As we gear up for our blockbuster Melbourne Derby on Saturday night, check out five things you should know about Melbourne’s biggest rivalry.
As we gear up for our blockbuster Melbourne Derby on Saturday night, check out five things (plus a couple of bonuses) you should know about Melbourne’s biggest rivalry.
Aloisi-s #MelbDerby history
Melbourne Heart FC Head Coach John Aloisi scored the first ever goal in the inaugural Melbourne Derby, on 8 October 2010. Aloisi opened the scoring in the 11th minute and despite Robbie Kruse-s equaliser, Alex Terra added a second in the 47th minute as Heart triumphed 2-1. Aloisi also netted a double on 22 January 2011, when the Club drew 2-2 against Victory, while he enjoyed a 2-1 win in his first match in charge of the Red and White last season.
Heart unbeaten in October Derbies
Melbourne Heart has never lost a Melbourne Derby that has been played in the month of October. In 2010, Aloisi led the Red and White to the team-s first 2-1 win; in 2011 the match finished in a 0-0 stalemate, while in the corresponding fixture last year, strikes from David Williams and Dylan Macallister gave the Heart a 2-1 triumph. Overall the Melbourne Derby is all square, with both sides claiming three wins, three draws and three losses across nine matches. This weekend-s match will be the tenth #MelbDerby.
Seven players could debut
Patrick Kisnorbo, Iain Ramsay, Harry Kewell, Andrea Migliorini, Robbie Wielaert, Massimo Murdocca and Tando Velaphi have all been named in John Aloisi-s 18-man squad and therefore are in line to make their debut for Heart on Saturday.
Dugandzdic-s long awaited return
Mate Duganzdic last played in a competitive game on November 17, 2012 against Adelaide United where the speedy winger broke his foot, meaning he missed the rest of the 2012-2013 season. Saturday-s match will mark the first time in 329 days he-s played in an A-League fixture – in case you were wondering.
100th goal beckons.
Melbourne Heart have currently scored 98 goals in A-league history . Last season, 26 per cent of Melbourne Heart-s A-League goals in 2012-13 came in the opening 15 minutes of matches – a league high.
Follow the game live on Twitter
You can follow Saturday-s match on the Official Melbourne Heart FC Twitter Account with updates throughout the day, for the full 90 minutes and post-match reaction.
We will be using the official hashtag #MelbDerby for game-related Tweets.
Dudley St Closure
Victoria-s Regional Rail Link project team has advised that there will be lane closures on sections of Dudley St, on the North West side of Etihad Stadium this weekend.
The closures will prevent access to Dudley St between Spencer St and Wurrundjeri Way.
The Rail Link Communications team recommends that motorists attending the Melbourne Victory v Melbourne Heart match seek alternative routes.
Etihad Stadium management apologises for the inconvenience but wishes to point out that while it was consulted about the Dudley St closure, it had no control over the works being undertaken during events.
*Information courtesy of Etihad Stadium.
