'Stars align' for A-League Men's Melbourne finale
A first derby grand final between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory can be a shot in the arm for both the A-League Men and football in Australia.
That's what City coach Aurelio Vidmar and his players believe after setting up one of the most tantalising finales in recent years.
City will host their arch-rivals at AAMI Park, both clubs' home ground, next Saturday night.
Incredibly, it will be the only major men's sporting event in town that evening, with no AFL or NRL games scheduled in Melbourne.
It means the hottest tickets in town should deliver a sell-out grand final, and give a struggling competition a big publicity and financial boost.
"The stars have aligned for football fans for next week," Vidmar said.
"It feels like it's already building up straight away.
"I think it's what everyone is talking about straight after the game. So it's worked out well."
Striker Max Caputo, a Melbourne local, is pinching himself at the prospect of a packed, raucous AAMI Park.
"This is the best outcome for the A-League in general, in Australian football, to have a Melbourne derby in a grand final like this, it sure brings bums on seats," he said.
"So not much bigger stakes than this."
Vidmar has urged his charges to embrace every moment of grand final week.
LOCKED IN: A FIRST-EVER MELBOURNE DERBY GRAND FINAL! 🔵⚔️@MelbourneCity will host bitter rivals @gomvfc at AAMI Park in the Isuzu UTE A-League decider. It doesn't get much bigger than this 🏆🎟️ General public tickets go live at 1pm AEST on Tuesday 27 May. Details:… pic.twitter.com/Il6nQAO5f9
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) May 24, 2025
"It's going to be a super week. We just have to enjoy it," Vidmar said.
"Whatever comes our way - I'm sure there's going to be lots of interviews and lots of things happening, but we'll just try to keep as calm as we possibly can and enjoy it, because you can't shy away from it.
"Some will probably handle it better than others, I'd imagine.
"But the message from me would be just to keep calm, to enjoy it, not to put too much stress on yourself, and then come out and try to be at your very, very best on the very final day of the season."
City progressed to their fourth grand final in five seasons after drawing 1-1 with Western United on Saturday night, going through 4-1 on aggregate.
But before their game, they watched as Victory stunned Auckland FC 2-0 away to win their semi-final 2-1 on aggregate.
.@MelbourneCity skipper Aziz Behich is on the scoresheet yet again! 🫡🔥City now extend their aggregate lead to 4-0 over Western United in the Semi-Final. 📺 Watch #MCYvWUN live NOW on Paramount+, 10 Play or 10 Bold. pic.twitter.com/z6S9kMNakL
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) May 24, 2025
Caputo, a City academy product, couldn't be happier with how things have played out.
"These are moments you dream of," he said.
"We were watching the game before the our game, and we saw Victory won, and that kind of geed the boys up even more.
"So now we're going into a grand final, derby final. So doesn't get much bigger than this, does it?"
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