There have been some fantastic rivalries and derby encounters throughout the history of Australian football. From the National Soccer League era, to the refurbished A-League competition, we’ve witnessed some classic encounters.
In the A-League’s eighth season, we’ve seen numerous clubs build hostilities with their comparative foes.
Whether it is the F3 derby between Newcastle and Central Coast or the Victorian, South Australian divide which sees Victory lock horns with Adelaide, they’ve all played an important role in the competition’s identity.
The cross-town rivalries – while still in its infant stages – have certainly added a sense of excitement and theatre to the competition.
The Melbourne derby is continuing to thrive each season, not only on the pitch, but also off it. The atmosphere, tension and drama generated at these fixtures are rather unique; a sight which could easily rival many football matches in European and South American leagues. The city’s battle for supremacy has yielded a great advertisement for the competition.
However the Melbourne derby, in conjunction with the newly established Sydney version, while great for the A-League, was somewhat manufactured by the evolution of the competition’s franchise policy.
However the rivalry between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC goes far beyond the eight-year history of the A-League.
It dates back to over 100 years of hostilities between the nation’s largest and most powerful cities.
Melburnians and Sydneysiders have never seen eye to eye on many issues, whether it be on a political basis, in a sporting contest, or the never-ending debate of which city is the superior.
The enmity between the two cities has been evident for many generations, and it will continue for many more to come.
For these reasons, the ‘Big Blue’ clash, also known as the city derby, between Australia’s two biggest football clubs – and markets – is the biggest encounter in Australian football.
Similarly to the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus, the El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona or the distinguished match-up between Manchester United and Liverpool, the Big Blue rivalry sets the tone for Australia’s city-based derby.
The now annual Australia Day clash is etched as a new tradition between the two great foes and this Saturday’s fixture is set to be one of the most highly anticipated games in the A-League’s history.
It will be the first time Italian luminary Alessandro Del Piero visits Melbourne and follows hot on the heels of his four-goal exhibition against the besieged Wellington Phoenix last weekend.
The game has officially sold out AAMI Park, an arena which fosters a strong case for being the best football stadium in the country.
The occasion is set to be a thriller. A fervent atmosphere is anticipated, not only for the arrival of Del Piero and his Sky Blues teammates, but for the rejuvenated Melbourne Victory, a club which has risen from the ashes under the tutelage of Ange Postecoglou, seemingly en route for a serious tilt at this season’s championship.
On this occasion, it’s difficult to go past Victory, given their recent run of form, and resurgence under Ange this season. Playing at home, in front of a full-house in navy blue, the hosts are expected to seize the city’s bragging rights.
However, when assessing Sydney, newly signed striker Joel Griffiths could very well cause Melbourne some major issues up front, as he’s done consistently with his previous clubs, while Del Piero, Brett Emerton and Jason Culina also pose threats going forward.
Victory should have enough firepower to get the three points, but it will be anything but easy.
Follow Robbie on Twitter @RobertDiFabio
Kasey
Guest
I am really starting to warm to the term 'The Big Blue' In a sport where the slang and terminology is largely derived from British English or South American language heritage, using the Big Blue somehow seems to me to be putting an ‘Aussie stamp’ on the game. Its one of those names that given enough time could enter the world football lexicon like the term Classico or Old Firm derby has. In 20 years time we could be reading about a reporter from World Soccer Magazine making the trek to an Australia Day Big Blue to experience how the Aussies do football? Our game is too often derided by the bogan media as being ‘foreign’ and for foreigners. playing on the bubbling undercurrent of xenophobia in our country. In so many ways this season has been a breakthrough year for the game. A cracking Big Blue n front of a sold out AAMI Pk is just another pointer to how good a season it has been for devotees of our game.
Australian Rules
Guest
"I guess the MVFC/AUFC rivalry is one that only people involved understand." As an outsider, my understanding of it is that historically, all South Australians hate...resent...are jealous of...feel slightly inferior to (but would never admit it)...Victorians. And in response...Victorians couldn't give a sh!t about South Australians.
striker
Guest
Agree Rod the likes of Wellington Phoenix,Brisbane Roar,Newcatle all have too big stadiums, itit would be good if they could get Boutique stadiums up 20k as this would look and sounds 100 times better than the current grounds they have,
Rod
Guest
I would think smaller boutique stadiums like AAMI park is what the A League should be aiming to fill. There is a place for some big stadiums in this country but i hate seeing games of any code being played in half filled grounds.
Damiano
Guest
True enough, but the biggest matches in Italy every year is the Derby D'Italia between Juventus & Inter, the two most popular teams in the country. Believe me, this nearly always a bigger match than AC Milan vs Inter. I don't see any reason why this can't be the case in Australia too. Victory vs Heart doesn't feel right to me. The most popular team vs the least popular team, Victory supporters vastly outnumbering Heart supporters... just seems like the Heart are visiting supporters, even when its their home match... not really what I think a Derby should be. I still enjoy the Heart vs Victory games, but to me Sydney FC vs Victory is the real deal. In our short history of the A-League these are, along with Brisbane, the most successful, there from the start, biggest cities, probably the most supporters. WSW may overtake eventually.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Christo You're right about AAMI Park being a better venue for football. But, the reason this match is NOT played at Docklands is because MVFC has a contract to play 5 games at Docklands & 8 games at AAMI Park. It's got nothing to do with "sold out" signs. MVFC owners realise that MVFC fans HATE the Docklands venue. If fans had their say we'd never play another game there; but, we have contractual obligations until the AFL takes ownership of Docklands.
striker
Guest
Christo AAMI has to be the best football venue in the country even half full.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Because AAMI Park is a much better venue for football. And it gives the A-League the opportunity to hang the 'Sold Out' sign up.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
For me, "Derbies" in football, are sporting fixtures involving teams from the SAME town/city. So, I don't call MVFC v SFC a "derby". It's an intercity sporting rivalry. Same way, I don't consider ManU v Liverpool, ManU v Leeds, Barca v Real Madrid ... to be Derbies. But, ManU v ManCity, Liverpool v Everton, Real Madrid v Athletico, Lazio v Roma, Milan v Inter ... these are true football Derbies.
Rough Conduct
Guest
Is it possible to have respective intra-city derbies as well as an inter-city derby? Doesn’t having one negate the other? I mean, if SFC represents Sydney and MVFC represents Melbourne, as this article suggests, where does that leave WSW and MH? Surely, the basis for the Sydney and Melbourne derbies is that each team represents a certain part of the city, whether it be geographical, cultural or social-economic, the whole premise of a derby is that it is a clash of identities? If that is true, then the Big Blue becomes ‘a part of Sydney’ v ‘a part of Melbourne’ thus removing the entire basis of the inter-city derby. Just a question, can you have both prosper or will one concept succeed at the expense of the other?
Cameron
Roar Guru
Will the extra 5-6k be implemented every football game, cause it would increase total venue capacity and there would be a cost associated with this. So if they can't fill the other seats, would they only do this for a potential 2-5k more of the rest of the stadium looks empty?
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Trying to decide which is a better ground out of Subi and Perth Oval is akin to trying to figure out who was less of a complete monster between Comrade Stalin and Chairman Mao.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Funny i was having a post match drink with some Wolverhampton Wanderers fans who had come over for a holiday and watch their team and they said NIB was the "worst stadium they had ever been to",and they'd been to Selhurst Park.
MV Dave
Guest
You won't be allowed in Punter with that sort of attitude. ;) Keep saying out aloud "Sporting Capital of the World"
MV Dave
Guest
As an 8 year MV member the rivalries in order of importance are; 1 MH. You can't beat a local Derby for atmosphere and this game keeps getting bigger each season...can't wait until there is a final 2 SFC there is some history and with the Australia Day fixture becoming a marquee event this rivalry takes on added significance 3 AU. Again there is history to this fixture but my feeling is the greater animosity comes from the Pissants for this one ;) WSW we haven't even played in Melbourne yet. In 10 years or so would like also to have a team from Geelong...would have 10-15,000 MV fans travelling down the Princess Freeway for that one.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
It's going to have bump-in seating available as a sop to the rectangular codes. Will have to see how this goes in practice. The stands themselves will not be retractable.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I felt a kind of odd pride after that Wallabies v South Africa test at Subiaco last year - roundly declared by many a Saffa in my hearing as "the worst stadium they had ever been to". A cracking effort. And personally I think an AAMI/MRS would be better than a Suncorp. I think the Force would get close to packing it out and Glory would get half-full regularly. Wildcats and Perth Arena show the power of a shiny new home (although the respective strengths of these clubs within their leagues are wildly apart).
Cameron
Roar Guru
Multi purpose? You mean stadium built to AFL style stadiums but football can still be played, still providing what sort of a football atmosphere for other codes besides AFL.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Yeah can't see it in my lifetime but apparently the new stadium is goig to be multi purpose,Perth may get a Socceroos match this decade if we're lucky.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Okiee, Purpose built rectangular stadium or ground? As far as I was aware Parra stadium, Aami park, hindmarsh, nib, bluetongue, hunter stadium were all rectangular grounds, so unless you mean rectangular stadium which most likely due to structure is rectangular, then you're wrong. Another question, who is going to pay for this? I think before people start asking for bigger stadiums, then maybe those stadiums you currently use should be filled, with people!