All involved in the A-League’s only cross-town rivalry agree, the Melbourne Victory-Melbourne Heart showdown can become the competition’s best non-finals occasion.
After just 14 months and four derbies, the Heart and Victory have a chance on Friday night to cement their clashes as the most anticipated fixtures on the calendar.
Both are in the top six, both are in winning form and they square off in front of what is expected to be a sellout 28,000-crowd at their shared home of AAMI Park.
In what has been a one-team, one-town competition, other A-League derbies have been built on shared states, highways or history.
The only cross-town rivalry could offer an A-League equivalent – albeit on a smaller scale – to the AFL’s Anzac Day match between Collingwood and Essendon, South Australia’s Showdown or the West Coast-Fremantle derby.
“It’s what this town needed, it gets people talking as well,” said Victory captain Adrian Leijer, who admitted his teammates were buzzing with anticipation at training on Monday.
“People saying `I don’t like Victory’ or `I don’t like Heart’ – that’s what football is all about.
“The cross-town rivalry’s a special one – Liverpool, Manchester, Spain, Italy, there’s fantastic rivalries.
“That’s what the game should be, and for the game to evolve, we need it.”
Heart’s players and staff are equally excited and, this time round, more than bragging rights are at stake.
With both teams so close in a congested league, the Victory would go above the Heart on goal difference with a win, or the Heart would clear out from their rivals with all three points.
Leijer said the established club versus new boys rivalry added another layer.
And the Victory’s convincing 3-1 win over Wellington and Heart’s 2-1 triumph over Glory last weekend showed both teams are among the league’s best right now.
“We’ve got the big-name players, they’re playing some great football,” Leijer said.
“They’re moving forward and we’re going to have to be on our toes.
“Two days before Christmas, it’s a fantastic way for it to come about.
“We’re excited about it, the fans are excited about it. We can’t wait to get out there.”
Star striker Archie Thompson took part in the team recovery session on Monday, with Leijer and the club dispelling any doubts about his fitness for the derby.
Thompson left the field with a rolled ankle late against the Phoenix.
But Leijer said Thompson was fine and talking about his role for Friday night.
Dean
Guest
Absolutely - it's a no-brainer for the FFA. The Christmas Clasico - love it!
Dean
Guest
A bloke on Twitter has just reported: @pguen Even SBS Vietnamese radio is excited about the derby, they've been talking about football for a decent 15 mins. #mvfc #untappedmarket There is a huge untapped football market in Australia - it's up to each HAL club to go other there and embrace the football community and make people want to belong to their club. Just as 18k MVFC fans and I love to belong to MVFC. I don't recall even 1% of this type of hype before any domestic H&A game during the NSL years. With each Derby, the passion has increased. Can you imagine the intensity if MVFC v Heart were to be the 2012 HAL Grand Final?
Jimmy
Guest
Apparently the Heart fans have got some fan magazine coming out for the game, be interested to check it out. Do the Victory guys do a fanzine as well, anyone know?
pete4
Guest
Really looking forward to the match too!! Also hopefully Sydney can have it's own derby sooner rather than later...
Rellum
Roar Guru
I do hope the Xmas eve Derby game turns into a of a tradition.
nordster
Guest
'bleeds, it leads' its not just football coverage ... though given the limited space our game gets, it tends to skew more that way. And the simple narrative is easier. As a sub at news ltd told me, they edit the paper to be understood by your average nine year old. Not that this is their average readers age, just intelligence level. No kidding... :(
Kasey
Guest
I don't work in the newspaper industry, perhaps journos only get paid if their articles get published? If the soccer journo knows that articles that talk up the game just wont make the cut, then perhaps this is why we see articles bitching about the price of GF tickets (which eventually sold out!) and why we don't see in the lead up to the SEQ 'derby' we don't see an article on how Miron Blieberg might sound like a bit of a clown with his red-hot sound bites, but he actually is a bit of a master tactician...and here's how he could win the big game. Would your stereotypical Courier Fail reader read that article(judgement call made by editor) This is part of the reason why traditional media is dying and why it is less important to the future of the A-League. The fans of the league know they won't get what they need in traditional MSM, so increasingly they look towards the interwebs and associated media.
Dean
Guest
MelbCro I thought you didn't attend HAL football so how do you know what type of person attends MVFC games?
MelbCro
Guest
"16 year old wannabe hooligans thrive at Heart!" Thats exactly how I would describe a large section of the Victory supporterbase.
Australian Rules
Guest
Why do you talk about John Kosmina like that?
Stevo
Guest
jb, it's QLD what do you expect! The Roar v CCM match last week was not available live as a radio broadcast, instead ABC Brisbane had the Coodabeens and Grandstand had the T20 from Melbourne. You would have thought that a top of the table clash might have got the local media interested? Apparently not. When the Roar were gunning to go 36 unbeaten, Anna Bligh was invited to the match as well as some other "dignitary" (I can't recall the name). Neither could be bothered (or had other commitments?). So in QLD, the state that wants to be seen as progressive, open to the world and challenging NSW and Vic, can't be bothered with a "foreign" game.
Wotdoo
Guest
After the first game last season including the loss I think that was the best game I have been to. Action good crowd in the end doesn't really matter who wins so Long as it's an enjoyable game of football. Can't wait for it
Philip
Guest
Should be big! Early forecast is around 30C during the day and forecast not likely to change much between now and Friday. Christmas shopping will be all but done. As you say Dean, corp boxes should be full with X-mas final freebies. SEN has been talking about the upcoming game since yesterday. Cant see why this wont be a sell out.
Dean
Guest
Really looking forward to this one. We have a big group (mix of Heart & MVFC fans)I kicking off at The Precinct Hotel at 3pm, so should be ready to explode by kick-off. The buzz has been huge. Eurosnob mates, who looked at the HAL with disdain for the past 6 years, have finally embraced the HAL this season and are loving it. They know it's not EPL or La Liga or Bundesliga or Serie A. It's A-League and they love it as much as I do as a 7 year HAL veteran. In relation to the crowd - the actual attendance on the night depends so heavily on whether the corporates, promotions, sponsors & other free-loaders turn up. But, given it's the final Friday before X-mas, I reckon even the corporate boxes will be bursting. BIg night, big occasion, big crowd ... the stage is set for Harry to strut his stuff.
Kasey
Guest
Or...now pay attention Victree, cos this is usually where your lot leave the room with that confused look on your faces..... It could be that the MHT fan base hasn't taken one of the most savage, dirty and hated footballers on the planet and turned him into a hero-like figure. That would account for why it isn't just AU fans that put MV (and its fans) at the top of their most hated list.
j binnie
Guest
Kasey - Slightly off topic but still on the "derby" mode we have had a report in the Brisbane press this morning,5 days before the Old derby,stating "The punters are deserting Roar". At first sight this appears to be negative reporting but on reading the stuff under the headline it turns out it infers the "punters" referred to, are actually people who bet on HAL games. They also have a video on the subject with nothing positive included in that footage. Now to some facts. Last year Roar averaged ...........10,111 to 13 games played at Suncorp This year they have averaged.... 13592 to 7 games played at Suncorp. This is an increase of 35%. Last year GCU averaged ..............2623 to 14 games at Skilled. This year they have averaged ...... 3525 to 4 games at Skilled This is an increase of 35% Last season it took the HAL..............78 nb matches to attract ....643,006 fans. nb This year to date it has taken the HAL 56 nb matches to attract.....647,409 fans. nb Note the difference in the number of games and remembering the "derby game" crowds are not included ,so this differential could be greater after this weekend. With all that positive data at hand one would have thought it a remarkably easy task to generate some positive spin on this week's Qld derby. Apparently not.!!!!!!!!! jb
SAF
Guest
Who do Man Utd supporters hate the most, Liverpool or Everton? What about Barca supporters, Real or Atletico?
Victree
Guest
Probably because they've never beaten you 10 times in a row or in 2 grand finals.
Axelv
Guest
Heart fans don't travel to away games because they don't have any true supporters, if they had loyal supporters they wouldn't be going for Heart in the first place :) If you come to a Heart home game, expect to be treated far worse and have your safety compromised than you would at a Victory game. 16 year old wannabe hooligans thrive at Heart!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Both teams pushing hard for top 4 spots, it's perfect timing for the Melbourne derby - best of luck to both teams, I'm sure it will be a great game to watch.