017-18 after defeating the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium, with a controversial ninth-minute goal to Kosta Barbarouses enough to seal the crown.
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In a match full of drama, intrigue and controversy the Victory reigned supreme and turned around early season woes to hold aloft the trophy against popular expectations.
The first half was played in a sparkling manner by the Jets and they were by far the better team with 65 per cent of possession and numerous chances on the Victory goal. Unfortunately for them, the Victory were able to snatch an early lead after Barbarouses converted from a Leroy George cross after nine minutes.
Sadly for this grand final, the video replay showed that there was an off-side from the free kick and the goal should not have been allowed.
Subsequently, the Victory did well to hang on for the remainder of the half and took a slender advantage into the break after having little of the play in the first forty-five.
The second-half was in direct comparison with far less entertaining football played and the Victory stifling the Jets attack brilliantly. In fact, it was the visitors who had the better of the chances in the second period.
Some hard challenges bled into the game late and the replacements were used well by Victory to run clock and grind the game down as they held onto their lead.
In one last flourish, a Newcastle free into the box saw Roy O’Donovan attack the head of Lawrence Thomas with his boot and lay the Victory keeper prostrate for the second time in the match.
It was a horrible challenge and one that will see a significant sanction for the Irishman. It led to an agonising eight minutes of added time in total until the final whistle blew and the Victory were crowned champions.
For a team that started the season poorly, failed in Asia and had an ageing striker who was apparently letting them down each week, they did okay. So much so, that they are the champions of Australia after finishing fourth on the ladder and knocking off the top two in the finals’ series.
Final score
Newcastle Jets 0
Melbourne Victory 1
shirtpants
Roar Guru
@Nem - the statement just released contradicts your understanding. There was a technical error and so camera angles weren't available to be ruled on. The goal would have been ruled out it seems
shirtpants
Roar Guru
Well I think Sydney were the best side for the whole season, including the finals if you add points for semi final and final results.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
The guy needs to be shipped out of the A-league.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Not a problem Waz. I don't see any of your comments as getting personal or nasty - I think it was just the heat of the moment, like seeing some Jet's fans crying last night. I kinda felt for them :(
Nemesis
Guest
@Waz My comment about VAR are not my opinion. They are facts as stated in IFAB's "Handbook on VAR Implementation". You can have your own opinions on VAR. You cannot have your own facts. Kosta has been terrific in the Finals. I'd choose Christian Theoharous over him every day. He's technically far superior than Kosta. Kosta has a good engine & has now started using that engine. But, his touch is nowhere near the quality I expect from professional footballers. PS: Since you've attacked me personally, I'll attack back. Waz, you are proven to be a perennial whinger on this forum. The fact you support Brisbane Roar means you are also now a perennial loser. No doubt, you'll go squealing to the moderators now.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Very simply, they could have arranged the transfer, then included a loan back for Nabbout till after the finals. The problem with transfers is agents can get fees off them so they are desperate to make them happen They won't advise their players on what is best for their careers that should have been Merricks job.. The other problem is Merrick how many times has he stuffed up, he let Fred go and then said they could not match the offer. The MLs salaries showed Fred was on 150 thousand only. What about Riera who went back to work as a paramedic, so what did Merrick offer him must have been absolute peanuts .Another excuse Riera preferred being semi professional. Obvioulsy Merrick was counting on the two foreign stars who would not run a few meters to win a ball in the grand final. Just like he could not work out that Fred and Riera where two of the best players in the history of the A-league , Merrick could not work out the importance of Nabbout in this team was 100% not even 99%, because of Nabbout speed and physical strength to chase and win balls the whole game plan was thrown to the dogs along with season and grand final. You dismissed the obvious and kept saying how good the Jets would be with their all the foreigners like everyone else.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Nemesis You have actually proven to be wrong on many things this season it seems you come here just for the argument. The FFA instructions to linesmen were very clear, and public, it was to keep the flag down and let VAR sort it out. But 3 people standing offside when the ball is kicked, one of whom then has the goal assist, is a clear and obvious error which should be enough even for your warped logic. Just like you were wrong over international breaks, and the $100m+ tv contract, and TEN providing a viewing boost, and wrong when you aggressively argued crowds and viewing figures wouldn’t be down badly this seaso despite the evidence of the first 9 rounds, opinions you aggressively promoted in these pages .... I think you’re wrong on VAR as well. It’s choking the game in controversy we don’t have to have. Oh, by the way, do you remember when you said Kosta Barbarouses was passed it and should be dropped for Theo ? Delicious. See you next season, enjoy Russia.
Lionheart
Guest
Grand final reality hits the Jets. The VAR was a shocker, but really, is anyone surprised that the VAR should feature thus? again. Even with that error however, the Jets still had plenty of time to score, and they didn't, thanks largely to some excellent goal keeping. End of a great season for Newcastle. Congratulations to MV and SFC, our winners for season 2017-18.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Sorry Stevo. Nothing personal. It’s just there is a feeling in Roar against City generally, not exactly sure why there just is.
fadida
Guest
And he won't be able to. He'll claim "cover up and conspiracy" without making any sense
chris
Guest
If the VAR was not in place we would all have had a whinge but in the end we would say "thats football". To have the VAR there, and they STILL get it so hopelessly wrong just defies logic. And it leaves everyone more angry and more frustrated. Just get rid of it.
Mattyb
Guest
Victory were the best team for the year,that's why sport has finals,to sort the contenders from the pretenders. The best team for the year won the big games,the games that really matter,the rest is just a minor prelude.
adam3000
Guest
How can any player, up from CB, for a free kick be deemed passive? Even if the kick isn't directed to that player they've drawn defenders attention, changed defensive positioning
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I've calmed down since last night to see your comment in a light hearted way ;)
Nemesis
Guest
"Clear and obvious error” isn’t the requirement for offside. " How about people read the VAR protocol that was published by IFAB? The protocol clearly states: The referee's decision can ONLY BE CHANGED if the video review shows a CLEAR ERROR i.e. not 'was the decision correct?' but: 'was the decision clearly wrong'? That's the fundamental basis upon which VAR is based. There is no specific protocol for "offside decisions". The protocol refers to VAR being used for four categories of match-chaning incidents: 1) Goals 2) Penalty/no penalty 3) Direct Red Card 4) Mistaken identity.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Good entertaining first half of football - second half, was very poor football---dished up from both sides.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
I would still like to see attacking players in *set pieces only* stand on the shoulder or behind the defenders for when the ball is kicked. As a TV viewer let alone the ref or linesman, it would be easier to tell if the goal is legal or not. As it stands, it is impossible to tell without VAR assistance if the goal is legal or not, and that is the problem. Get back to the original offside rule for *set plays only*.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“Clear and obvious error” isn’t the requirement for offside. Leading 1-0 v Glory, maccarone smacked the ball in to the net only to have it rulled offside by the flag and premature referees Whistle. Replays showed he was actually on side and the goal should have stood (Roar went on to lose 2-1). In response to this, and similar incidents, the FFA issued new instructions for assistants to keep their flags down when it’s too tight to call and let VAR sort it out if a goal is scored. No need for a clear and obvious error just a post-goal assessment of on or offside? So the on-field officials did the right thing last night, and the VAR then said it was on-side. The vast majority of comment disagrees this morning - most believe it was offside and so the game is consumed in major controversy. Whether it was on or off side is not the point. The point is VAR is unable to resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the majority and instead of ending/reducing controversy its increased it. The supporters of VAR promised the technology would end the debates. Well VAR hasn’t, it’s made things much worse - VAR needs to go.
LuckyEddie
Guest
Kanga you are being kind about that debacle. I would just like to point out one thing to the wasting coaches, diving players, flawed techno junkies and impotent FFA - Do you expect people to continue paying to watch this rubbish???????
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
It was very hard to tell if it was off side or not. Perhaps a tweaking of the rule should be in order 'for set plays only'. I would like to trial the rule where players standing deliberately in an off side position in set plays are called off side when the ball is kicked. As it stands it is impossible for the ref and linesman to tell who is playing at the ball in a passive offside or offside position.