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Harry Kewell will lead the charge for Victory
Actually, when it comes to the Roman Empire, the A-League has an uncanny resemblance. Just like Rome was the seat of power in the Roman Empire, so is Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Just ask the club and their multitudinous fans. They see the rest of the competition, with understandable hubris, as uncivilized outposts of their empire that only exist to be pillaged.
Even the fate of dual championship winning leader Ernest Merrick spookily recalls the fate of Julius Caesar. “Beware the Ides of March” the soothsayers whispered to Ernie as he fatefully boarded the plane to Japan. And just like Julius, poor Ernest was stabbed by the newly appointed Melbourne Victory senators.
The new Victory regime, led by Anthony Di Pietro, promised an era of uninhibited football hedonism and lured Australia’s sexiest footballing gladiator, Harry Kewell, to satiate their legion of fans at the disliked Etihad Collesseum.
Melbourne Victory’s legendary active supporters did not sit idly by during the seven month hiatus leading to A-League VII. They were busy negotiating the Charter for Football Supporter Management with their match day adversaries, the Victorian Police.
Included in the charter is the welcome introduction of Supporter Marshalls, lower profile policing and educating the police in football fan culture. For more information just click here.
In the new spirit of accord, Sergeant Brown, of the Victorian Police, and Tunna, of the Blue and White Brigade, had the following exchange:
“Mr Tunna, what are you going to put on the banner for the opening game of the season against Sydney FC?”
“Sergeant Brown, the banner will say – NOS ES PEDIFOLLIUM”
“But Mr. Tunna, surely, that is illegal”
“Relax, Sergeant Brown, it’s Latin for WE ARE FOOTBALL”
“Well, Mr. Tunna, I guess you learn something new everyday. But shouldn’t we notify Hatamoto. Remember the Eureka flag issue? When they see the banner they’ll put the BWB on the Sex Offenders watchlist.”
Good luck to your teams this opening round. I hope you get a chance to get to a game and remember WE ARE FOOTBALL.
The Mug’s Guide To Picking Winners This Weekend
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Heart, Saturday 4.30pm (EDT) Ausgrid Stadium
With Branko Culina unceremoniously hooked off the stage at the season launch I can’t see the Jets overcoming the turmoil, on and off the field, in the opening match of the season against Melbourne Heart.
In normal circumstances, the sacking of a manager produces a win the following game but, in this case, the Jets are not bouncing back from a series of poor performance. So, ditch the theory.
Prediction: New Heart captain Fred to set up five golden assists but the rusty Heart strikers to put only one away against a stubborn Jets defence. Jets 0 – Heart 1
Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC, Saturday, 6.30pm (EDT) Etihad Stadium
Unless you’re a Jets or Heart fan, this is the season opener everyone is waiting for with Kewell and Emerton making their debuts in front a big, passionate crowd at Etihad Stadium.
Both teams will play 4-2-3-1. If Sydney can deny Victory quality possession in the midfield they are in with a chance. The form of the 2 defensive midfielders for Sydney will be pivotal. Will Lavicka be brave enough to give young Antonis a start in a fiery derby?
Prediction: Kewell to score on debut and lift the roof off the stadium, a Brett Emerton assist for Sydney and a dodgy penalty to win it for Victory. Victory 2 – Sydney 1
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners, Saturday, 8.45pm (EDT) Suncorp Stadium
Yesterday’s official announcement of the foreign takeover of Brisbane Roar by the Indonesian Barkie Group heralded a new era in the A-League. It was the day the Brisbane Roar became the Bintang Roar.
The happenings off the field will not affect Ange Postecoglou. He’s been too busy with his jigsaw puzzle trying to get the new pieces to fit into his fluid 4-3-3. Thus, he provides Arnold’s more stable line-up a golden chance to overcome the torment of last year’s Grand Final loss.
Prediction: Bright new talent, Ibini-Isei to score for the Mariners and Arnie’s torment to continue as a disjointed Roar snatch another late equalizer. Roar 1 – Mariners 1
Gold Coast United v Wellington Phoenix, Sunday, 5pm (EDT), Skilled Park
The unanimous picks to finish in the bottom two square off in front of Clive Palmer and few of his mates. Gold Coast in the off-season went cut price and triple Dutch, picking up Beekmans, Jungschlager and Rigters. The Phoenix picked up, Dani Sanchez, the first Spaniard to play in the A-League. He’s Spanish, so he must be good at football.
Prediction: 3686 – Oops, that the crowd number. Here’s the score, Gold Coast 1 – Phoenix 0
Perth Glory v Adelaide United, nib Stadium, Sunday, 7.30pm (EDT)
Adelaide, the team considered to have an astute manager and strongest, most balanced squad open their season by traveling out West to play against the perennial flops with the most maligned manager. In football, this can only mean one thing. A Perth Glory win.
New Glory import Liam Miller will draw Broich-like comparisons, the hanging jury will have to re-think Ferguson’s ability as a manager and the fans in the Shed will dream of silverware. Well, only for one week, anyway.
Prediction: Travis Dodd to score the winner after Adelaide import Levchenko gets distracted by someone waving a chocolate bar in the crowd. Glory 2 – Adelaide 1
Athas Zafiris is on Twitter @ArtSapphire
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