Within the space of two seasons, there is already a magic feeling surrounding the Melbourne derby that permeates the city. The derby is starting to transcend sporting lines in a city where football is relegated to smaller column spaces.
Despite the fact the AFL Record sorry the Herald Sun is back with a vengeance, after that pesky tennis was in the way for a fortnight.
Notwithstanding the fact the new love affair of glorified backyard cricket (20Twenty) and a one-day international is at the MCG this weekend. Amongst the community, there is a feeling the number one sporting event in town this weekend, will be at AAMI Park where the Victory and Heart go head to head for a sixth time in their already eventful rivalry.
Speaking with people who love sport but who do not necessarily love the A-League, the resounding feedback is that if you are going to go to an A-League match then head to a Melbourne derby. Short of the ridiculous hyperbole written for previous Melbourne derbies, comparing them to famous derbies around the world, there is no doubt that this match has already stamped itself in Melbourne’s sporting calendar as not just another match but an event.
Melbourne we know lives and breathes sporting contests, and when the sport is big enough, it gets recognised as an event. We have just had the tennis dominate Melbourne for a fortnight, The Melbourne Cup dominates the spring, AFL has grand final week and the ANZAC Day match; the Formula 1 Grand Prix is in March. All these sports have become events.
For football this is becoming the way for the derby. Sell-outs and big crowds to particular matches and not others suggests that there is something special about them. With the derby we get that.
While the build up felt bigger to the Christmas derby, this match is certainly no less important for the Heart and Victory fans. Heart in their second season will be playing for more than bragging rights with a finals berth to be secured. Melbourne Victory are playing for… well, nobody knows this year, because they are not playing for each other, nor their precious coach, and the jury is out on the incumbent as well.
So the stage is set, we know the costumes and the players, but we don’t know who will take the lead role, nor how the show will end. Nevertheless the audience is pouring in, because recent memories remind them it will deliver.
Oh, and because it’s the most talked and biggest event in town.
Punter
Guest
Lovely to see our AFL fans taking such an interest in our game.
Tizzo
Guest
Well what is the biggest sporting event this weekend?
Bondy
Guest
Fake. Your easier to read than a cheap novel .
Axelv
Guest
Good article, can't wait until tonight! In some cases you have football fans flying across the country who go for neither team just to see this ;) GO VICTORY!
Axelv
Guest
Biggest sporting event this weekend, by measure of importance. :) Nothing you say can convince me otherwise.
Soccerbot3000
Guest
It may well be if we are to use metric other than attendance, tv audiences, media coverage or general public interest. Size of ball utilised in play perhaps?
It's called soccer
Guest
"the biggest sporting Night we've had in Melbourne this year" ? I think the Australian Open was at night, wasn't it!
Axelv
Guest
It is the biggest sporting event this weekend. Get a life troll.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Soccerbot3000 or should we call you Fake ex-AFL Fan? Why did you change your name ... again? Good to see you spending so much time talking Football. I've go 1730 rendezvous at the Precinct Hotel to kick start of the biggest sporting night we've had in Melbourne this year, so I'd better take an afternoon nap. Enjoy the Derby, comrade.
Soccerbot3000
Guest
Amongst your fellow soccer players there was interst in a soccer match? I suppose to individuals with a limited understanding of data, causality and observer bias this might be considered notable. Also, I note with interest your claim to be uninterested in the opinions of non-soccer fans about soccer, and respectfully suggest that this contention is not supported by the observable data - in this case your various postings on this website.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Well, I've just returned from playing my Saturday morning football match and I haven't heard a single person talk about anything but the Derby today. I didn't even know there was a Cricket International played in Melbourne last night until I heard Matt Thompson on SEN radio devote the opening 1/2 hr of his programme to talking about the disgusting behaviour of the cricket crowd. I guess it all depends on the social circle where you mix. For me and everyone that I know, it's Melbourne Derby and nothing else. To be perfectly honest, since the HAL started, I don't really care what non-football fans think about anything.
Soccerbot3000
Guest
The author claimed that the derby is the biggest sporting event in Melbourne this weekend, a contention that is demonstrably false against a significant number of objective criteria.
Soccerbot3000
Guest
It is indeed a big deal for soccer fans, and certainly not too far behind the super bowl in terms of public interest amongst Melburnians this weekend.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Absolutely - for me, in the space of 2 years, the HAL Melbourne Derby is, by far, the biggest sporting event for me in Melbourne. Of course, the HAL GF or a major WCQ would also be huge but, these are not events we can rely on occurring every year. Amongst my group of football mates we probably have a few more MHT fans than MVFC and the increased banter this week will reach a crescendo as we gather at the Precinct Hotel to watch CCM v BRI before making the journey to AAMI Park, which is the best sporting venue in Melbourne. 6 hours to kick off
Stam
Guest
Big game yes, big event no
Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
you clearly want to be watching something else, so don't bother commenting on blogs/columns like these...personally, the derby is an amazing event and one that is a must see, even if you aren't a Victory or Heart supporter
Bondy
Guest
Steve. Is it necessary to play this" BIG" game down. If you don't feel it has any significance why read or post on the article .
Titus
Guest
Are your mates all volleyball fans?
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
I hate to come across as a prick, but as you can tell I'm a big NFL fan ;)
Bondy
Guest
No problem mate .