WITH overseas clubs circling, it did not take long for the Melbourne Knights teams of the title-winning 1994-95 and 1995-96 National Soccer League seasons to break up.
But for a few brief hours during the club’s reunion weekend, the Knights were able to re-assemble the majority of both squads.
It was the first time either squad had largely been in the same room together since those championship wins.
Many of the club’s biggest names were involved.
Mark Viduka, whose name adorns the stand at Knights Stadium, was in attendance at Saturday night’s gala ball, which featured a video presentation of each grand final and clips of media coverage of both seasons.

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The return of former Knights coach Ian Dobson to the helm of Green Gully has spelt disaster for the enterprising Melbourne Knights who have now lost their  last three games on the trot.
Ivan Duzel was presented with a big selection headache early in the week when given the news that both first choice strikers, Jean Charles Dubois and Tommy Ples would be unavailable due to suspension and injury. This left makeshift forward Gazmend Ajdini the job of leading the line for the injury depleted Knights.
In a goalless first half, the Knights looked the more dangerous thanks to the efforts of Adrian Zahra in midfield and Kevin Townson up forward.  Gully goalkeeper Nikola Roganovic was forced to keep the scoreline locked at 0-0 when Zahra's effort was rocketing in towards the top corner. The young custodian expertly parried the ball past the post.

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All the plans have been put into place as the Melbourne Knights hope to relive some of the glory and passion of winning the National Soccer League this weekend.
Many would agree that it is the pinnacle achievement of a diaspora community which although small, always had an unrivalled passion for soccer and its club.
It’s great to see that the club has gotten back on its feet this year through the support of the same community which has sustained it over the decades. The Championship reunion celebrations kick off on Saturday night with a sold out Gala Night at the Australian Croatian Association Melbourne.
Every player has confirmed their attendance except for Krešimir Marušić and Josip Šimunić who are both overseas.
Eccentric media personality Andy Paschalidis will run the Gala night which has some very big surprises in store - and a huge array of memorabilia up for grabs. The night is sure to be one to remember and will certainly be talked about for years to come.

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At the conclusion of the 1994/95 season, Melbourne Knights met Adelaide City for the third time in a Grand Final, but this time in Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium. The Knights were dominant, winning 2-0 with goals from captain Andrew Marth and striker Joe Spiteri. A long-awaited breakthrough was made; the Knights won their first NSL Championship after years of disappointment. Hysteria ensured at Tullamarine Airport when thousands of thrilled fans welcomed their boys home with the cup.   
Against all odds, the Knights defended their NSL title the following year, despite having a number key of players moving overseas in the off-season, as well as the loss of super coach Mirko Bazić who was replaced by former Knights player Ian Dobson. In the Grand Final the Knights met Marconi, a match they went into missing a further three players due to international duty with the Olyroos; Joe Spiteri, Frank Jurić and Danny Tiatto.

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Many believe that fortune favours the brave and the bold. The Melbourne Knights of 2010 under coach Ivan Duzel are both brave and bold in their style of play and committment. Duzel would probably disagree that fortune has favoured his side thus far in the Victorian Premier League.
A ten minute double salvo from Adriano Chiappetta made sure that Northcote City would keep the points against an extremely star-crossed Knights side who have come off with some very unlucky results in the past few weeks.
The game started off in typical fashion with the Knights dominating possession and playing to their slick passing system. It immediately reaped rewards when Gazmend Ajdini was brought down in the 2nd minute of the game after being put through one on one with the keeper and being upended. Liam Cannell stepped up to take his first of two penalties for the match. His effort was well placed but unfortunately for the Knights midfielder, Northcote’s keeper, Chris Theodoridis-Petropoulos picked the correct side and kept Northcote in the contest.

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A goal from Kevin Townson was not enough for the Melbourne Knights to hold on for their fourth win of the season after two quick goals from Bentleigh closed the game.
The Knights started the more attacking of the two sides and saw chances fall to Gazmend Ajdini and Kevin Townson, although both shot just wide.
It was good work through Ben Surey which fed through Adrian Zahra on the right wing which led to the Knights first goal in the 17th minute. The agile winger sped past his marker to pin point a cross onto the head of Kevin Townson who made a superb run into the area from deep in midfield, meeting the ball at the back post to put the Knights in front. One - nil and it looked as though Bentleigh had no answers for a speedy Knights side who were attacking in droves and seemed to be opening the game up and threatening to open the floodgates. To Bentleigh’s credit though they absorbed the pressure and equalised only six minutes later against the run of play. An Alex Rojas ball floated from a set piece just inside the Bentleigh attacking half saw Knights keeper Ante Loncaric hesitate in getting to the ball to clear the danger – giving Luke Fitzpatrick the opportunity to flick his header past the Knights custodian who was stuck in no man’s land. The Knights kicked off and tried to continue with their slick possession play but it all came unstuck only four minutes later when Bentleigh leading goal scorer Dado Lokvancic shot a speculative effort from just outside the box to Loncaric’s far left corner which the keeper initially kept out – with former Heidelberg midfielder Anthony Ouliaris having the easiest of tap ins to but the Greens in front. The Knights were down 2-1 and seemingly had done little wrong.

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A well organised South Melbourne outfit did just enough to grind out a win against an out of sorts Melbourne Knights outfit which only woke up and began putting some real pressure on the opposition goal in the last 15 minutes.
The match opened up with some very free play from both teams, although South Melbourne did look to have some luck on their side with many stray passes finding their man, while the Knights had the bad luck of having the same sorts of passes being turned over - turning attack into defence. South Melbourne's first chance came in the 27th minute with new signing Joe Keenan cutting into the box around Daniel Rocco and curling the ball past an outstretched Ante Loncaric. It was as this stage that South Melbourne sat back and soaked up pressure from the Knights link up play between Ben Surey and Kevin Townson who beat South captain Ramazan Tavsancioglou on...
 

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The Melbourne Knights have overcome the N.T.C, even though they were down to nine men for the final ten minutes, after bizarre turn of events at Knights Stadium.
Melbourne’s Jacob Colosimo found himself with a lot of space outside the 18-yard box in just the first minute, but his shot just flew over the bar.
N.T.C punished the Knights just minutes later when an unmarked John Reale slotted home the opener courtesy of a back post half volley from close range. Reale’s shot was too good for Melbourne Knights’ Antony Loncaric.
N.T.C had the chance to go two up after Luke O’Dea was pulled down in the box after an exciting run down the left wing. To the N.T.C’s frustration O’Dea failed to convert his own penalty, as Knights’ keeper Antony Loncaric easily parried it away for a corner.

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Friday night football in the Victorian Premier League saw a new look Melbourne Knights dominate an Oakleigh side who were lost for ideas when presented with the Knights attacking pressure football system.
Oakleigh lined up with no less than three Knights players from 2009, Cameron Watson, Jamie Cumming and John Fitzgerald. Knights leading goalscorer Jean Charles Dubois had an opening in the first minute when the lively Adrian Zahra combined with Kevin Townson to put the nippy Frenchman through on goal with only the keeper to beat but his powerful effort was saved by Oakleigh's new recruit from Brisbane Roar, Jamie McMaster.

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A sense of relief settled on Knights Stadium last night as the Melbourne Knights recorded their first win of the 2010 season. Another healthy crowd of over 1,400 witnessed the Knights concede early on through some good work by ex-Knight Daniel Visevic who finished his opportunity well. But true to form, the Knights character shone through almost immediately as Kevin Townson drilled in a corner onto the head of Jean-Charles Dubois who's header bulleted into the net past an outstretched Stjepan Gal in the 14th minute.
The Knights controlled the tempo of the game from that point on - and the inclusion of Daniel Rocco returning from injury being key to settling a defence that has leaked some soft goals in recent weeks. It also allowed utility Liam Cannell to slot into the midfield coming out from the sweeper position.

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