How Melbourne Victory’s active fan base recovered to lead club into grand final
The Victory needed a spark to move on from the chaos of last season. A die-hard fan can remember the exact moment he stood in a packed North Terrace and felt the spirit of his club return.
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We’ve all experienced the primary school teacher who punishes the whole class for the actions of a few idiots.
Melbourne Victory members were those unwitting students last year.
When irate spectators violently rushed the field at the Melbourne Derby in late 2022, our club and its active supporter base were cast into an existential crisis the likes of which none of us have experienced before.
The offenders were punished.
But for the more than 20,000 other Victory members, the collateral damage in a national controversy, the burden was ours to carry and the future anything but certain.
I could never have imagined almost 18 months later scrambling to secure flights and tickets to watch my club play off in a grand final.
DERBY DISASTER
Harrowing.
That’s how I would describe the feeling of standing in the north end watching the derby pitch invasion.
My mates and I had planned to join the stadium walkout at the 20-minute mark to support the protest against the decision to move the league’s grand final to Sydney for three seasons.
There was a tension in the crowd for those opening stages of the game, but it was different to the nervous energy you often sense at the start of a huge match. You could feel it as the fans turned away from the action on the pitch to what would happen off it.
The clock ticked past 20 minutes. Some moved towards the exits, but others stayed put.
I felt compelled to see what played out. An ominous feeling swept over me; a sense that some people were holding out for an excuse to react. It felt like it could boil over.
Then it did.
A flare was thrown by Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover and it landed in a crowded area of spectators behind the goals. All hell broke loose as those spectators charged the pitch.
I stood there with a feeling of helplessness churning in my gut, shocked at the chaos playing out in front of me.
Even in the moment, it was clear the road back from this was surely going to be, at best, miles long.
At worst? A dead end.
AFTERMATH
With the game called off, I walked to a pub to share a drink with friends and digest what had just happened.
Still wearing our team scarves, we were turned away at the door under direction from the police that no Victory fans were allowed to enter the venue.
That’s when it really hit home.
Our entire supporter base would be made to pay for the idiotic actions of a small group.
Victory fans were banned from attending away games, police presence increased tenfold at home matches and active support was removed entirely.
Attending games at the back half of that 2022/23 season was at times demoralising.
Sitting in a near-empty stadium without a heaving north end making the stadium bounce wasn’t the Melbourne Victory I fell in love with. The club was a shell of its former self.
When the final whistle sounded on a 1-0 home defeat to Brisbane Roar, the 7,000 rusted on fans in attendance jeered as the campaign came to a close.
Supporters called for coach Tony Popovic to be sacked with an 11th-place finish confirmed.
It was all summed up in commentary by Simon Hill.
“The only good news is their horrible year is finally over.”
THE RETURN
As the next season neared, I felt a spark was needed to ignite passion for the club again.
The loosening of restrictions allowed for a return of the North Terrace’s identity after the active group disbanded in 2016. No doubt a lot of work was done behind the scenes to facilitate this.
It inspired the membership base, players and coach.
A moment sticks with me from our Round 3 home game against bitter rivals Adelaide.
I brought along seven or eight friends and stood right up the back of a packed north end.
Victory had fallen a man down with captain Roderick Miranda handed a red card reasonably early in the second half. The Terrace didn’t lull after the sending off. Instead, they rose.
Thousands of people bellowed in unison:
“COME ON MELBOURNE OLE.
“NO SURRENDER TODAY.
“AND NOTHING WILL STAND IN OUR WAY.”
I had that tingle up my spine, adrenaline pumping through my veins and passion pouring out in my voice. My club was back.
Active support is the lifeblood of the A-league.
Done right, it brings unrivalled vibrancy and atmosphere to the game.
Melbourne Victory’s North Terrace have done it right this season and have no doubt helped the club return to where it belongs.
I remember going to games as a wide-eyed kid and watching on in awe as the bays behind the north-end goal sang passionately for 90 minutes straight. They involved everyone in attendance by directing chants to every corner of the stadium.
It’s what brought me to matches then.
It’s still what brings me to matches now.
Last season, the players struggled without that noise. Now they feed off it.
The performances improved dramatically with the team going unbeaten through 15 matches to start the new season. It was by no means perfect football - there were nine draws in amongst those 15 games - but the club’s heart and soul had returned.
THE FINAL WORD
Sprinkle some Paul Izzo penalty-saving magic on a competitive season and the chance of a trophy beckons again for Melbourne Victory.
After finishing the regular season third, a couple of remarkable extra-time wins over Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix hand Tony Popovic’s side a shot at glory against the Central Coast Mariners.
It was just last season our entire fan base was banned from attending away games.
Now we’re bringing thousands to Gosford to come for the crown.
Come on you boys in blue.
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