Match Details
Melbourne Victory vs Melbourne Heart
7:45pm, Saturday 12 October
Etihad Stadium
The Big Picture
Following the customary long pre-season leading up to the A-League, the season finally gets underway for both Melbourne clubs with a mouth watering derby clash at Etihad Stadium. A full house is a strong possibility on the night, and the football promises to be swashbuckling. The same fixture occurred last season, with Melbourne Heart coming taking the bragging rights on that occasion, but the subsequent two derbies ended in Victory’s favour.
Form Guide (Last 5 Friendlies)
Melbourne Victory – WLLWL
Melbourne Heart – WLDLW
Head to Head
Melbourne Victory P9-W3-D3-L3 -GF13
Melbourne Heart P9-W3-D3-L3 -GF12
Melbourne Victory
The Victory have only ever won one of their opening fixtures in their history, beating Adelaide 2-0 in 2006. That was also the same season they went on to win the league and championship double. Traditionally slow starters, Victory will not accept defeat in the derby in the first round again. Their squad has been beefed up considerably in the winter, with the deadwood being cleared out and new blood being brought in. The signings of Contreras, Troisi, Barbarouses and Nichols add considerable value and quality to the side that finished third last season and are tipped to be hot favourites for honours come season’s end. For this clash they will be without newly appointed club captain Mark Milligan, meaning Leigh Broxham steps into the starting XI with the armband. With a full pre-season under their belt and with players which Postecoglou handpicked, it’s hard to see them failing on Saturday night.
Melbourne Heart
Heart are no hot starters themselves. Their opening day win over the Victory last season was the only time they’ve won any the opening 4 games in all their seasons since their inception to the A-League. The signings of Harry Kewell, Patrick Kisnorbo and Massimo Murdocca have replaced the loss of experience in Richard Garcia, Simon Colosimo and Fred, and the return of Mate Dugandzic would feel like a new signing having missed the bulk of last season through injury. They’ve had their fair share of bad luck in pre-season, with new marquee signing Orlando Engelaar breaking his leg in his first game of pre-season against Brisbane and will be out at least until the new year. It will be interesting to see how they line-up on Saturday, and they go into the clash as the underdogs, simply with the expectation placed on the squad of their city rivals.
Interesting Match Ups
Archie Thompson vs David Williams
Currently the top scorers for both sides in the Melbourne Derby going into this clash, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top this time around. Williams took the honours in Round 1 last season, scoring and looking generally threatening throughout the match. He also scored in the third derby last season, which was played at Etihad. Archie Thompson may have lost the record of most goals in the league to Smeltz last season, while largely played out on the wing, it’ll be interesting to see what role he takes up with Connor Pain set to start and Barbarouses away on international duty. Always a predator for goals, he scored the late winner at AAMI Park last season and again in the third derby played at Etihad.
Adama Traore vs Aziz Behich
The battle of the attacking left backs is another key point to Saturday’s derby. Both no nonsense, quick full backs that burst forward, whoever is more effective is likely to take the spoils on the night. Traore missed the end to the season last year and his loss was felt by the side. With him back Victory will be boosted and he remains a key weapon in the Melbourne Victory attacking force from fullback. Behich didn’t have the best of times after moving to Bursaspor, and his return to Heart has been more than welcome by the club, who had struggled to fill the void he left after his move to Turkey. Always keen to prove himself against his former club, the fiery character will do well not to earn himself a booking, while remains vital to Heart as long as he plays his best football.
Pablo Contreras/Adrian Leijer vs Rob Wielart/Patrick Gerhardt
Two new centre back pairings with plenty to prove. Contreras signed as Victory’s marquee player brings a wealth of experience to the backline, and will look to help his partner Adrian Leijer, who has not been his best since taking on the captain’s armband. Freed of that responsibility, Leijer will want to prove to everyone that he is still a great asset at the back, and if he performs like he did in the friendly against Liverpool, the signs are good. Rob Wielart also comes with an impressive CV, having been on the books of Dutch giants PSV and Ajax in his career, as well as playing a part in FC Twente’s rise to success. Should he turn out to be as successful as compatriot Patrick Zwaanswijk was for Central Coast, Melbourne Heart have picked up a real key player. Patrick Gerhardt served his suspension from his red card last season in pre-season, so he will be free to take the field on Saturday night. A key part of Heart’s defence last season, he has an experienced head alongside him and both will need to be on guard against Victory’s potent attacking force.
Key Players
Melbourne Victory: Mitch Nichols
While probably not the obvious choice, his starting position depends on Ange’s direction on the night. Nichols will most likely continue to occupy the false nine position which he has held all of pre-season to date, though he is also able to play the creative midfielder role which Gui Finkler played to such distinction shortly before his unfortunate knee injury. In a game that might struggle for some flow, Nichols’ ability to create in and around the box will be put to the test on his competitive debut for the club, and their fate of the game also depends on it.
Melbourne Heart: Harry Kewell
The new Heart captain has had a full pre-season under his belt this time around, unlike when he first arrived in Melbourne to play for the Victory. Having been wrapped in cotton wool in the last couple of friendlies, Heart will look to unleash a Harry Kewell hungry to prove doubters from all over the country wrong, as well as book a seat on the plane to Brazil. His influence on the night will be vital, and if can hit the ground running, can be a huge weapon for Melbourne Heart.