In his latest Fan Blog, Matt looks at the team’s contrasting home and away form, the success of the Club’s ‘Interactive Match’ and more.
In his latest Fan Blog, Matt looks at the team’s contrasting home and away form, the success of the Club’s ‘Interactive Match’ and more.
Travelling just has not been Melbourne Heart-s forte this season.
After another away trip without reward, coupled with positive results for the rest of the chasing pack, including this Sunday-s opponent Sydney FC, Melbourne Heart are down the table but certainly not out.
Heart weren-t without their chances, and the football that was played was at times pleasing, but as is the norm it was the more clinical side that prevailed, and as a result, Heart now find themselves adrift of the top six in 8th place.
As always; however, the silver lining remains that Heart can change that all in one game.
Sydney FC have come a long way since Christmas and whilst this remains a winnable game, it will be far from an easy one.
The Sky Blues claimed a club record fifth consecutive win at home last weekend, and it is that sort of home form that has propelled the club so far up the league table in such a short space of time.
Thankfully though, Heart are on their own decent run of form on their home patch, and boast a 100 per cent record at home in 2013.
A win on Sunday would see Melbourne make it five from five, just as Sydney did last week, and would put the club right back into finals reckoning.
Heart-s away form will have to improve if it wants to make certain of a spot in the finals come April, but continuing our current run of form on our own turf will provide the cornerstone of our finals bid.
Once we-re there, anything can happen.
Interactive Match a success
Melbourne Heart-s creative Interactive Match initiative proved to be a success for the club as well as for Save the Children Australia, who also reaped the reward of another A-League first initiative from the club.
Melbourne Heart have seen growth in their Twitter following, and those of their players who had their Twitter handles printed on the back of their jerseys in place of their surnames.
By the following Thursday, 14 of Heart-s senior players had seen their Twitter followers rise collectively by over 1,600 people, or an average rise of 15 per cent each, exposing a greater number of people to the Heart players and the Heart brand.
The Interactive Match got supporters involved in the day-s events in a number of ways, from the FIFA 13 tournament that started before the game, and concluded on the big screen at half time, to the on-pitch activities that saw a number of fans have a bit of fun on the AAMI Park turf and of course the very jerseys that they players wore, which was a one-off third strip designed by one of the Heart-s very own fans.
The match-worn jersey of Nick Kalmar, who was awarded Man of the Match on the day, was also auctioned off on eBay for charity, and was eventually sold for $640.00, with all proceeds going to Save the Children Australia, to aid the charity in their fantastic work benefitting children not only in Australia, but all over the world.
Schip Happens
The latest edition of the Melbourne Heart supporter-run fanzine Schip Happens will be available to Heart supporters around the ground prior to kick-off on Sunday.
Make sure you pick up a copy to read all about the club and what the fans have been up to, including my piece on the OneMelburnian campaign and the man behind it.
You can follow Matt on Twitter: @mg91
