It’s a season opener. It’s a Melbourne Derby. It’s a massive way to start the 2018/19 campaign. See the five things we are looking forward to.
Derby Day
It’s neighbour against neighbour. Mate against mate. Family against family. It’s two fierce city rivals. Round 1 is finally upon us and the anticipation is sky high.
There’s something extra special about derby days in Melbourne. The atmosphere lifts to another level and the city is a constant buzz. It’s a contest that brings out the very best of football in this country and we can’t wait!
A moment of brilliance
In a game that goes for 90 minutes, the match is often decided by a split second. It’s in that split second that you want a player who can produce a moment of brilliance on the pitch. One player who can produce that moment, is Bruno Fornaroli.
In a match that may prove to be a tight defensive tussle, individual quality will prove invaluable. With two match-winning strikes in the FFA Cup already this season, the Uruguayan striker will be looking to replicate his efforts but our match winners don’t stop there…
Quick off the blocks
It might be a long season, but getting off to the best possible start is always important.
With a string of tough matches to open the 2018/19 campaign, including Melbourne Victory and Central Coast away before hosting Sydney FC in Round 3 at AAMI Park, Warren Joyce and his men will be looking to send an early message to the competition.
Momentum is huge in sport. It’s now time to let the blood, sweat and tears of a tough pre-season take shape.
The stage is set
We can’t think of a better fixture to make your league debut in, than a Round 1 Melbourne Derby.
This Saturday night there will be a mix of fresh faces on both sides of the field hungry to make their mark on the biggest stage, if given the opportunity to do so.
In City Blue, will it be Ritchie de Laet showcasing his class or will Florin Berenguer to send an early message to the competition? Then there is Lachie Wales, will he hit the road running in his new colours or will Riley McGree be the man to steal the show once again? All we know is that we’ll soon find out and Saturday’s Derby gives us the first chance to see it..
They say first impressions last the longest, so go out there and make your mark, boys!
Do or die
It might only be Round 1, but when it comes to a Derby, it’s do or die. Not only does the atmosphere lift a gear, but so does the level of football on the pitch.
In each tackle, tussle and celebration there is passion, determination and the hunger to win. It’s what makes a derby so special. The players are determined to fight for their team and their supporters as they go to battle against their fierce rivals.
Three points at this early stage might not mean much now but with the competition being so even in the A-League this season, we’ve got a feeling this Derby will mean a bit more than what we think later on.
