There was a time when Melbourne Heart found an extra gear in the derby against their crosstown rivals.
A time when the very sight of the red and white had traditional powerhouses Melbourne Victory looking tense, bordering on nervous as the vibrant, risk-taking newcomers attacked their more fancied rivals with reckless abandon, generally giving as good as they got.
Before the City Football Group (CFG) rebranding, the ledger was squared at four wins apiece and another four draws. Heart were able to rattle Kevin Muscat’s side with the regularity that other opposition simply could not. This was typified by the 4-0 trouncing Heart gave to its most bitter rivals in Round 21 of the 2013-14 season, Harry Kewell rubbing salt into the wounds of his former employer with a memorable fourth goal from 25-yards.
As euphoric an occasion that may have been, and an equally crushing one for Victory, it was a false dawn for the up-and-comers.
Victory have since responded in the only way they know how. The derby win-loss count has been blown out of the water in the past 12 months, with the reigning champions winning three times by an aggregate margin of +9.
Erik Paartalu’s stoppage-time header to hand City the three points before last Christmas was exhilarating for the supporters, but the 2014-15 season firmly belonged to those of a navy blue persuasion, both at a state and national level.
As drastic as Victory’s derby dominance was last season, on-pitch desire only played a minor part. The would-be A-League champions simply looked to be a class above its opponents after effective recruitment – City were not the only would-be challengers ruthlessly put to the sword.
Besart Berisha took to Melbourne like a duck to water, Carl Valeri provided calm leadership and purpose in midfield, while Fahid Ben Khalfallah treated his supporters to countless performances of sublime skill and ruthless execution. After a transfer period of huge promise, the gauntlet is set for van’t Schip’s side to react in a way that befits the competitive origins of this marquee fixture.
Bruno Fornaroli was excellent in his debut showing, and despite an injury to Harry Novillo, former National Youth League products Wade Dekker and Hernan Espindola look determined to provide a selection headache when the squad is back to its full compliment.
Socceroo Ivan Franjic is set to miss at least two months with a soft tissue injury, but fellow new signing, Northern Irishman Aaron Hughes, is set to feature ahead of Thomas Sorensen, an experienced goalkeeper built for the big stage.
An ascent feels inevitable with the resources and professionalism City possess.
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In the post-CFG takeover era, everything about the club has improved. In early 2014, John van’t Schip made mention of something as seemingly insignificant as post-training meals being one of the small improvements that has transformed City from wheelie bin ice-bathers to being able to operate at a truly elite level, something that has been sorely lacking in the A-League.
It is time for the Dutchman’s squad to show the desire that was sorely lacking in showpiece matches last campaign. With added quality at his disposal, it is hard to see Victory’s domination of this fixture continuing in a similar manner.
Saturday night’s derby, despite being as early as Round 2, could be a turning point for last season’s Semi-finalists. A win here would undoubtedly spark the growing belief that this team is capable of challenging for top honours.
Naturally, success is craved by City’s supporters, who have suffered through inconsistent showings over the past four seasons – painfully reminded that their arch-rivals had already won two A-League titles (2006-07, 2008-09) in the four seasons after being founded.
However, all history will be forgotten on Saturday. A new-look is vying to steal the mantle of top-dog in Australia, but that will not happen if it is not king of Melbourne first.
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