My Melbourne Derby VI Preview
The great thing about Melbourne is that another sporting event is always around the corner. As we say farewell to the World’s best tennis players for another year, Melbournians prepare themselves for their biggest non AFL rivalry – The Melbourne Derby.
Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart will go toe to toe this Saturday night at AAMI Park. This marks the sixth meeting between the two clubs, after the introduction of the Heart last season. Victory are still the schoolyard bully, with the majority of support and the bigger name players but this year the little brother have outshone the bigger, more fancied Victory.
The 2011/12 season has been nothing short of disastrous for the star studded Victory, the manager has been sacked, support if wavering and Socceroo legend Harry Kewell has barely fired a shot. Languishing 8th on the table, the much fancied Victory have almost completed their annus horribilis.
On the Red side of town John Van’t Schip and his boys (most of them still are) are having the time of their careers. One stage reaching the dizzy heights of second, until the current 5 game slump they find themselves. With superstar Fred out with injury the Heart looks a different team, seeming to lack leadership and polish without the Brazilian.
So what will Derby VI produce, apart from a near sell out crowd at the premiere football venue in the Country I expect to see some really attacking playmaking from the Victory, the last derby performance for the older statesman was nothing short of embarrassing for the large legion of Victory fans. Derby VI is the most significant for Melbourne’s blue team, not only is their season on the line, but they must reinstate some much needed pride to the terraces.
On the other side of the coin, the Heart must see this as a coming of age. Having dominated Derby V the boys in Red have stamped their authority on these situations. No longer wanting to be the little brother JVS will be looking end Victory’s season on Saturday night.
The quirkiness of a six team finals series gives you the appearance that you are never out of playoff contention. At present Victory are only a few good results away from seeing some playoff action, and if their attacking options all start to fire could be a wildcard in April.
So what’s my prediction for Saturday night? As a Heart member I feel a little uneasy about the upcoming game. I’m predicting that the Blue part of Melbourne will be a lot happier that those wearing Red. Victory has far too much riding on this game, and Heart has hit a speed bump. Big money signing Harry Kewell will finally score his first Derby goal guiding the Victory to a 2-0 win.
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