Pitch invasion, rogue tackles and clutch saves: The story behind Melbourne Victory and City men’s A-League rivalry

For the first time in men’s A-League history rivals Melbourne Victory and City will face off in the grand final – a battle that has been brewing for 15 years.

A pitch invasion, flares, rogue tackles and last-gasp winners – the intense rivalry between Melbourne Victory and City has led to plenty of chaos during the past 15 years – now the stage is set for the ultimate showdown in an A-Leagues’ grand final.

“It doesn’t get bigger than this,” Victory captain Roderick Miranda said.

“The emotions are a little bit on top of the skin.

“The goal in the end is to try and play as well for the city, we are trying to make a statement that we rule the area. There is a little bit of that from the fans as well.

“We always push, but I think in those games every player needs to step up a little bit, to be a little bit more aggressive, to run a little bit more.”

Victory fans show support during the Victory’s semi final against Auckland FC. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

City right back Nathaniel Atkinson who was part of City’s 2021 championship winning team said this game was about more than titles.

“Obviously you always want to beat the cross-town rivals, we’ve had this rivalry for so long now and this is the first time we’ve done it in the big dance, in the grand final. It adds that little bit of salt and pepper to it,” Atkinson said.

City have won just one of their four A-Leagues’ grand finals, while Victory have four trophies sitting in their cabinet from their seven finals outings. Both teams lost their recent attempts to lift the top prize – Victory last season and City back in 2022/23.

The sides met three times this season with Victory claiming the first match and the following two ending in a draw.

Victory legend Archie Thompson said there was no way to predict what would unfold when the two teams ran out in front of a sold out AAMI Park on Saturday night.

Archie Thompson during his five-goal romp for Victory in the 2007 A-League men’s Grand Final. Picture: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

“Not many people know where it is going to go. Both these teams could throw a case forward as to why they should be winning but it is going to come down to the wire for sure,” Thompson, a commentator for Paramount said.

“If you are a supporter you probably want it to be finished in the 90 minutes, not going to extra time, not going to a penalty shoot out where your heart’s pounding at 180.

“From a spectacle point of view, for a spectator that doesn’t follow both of these teams, you want it to go down to the wire and all signs are that it is going to be really close.

“It is that even, that it is going to be really hard to pick.”

Thompson expects the grand final to be a really tight contest. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Rivalry unpacked

When the A-Leagues’ started 20 seasons ago there was just one Melbourne side in the competition – Victory.

Melbourne Heart (which became City in 2014), joined the league in 2010.

John Aloisi, as coach of Melbourne Heart in 2013, talks with Harry Kewell during training. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Thompson, who has won three championships with Victory, played in the first Melbourne derby. City (then Heart) won 2-1.

The second game really set the scene for the rivalry with Victory captain Kevin Muscat sent off after a “grossly reckless” tackle on Adrian Zahra.

It was his second straight red card – earning him an eight-match ban. It sent the Heart fans wild in the crowd – booing at Muscat as he made his exit down the tunnel.

“Back when it first started it was Melbourne Heart trying to find their feet. All the supporters that weren’t supporting Victory or didn’t like Victory were jumping on that bandwagon,” Thompson said.

“When they rebranded to City they had the Etihad group behind them and there was definitely a lot more interest and over time it just got bigger and bigger.

“Regardless of how the league is going, how those teams are going in the competition it has always been a good one.

“It means so much to the fans. I think as excited as the players get the fans get just as excited. Players are maybe new to the derby or don’t know the background behind it but the fans have lived it the whole time, it’s just as special for them as it is for us.”

Mellee just before half time between Melbourne City and Victory in 2018. Picture: Michael Klein

Miranda said every player at the club felt the pressure to deliver wins and trophies for the Victory fans.

“They understand the greatness that the club is, the fans, the demands they put on us,” Miranda said.

“It is a privilege to have this feeling because it is much better to play under stress to try and win something, then to play without pressure, without nothing and if you win or lose it doesn’t matter. It is much better to have pressure from this pressure from the outside.”

City captain Aziz Behich and Victory skipper Roderick Miranda with the A-League men’s trophy ahead of the grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

Atkinson joined City in 2017. Hailing from Tasmania he didn’t quite comprehend how intense the derby was until his first game.

“My first derby was pretty special, as a young kid playing in a big derby like that was pretty cool,” Atkinson said.

“I was young and naive, just coming through and learning the trade it was my first big game where it wasn’t the football that did the talking, it was more the physical side of it was good to have a full stadium.

“As I’ve grown older I’ve learned to cherish those moments because it is not every day you get to play in a big derby.”

The Lowlight

There are dozens of memorable moments from the 47 clashes between these two sides but one ugly incident will forever sit as a dark shadow over the fixture.

For diehard fans it is far from the first thought when a derby nears but for general league fans and occasional spectators the violent pitch invasion of 2022 is hard to forget.

Just 22 minutes into the game Victory fans stormed the pitch armed with flares. Players and officials were attacked. Dozens of invaders were banned from the stadium for life, others charged by police and the club was handed a hefty fine.

Chaos ensued in December, 2022. Picture: Chris Putnam/Getty Images

The match was a tipping point but fans’ frustrations were originally directed at the APL and the decision to sell the rights to the grand final to Sydney – regardless of which teams would be playing.

Had the APL not ceded to the fans’ demands, this derby grand final would’ve been played in Sydney under the final year of the deal rather than at a sold out AAMI Park.

Thompson said it wasn’t an incident players or fans from either club were thinking about this weekend.

“It’s almost three years ago now,” he said.

“It’s not really been brought up. You never want to see that happen in any sport but it’s been dealt with and when you look at the fixture over the last couple of years it’s been great.”

Too close too call

One of the elements that makes this derby so entertaining is just how evenly matched the teams are.

Sure there have been some blowouts – like the time City beat Victory 6-nil and 7-nil in 2021, but 16 of their 47 games have ended in draws, including two of this season’s three match ups.

The highlight reel is long. If you are going backwards in chronological order then the 2024 elimination final would be the first clip.

Victory went down to 10 men in the first half. Victory keeper Paul Izzo saved a penalty after a handball in the box but couldn’t stop the header off Samuel Souprayen. The clock was just about out of seconds when Victory super substitute Nishan Velupillay scored the equaliser sending the game to extra time and ultimately penalties.

Izzo once again emerged the hero – saving three penalties and converting his own to launch Victory into the semi-final.

“That game it really looked like they were down and out, one nil down, they saved a penalty then it went to a penalty shootout, it was just an insane night,” Thompson said.

“There is something about finals football that seems to bring the best out of Melbourne Victory.”

Atkinson has fond memories of City’s big wins over Victory but doesn’t expect the grand final to be lopsided.

“Football is a crazy game and anything can happen,” Atkinson said.

“I think it will probably be a tight game, it’ll come down to margins, but it is up to us and up to them to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Originally published as Pitch invasion, rogue tackles and clutch saves: The story behind Melbourne Victory and City men’s A-League rivalry