Harry Kewell will be a star attraction when Melbourne Heart take on his old Victory team in A-League round one. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: HeraldSun
THE A-League Melbourne derby crowd record looks set to be smashed, with early ticket sales for Saturday week’s clash at Etihad Stadium indicating a sellout.
Melbourne Victory’s encouraging off-season and the return to the league of Melbourne Heart’s Harry Kewell, against his former side, loom as the major factors for a bumper Round 1 crowd.
But Victory, already without Mark Milligan, who will be on Socceroos duty in Europe, learnt yesterday it will also miss new striker Kosta Barbarouses.
The 23-year-old will be required for a New Zealand friendly against a CONCACAF opponent yet to be named.
Victory had an encouraging 3-0 win against last season’s grand finalist Western Sydney in Hobart on Sunday courtesy of strikes from Mitch Nichols and Barbarouses before the Wanderers found their own net after a mix-up between Aaron Mooy and goalkeeper Ante Covic.
Marquee signing Pablo Contreras looked classy as he and substitute James Troisi made their Victory debuts, with both set to feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly at home to Adelaide United on Thursday.
With Victory on track to break its membership record of 22,600 set in the 2007-08 season, and more than 5000 tickets for the home clash against Heart already sold, the derby record of 42,032 (Round 1 at Etihad Stadium last season) in on track to be eclipsed.
Victory operations manager Trent Jacobs said the July friendly against Liverpool might also have helped whet the appetite.
“We’re extremely confident we might see a record derby crowd on October 12,’’ Jacobs said.
“It’s been a particularly long off-season and off the back of the amazing spectacle that was Liverpool, the interest in ticket sales when they went on sale a couple of weeks ago has been very strong.
“The initial response leads us to believe we’re in good shape for a record derby crowd and it would be amazing to push up to the 45,000-plus mark. That would send an amazing message to the sporting public as to where football’s at.
“With the onset of new players and prospect of a new standard across the A-League, having Harry and a whole range of new and exciting players is going to see fans attracted.
“Our membership response has been amazing. We’ve already racked up 19,500 members, which is well in advance of where we’ve been previously and only 3000 shy of our record membership record. We’re very bullish about breaking that record.’’
Milligan leaves on Sunday for Socceroos duty against France in Paris and against Canada in London, while Heart will be missing new striker Michael Mifsud, who is due to win his 100th cap for Malta in Saturday week’s World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic.
But Victory is injury free, with Archie Thompson featuring against the Wanderers and Adama Traore, back from a serious ankle injury, playing a full game at left back.
Brazilian midfielder Gui Finkler, who had a knee reconstruction in January, is also pushing his selection claims. He played 90 minutes in a curtain-raiser and scored a hat-trick.
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