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The Melbourne Victory Thread

Brenton1986 said:
Giovanni Savarese manager from Melbourne Victory joined 3AW Sports Today program a short time ago in the studio with host Jimmy Bartel (from 22:20 til 31:50 into the full show podcast).



Key points,
1. He knew about history of the club he followed the league from afar and loves to watch leagues from overseas.

2. I was kind of surprised about the youth with work ethic that Australian players have and has been pleasure to work with them and way they want to play during 2026/27 season.

3. My mind always goes to attack and want the team with the mentality to score goals along with creating opportunities to score also most important thing to build a team and to understand our team to deliver make sure to keep getting results also play to its full capacity every time.

4. Use to the timezone differences and different weather around the country which is similar in North America also.

5. He heard so many good things about Melbourne how quickly he his loving it so far (especially the coffees are phenomenal) and the mentions big rivalry fixtues (eg Melbourne Derby, Original Rivalry, Big Blue).

6. Mention squad rotation with Isuzu UTE A League Men games and AFC Champions League Two fixtures during the season there is excitement in the camp leading up to competing back in Asia and will compete across all competitions.
Click to expand...

He also implied he’s already received (informal)expressions of interest from colleagues/acquaintances of his(didn’t mention any by name, alas) back in the Americas about coming to the A-Liga.

Given that Gio happens to know a bit about the Salvadorean🇸🇻 ⚽️ scene, be still my heart..!
 
John Didulica director of football with Melbourne Victory joined Box2Box podcast on Monday Night with hosts Rob Gilbert and Willem van Denderen after they advanced to the quarter finals of the Hahn Australia Cup last Saturday Night with a win over Western Sydney Wanderers on penalties at Marconi Stadium.

And now look a real chance to again challenge for their first men’s silverware since 2022 he also discusses the board’s decision to change managers, the appointment of Giovanni Savarese & plenty more.

 
AFC Champions League Two group stage pots (East region),

Pot 1:
Gangwon – South Korea
Adelaide United – Australia
FC Machida Zelvia – Japan
FC Seoul – South Korea

Pot 2:
BG Pathum United – Thailand
Shanghai Shenhua – China
Melbourne Victory – Australia
Kuching City – Malaysia

Pot 3:
The Cong Viettel – Vietnam
Lion City Sailors – Singapore
Kitchee – Hong Kong
PKR Svay Rieng – Cambodia

Pot 4:
Tampines Rovers – Singapore
Tai Po – Hong Kong
Phnom Penh Crown – Cambodia
Persib Bandung – Indonesia or Manila Digger – Philippines

draw will be live streamed via The AFC Hub youtube channel from 4.00pm AEST next Tuesday.

www.the-afc.com

AFC Champions League Two 2026/27™: Road to glory begins: #ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate

Featuring 32 clubs, the 22nd edition of Asia’s second-tier men’s competition will kick off its thrilling group battles on September 15.
www.the-afc.com www.the-afc.com
 
Jack Duncan goalkeeper from Melbourne Victory appeared on 3AW Sports Today program with hosts Jimmy Bartel and Laura Spurway a short time ago (from 12:48 til 19:29 into the full show podcast).

To discuss his penalty shootout heroics last Saturday Night at Marconi Stadium he mentions he was not nervous at all before penalty shootout started they were very well prepared in case that went the distance.

And mentions any chance silverware is important especially leading up to the regular season started saying its been few years without bringing home the chocolates also taking it seriously.

Especially getting thru first couple of rounds of the Hahn Australia Cup by progressing with more competitive matches under its belt before Isuzu UTE A League Men season starting & AFC Champions League Two group stage starting.

It’s been also a breath of fresh air with Giovanni Savarese coming in as our manager for everyone within the club with a different perspective and been well received brought in real positive mindset comes across really well with his man management and relationship with playing very good.

He was saying hopefully battling out silverware in all three major competitions this season along with plenty of matches with our involvement in AFC Champions League Two with the playing philosophy there has been some small minor few tweaks to the playing style with a similar formation to last year ahead of the 2026/27 season.

 
Brenton1986 said:
AFC Champions League Two group stage pots (East region),

Pot 1:
Gangwon – South Korea
Adelaide United – Australia
FC Machida Zelvia – Japan
FC Seoul – South Korea

Pot 2:
BG Pathum United – Thailand
Shanghai Shenhua – China
Melbourne Victory – Australia
Kuching City – Malaysia

Pot 3:
The Cong Viettel – Vietnam
Lion City Sailors – Singapore
Kitchee – Hong Kong
PKR Svay Rieng – Cambodia

Pot 4:
Tampines Rovers – Singapore
Tai Po – Hong Kong
Phnom Penh Crown – Cambodia
Persib Bandung – Indonesia or Manila Digger – Philippines

draw will be live streamed via The AFC Hub youtube channel from 4.00pm AEST next Tuesday.

www.the-afc.com

AFC Champions League Two 2026/27™: Road to glory begins: #ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate

Featuring 32 clubs, the 22nd edition of Asia’s second-tier men’s competition will kick off its thrilling group battles on September 15.
www.the-afc.com www.the-afc.com
Click to expand...
So if Adelaide Utd hadn’t lost to Cong An Hanoi, they’d be in the ACL Elite instead?
 
Brenton1986 said:
Jack Duncan goalkeeper from Melbourne Victory appeared on 3AW Sports Today program with hosts Jimmy Bartel and Laura Spurway a short time ago (from 12:48 til 19:29 into the full show podcast).

To discuss his penalty shootout heroics last Saturday Night at Marconi Stadium he mentions he was not nervous at all before penalty shootout started they were very well prepared in case that went the distance.

And mentions any chance silverware is important especially leading up to the regular season started saying its been few years without bringing home the chocolates also taking it seriously.

Especially getting thru first couple of rounds of the Hahn Australia Cup by progressing with more competitive matches under its belt before Isuzu UTE A League Men season starting & AFC Champions League Two group stage starting.

It’s been also a breath of fresh air with Giovanni Savarese coming in as our manager for everyone within the club with a different perspective and been well received brought in real positive mindset comes across really well with his man management and relationship with playing very good.

He was saying hopefully battling out silverware in all three major competitions this season along with plenty of matches with our involvement in AFC Champions League Two with the playing philosophy there has been some small minor few tweaks to the playing style with a similar formation to last year ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Click to expand...

Not a bad interview, definitely better than the other week’s one bc Bartel skipped through a bit of info(not least of all Savarese’s backstory in the game) there. That said I am beginning to warm to Jimmy Bartel as an AFL person talking about ⚽️; he’s not terminally-cringy about the topic like many of his code-peers(hello the deros at SEN) still are.
 
BA81 said:
Not a bad interview, definitely better than the other week’s one bc Bartel skipped through a bit of info(not least of all Savarese’s backstory in the game) there. That said I am beginning to warm to Jimmy Bartel as an AFL person talking about ⚽️; he’s not terminally-cringy about the topic like many of his code-peers(hello the deros at SEN) still are.
Click to expand...
Bartel is from Bell Park/Bell Post Hill which has a strong football culture and football teams too.
 
Quicky said:
@Stu do you have the stadium figures for Victory? How are we going?
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The only thing that jumps out is Heidelberg's efforts to get accepted into ACL2 this year (as Aus Cup runner's up). Olympic Village wasn't up to standard, and I believe the lighting at Lakeside needed some additional temporary lighting to bring it up to the international match lux standard (like a bazillion lux or something).

It was reported that AAMI park wasn't feasible given it would cost around $100k per game to play there. It's safe to assume that is the minimum to open the venue (e.g., like City, no top tier on the wings open). I assume Victory have a better deal (per seating capacity open to public) given the historical average crowds, and the long-term arrangement they'd have in place. I'd imagine the breakeven is probably around 10-12,000 per match but it depends on the hospitality deal, e.g., if Victory pulls more than a 17k they get a discount given the venue will generate more hospitality sales, or Victory get a slice of all hospitality sales and it's a flat venue hire fee.

Sorry I don't have a more concrete answer, but there's very few sources citing Victory's deal at AAMI, which is a good thing for how the professionalism in how the club is run.
 
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AFC Champions League Two group stage confirmed Group E match schedule Melbourne Victory are as follows,

Matchday 1 - Wednesday September 16th:
10.15pm AEST (7.15pm Hanoi) The Cong Viettel – Vietnam v Melbourne Victory – Australia at Hang Day Stadium

Matchday 2 - Wednesday October 14th:
6.45pm AEDT Melbourne Victory – Australia v FC Seoul – South Korea at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

Matchday 3 - Wednesday October 28th:
time TBA AEDT (time TBA Bandung or Manila) Persib Bandung – Philippines/Manila Digger – Philippines v Melbourne Victory – Australia at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium or Rizal Memorial Stadium

Matchday 4 - Wednesday November 4th:
6.45pm AEDT Melbourne Victory – Australia v Persib Bandung – Indonesia/Manila Digger – Philippines at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

Matchday 5 - Wednesday November 25th:
6.45pm AEDT Melbourne Victory – Australia v The Cong Viettel – Vietnam at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

Matchday 6 - Wednesday December 2nd:
9.00pm AEDT (7.00pm Seoul) FC Seoul – South Korea v Melbourne Victory – Australia at Seoul World Cup Stadium
 
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