Melbourne Knights greats reflect on their maiden NSL title as they prepare to face SA rivals in FFA Cup

Ahead of their 1994-95 grand final against star-studded Adelaide City the Melbourne Knights were missing key players and missing sleep after a pay dispute — and random wedding celebration — this is how they won.

Legends of former National Soccer League Club Melbourne Knights gather to reflect on their first title win in 1995 against Adelaide City, as the Knights prepare to play Adelaide United in Wednesday's FFA Cup. Left to right: Fausto De Amicis, Oliver Pondeljak, Mark Silic and Andrew Marth. Picture: Ian Currie

The championship window was closing for Melbourne Knights, who were threatening to become the NSL’s chokers after three grand final losses in four years.

Mark Viduka, the hottest Australian talent ever, headlined a host of emerging Knights stars who were playing their last game before joining European clubs.

If the 1994-95 grand final away to star-studded Adelaide City — the team that had beaten them in the last two grand finals in Melbourne — wasn’t daunting enough, star midfielders Danny Tiatto and Lubo Lapsansky were suspended, while players did not get to sleep until the wee hours after a pay dispute, and a random wedding celebration.

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Melbourne Knights great Mark Viduka holds off ex Socceroos captain Alex Tobin of Adelaide City. The clubs had some epic duels in the 1990s.

Melbourne Knights captain Andrew Marth holds the Knights’ first NSL trophy aloft in 1995.

“We thoroughly deserved that title after being runners up three times. I felt it was going to be a formality despite the turmoil we had the night before,” captain Andrew Marth said.

“We were a strong, united team. The club decided that only the 16 (on the teamsheet) would get paid if we win the grand final, not the suspended players — we weren’t happy.

“First myself, Steve Horvat and Dukes (Viduka) in a meeting, Then the whole team came in.

“After long negotiations, we came to a resolution. We had little sleep, some of us. We produced the goods the next day.”

Melbourne Knights midfielder Mark Silic (Left) chases Damian Mori (Right) in the 1994 grand final at Olympic Park. Mori scored the winning goal for Adelaide City.

While cagey about the details, the players admitted joining a wedding celebration at their hotel after tense talks concluded.

“Me and David Cervinski were the first ones to join the wedding party,’’ striker Ollie Pondeljak said.

“We used to joke around non-stop, especially in the dressingroom. But as soon as we got on the park, everyone knew their roles, backed each other up.”

Melbourne Knights midfielder Anthony Duzel, whose father Ivan played for the Knights in the ‘80s and ‘90s, will be a key player for the Knights in Wednesday’s FFA Cup clash at home to Adelaide United.

Knights junior Mark Silic revealed that the team bond that season was unbreakable.

“I’m not sure if we were invited to that wedding or whether we invited ourselves. Paps (defender Zoran Markovski) was in front and started the wedding train and Ollie soon joined in,” Silic said.

“On and off the park, it was one in all in. We knew we were going to win that grand final a few weeks before when we lost to Adelaide (in the major semi-final, without Viduka, who was on Young Socceroos duty).

Andrew Marth (R) is hugged my teammate Mark Silic after scoring the opener in the 1995 NSL grand final, as David Cervinski (no. 4) and Fausto De Amicis (no. 3) join in to celebrate.

“Our 20th player was hungry. There was no sooking from players (omitted).”

Fausto De Amicis joined the Knights a few years earlier and admitted they played hard on and off the field.

“For these guys it was just normal for them. If they didn’t (let their hair down), it would’ve worked (against us),’’ De Amicis said.

Club legends gathered at Knights Stadium to reflect on their first NSL title win against Adelaide City, as they prepare to play Adelaide United in Wednesday's FFA Cup. Left to right: Andrew Marth, Mark Silic, Ollie Pondeljak and Fausto De Amicis. Picture: Ian Currie

“I was fortunate to come here. I would drive from Rosanna to Sunshine to do a morning session with (coach) Mirko Bazic before coming back for the 6pm session. We all worked back then as well.

“We made the most of what we had and had huge respect for each other.”

In what many regard the highest-calibre season in Australian soccer history, 16 Socceroos (including greats Alex Tobin, Milan Ivanovic and Tony Vidmar) and four more Australian youth internationals featured in the final at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Marth, who captained both the Knights’ NSL sides, confirmed himself as a big-game player, scoring in three grand finals but admitted that 1994-95 season was special.

Knights defender Ante Kovacevic, who is now part of Adelaide United’s football operations, celebrates the grand final win with thousands of travelling fans at Hindmarsh Stadium.

“Seven players went overseas and played first-team football in high level first division teams in Europe. Not like these days unfortunately,’’ Marth said.

“We had players in that squad, myself and Fausto included, that didn’t go overseas. That team was phenomenal. Adelaide had an exceptional team also.

“We produced a Croatian captain in Joe Simunic (he came the next season) and the Socceroos captain in Viduka.”

Melbourne Knights greats Mark Viduka (left) and Josip Simunic (right) duelled during the epic 2006 World Cup clash between Australia and Croatia. Picture: Getty Images

Silic, who was part of the Young Socceroos squad that made the 1991 FIFA U20 World Cup semi-finals, believes players had sounder foundations in that era.

“We had hunger. As kids we were out in the streets all the time — car comes, you move the wickets. We were always out and about playing AFL, tennis, soccer,” Silic said.

“Today they’re on their iPhones, Playstations. They’re not working as much.

“The hunger we had isn’t there compared to before. There’s a lot of talent. The curriculum I don’t agree with at all. Australia, as a football nation, needs to rewind and simplify things with the kids.”