What the coaches had to say on the Grand Final
Ernie Merrick never had any doubts, while Aurelio Vidmar praised his players effort.
Hot favourites going into the match after dispatching the Reds 6-0 on aggregate in the Major Semi-Final, and having smashed the same team 6-0 in the decider two years ago, Merrick had been predicting a much tighter affair this time around.
And that's how it panned out, with the visitors losing striker Cristiano in the 10th minute for a stray elbow that left Rody Vargas bleeding from a head wound before Tom Pondeljak's goal on the hour was followed soon after by Danny Allsopp's dismissal.
But while Adelaide followed a defensive first-half display after going a man down by attacking hard in the opening period of the second half, and then made a strong charge in search of a late equaliser, Merrick said he was always confident.
"It was one of those games that probably wasn't pretty, it was an edgy sort of game," Merrick said. "We probably could have gone ahead early if Eugene Galekovic hadn't pulled off a couple of terrific saves."
"And when they went down to 10 men they were very hard to break down, the bus was firmly there … and they were breaking well. But our boys hung in there, Tommy scored a fantastic goal, and we gutsed it out right to the end and I guess that's the sign of a championship team."
"But at no stage was I disappointed, I always felt confident with this team, it's a team you just go, 'this is a good team', and they could just about cope with anything and they did. I have to say I never had doubts about tonight at any stage."
Chuffed to have completed the Pre-Season Cup, Premiers' Plate and Championship treble, Merrick was just as delighted by the result because of the responsibility the players took in all aspects of the team.
"I have enjoyed this year, I think it's because the players have taken so much ownership of the team and the support staff have been fantastic," he added.
"You always know the board's going to be behind you, and just all the way through everything just ran so smoothly … and I had the most relaxed day and I'm going to stay longer than 20 minutes at the after-party tonight, I'm going to make the most of it."
Meanwhile Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar lamented the sending off of Brazilian striker Cristiano, which he believes might have proved the difference between his side winning and losing the match.
Vidmar said afterwards that given his team had pushed Melbourne so close, the loss of a player so early in the game was crucial.
"If we had 11 men on the park, we would have got a lot more out of it," he said.
"I certainly thought that we had the upper hand. Unfortunately when you go down to ten men, it changes your game plan, and made it very difficult, but I couldn't be any prouder of the players tonight," he said.
Vidmar's assessment of his team's effort was the polar opposite to the spray he gave his men two weeks ago. The Adelaide coach said each one of his players had carried out their job to the letter and with the passion required in such an important match.
"It was a fantastic effort. They really wore their hearts on their sleeves tonight, they did everyone proud, they did the state proud, they did themselves proud, everyone involved in the club," he said.
"They had a lot of passion and a lot of pride in that performance tonight. Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn't go you way, but I can't fault anyone tonight. It was a magnificent effort and we certainly deserved more."