Victory in Melbourne 

Football Federation Australia today released the fixture for the 2010/11 season and surprise, surprise Melbourne Victory play Sydney FC in the first round. This will be the fifth time in a row that Melbourne will have played Sydney and quite frankly I’m getting a little sick of the sight of them. I know that the powers that be always like to have the two teams who have played off for the title play the first game of the season but considering that we played each other four times in the space of six weeks at the end of last season surely warrants a change. I would have much preferred to see a Melbourne derby to start off the season. Other interesting points to note from the new fixture are:

• Melbourne’s first game at AAMI Park will be against Perth Glory, who coincidentally were the first team to play the Victory at Olympic Park in the first season;
• The first Melbourne derby takes place on October 2, 2010 with Melbourne Heart being the home team. I wonder how the seating arrangements will be for that one;
• Melbourne Victory don’t get a “weekend break” until Round 16, whilst both Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners get two in that time;
• The second Melbourne derby of the season unfortunately takes place on the weekend of my girlfriend’s birthday. Again it is a Melbourne Heart home game;
• Melbourne plays four midweek games against Wellington Phoenix, the Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets with only one of them being an away game (Wellington);
• The third Melbourne derby will be played at Etihad Stadium. Are they forgetting that for the first two derbies Victory supporters will also be attending?
• Last game of the season is against Adelaide United at the Adelaide Oval. Pencil in three points for that one.

With Etihad Stadium management showing their hand and siding with the AFL (who would have thought) is it now time for the FFA and Melbourne Victory to review their decision to play our biggest matches there from next season in protest. To be honest we don’t need to play matches against Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne Heart(?). A 30,000 seat stadium will do us just fine. Now whose stadium will sit empty during those summer months not for two or four months, without anyone purchasing a single slightly warm mid-strength beer.

And who would have thought Melbourne Victory fans would have needed extra incentive not to like Etihad Stadium.

The idea of an FA Cup style competition here in Australia is one that fans seem to push for every year. However, I am of the opinion that the FFA is not really that interested and you can find out why in the latest installment of Half-Time Heroes that hit the internet today.