Third Victorian A-League club required to give Melbourne Victory an even bigger rival

360 VIEW: Victoria needs a third A-League club — and they would instantly become Melbourne Victory’s biggest rival.

Victory fans wave their scarfs during the Melbourne derby.

IF THERE were any Melbourne City fans giving James Troisi stick on Saturday night you wouldn’t have known it.

You couldn’t hear a thing.

It’s been a growing trend for Etihad Stadium derbies to be one-sided affairs in the stands, but Saturday was next level.

But for a small pocket on Level 1 there were few City supporters to be seen among the 35,792 crowd.

It’s a shame because had there been more they would have witnessed one of City’s great wins.

Victory fans wave their scarfs during the Melbourne derby.

There there were few City supporters to be seen at Etihad Stadium.

And it’s a double shame ­because the Sydney derby has absolutely surpassed ours as the A-League’s best.

This coming Saturday night at Allianz Stadium will be a sight for sore eyes.

Packed stands, almost equal numbers of Sydney FC and Western Sydney fans creating an electric atmosphere.

Bruce Kamau celebrates scoring for City against Victory.

The other night was just ­another Victory home game.

This is not supposed to be a City bashing piece.

The club has some of the world’s best owners, there are great people in the organisation and the team is a dark horse for this season’s title.

By demographic, City’s is also a young fanbase that grows incrementally each year, so in a generation’s time there is no reason why they won’t be filling AAMI Park regularly.

But the game doesn’t have that long to wait.

Victoria needs another A-League team in the next few years.

And when — not if — it gets one, it will instantly create a rivalry with Victory that surpasses that of City.

If it’s Geelong or southeast Melbourne then there will be the geographic divide, if it’s South Melbourne then it’s the passion of the old guard versus the new world order.

Geelong could play home to an A-League team.

Melbourne City (nee Heart) was set-up wrong from the outset — what real difference was there between it and Victory other than colours and being a team for the non-Victory lovers?

A third team is a chance at a do-over.

We know what South will bring to the table.

South Melbourne is a contender to enter the A-League.

We haven’t heard much from Team 11 (southeast Melbourne) or Victoria Patriots (Geelong) in a while, but one can only hope they are both working in tight with the local clubs and schools in their areas.

That is where the captive fanbase is.

If either of them can come to the table with that galvanised army signed up and ready to get behind them, there’s no telling what the effect on the A-League might be.