Melbourne v Sydney: which city boasts the biggest and best A-League derby?

News Corp Australia’s football writers unpack one of the game’s big talking points.

THIS WEEK: Which derby is bigger — Melbourne or Sydney?

DAVID DAVUTOVIC (Herald Sun)


“Melbourne may have had a two-year derby headstart, but the Sydney derby has overtaken it by virtue of Western Sydney’s sudden impact.

The Wanderers may be steeped in the DNA of inaugural coach Tony Popovic, but with the foundations solidified, they will continue to thrive.

The battle for Sydney is a passionate, intense affair despite being relatively new.
The battle for Sydney is a passionate, intense affair despite being relatively new.Source:News Corp Australia
While the atmosphere has dropped slightly with the Wanderers moving due to their stadium renovation, once they return to Parramatta Stadium they will only grow.

Foundation A-League clubs Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC are rock-solid, but Melbourne City are the ones with ground to make up and one wonders what a maiden title, or at least grand final appearance, will do for their supporter base.”

CARLY ADNO (Daily Telegraph)

“The Sydney derby wins hands down. The immediate and huge success of the Western Sydney Wanderers, with the most passionate fans in the country, adds an atmosphere to the games that’s unique in Australia.

But the Sydney fans play their part too, with the active support groups at either end chanting throughout the match.

On the field, the competition is fierce and the rivalry genuine given plenty Sydney FC players come from the west and vice versa. It’s a massive derby and it’s only going to get bigger.”

Wanderers fans have brought noise and colour to the A-League.
Wanderers fans have brought noise and colour to the A-League.Source:AAP
MARCO MONTEVERDE (Courier Mail)

“Sydney beats Melbourne in the derby battle.

Western Sydney Wanderers are the main reason, with the support they generate being the making of the Sydney derby.

The Wanderers’ Western Sydney location ­— a true working-class football heartland ­— is also crucial to their rivalry with Sydney FC.

Melbourne City don’t yet have the support to give the Melbourne derby the true edge and atmosphere it needs.”


VAL MIGLIACCIO (Adelaide Advertiser)

“The Melbourne derby is king of Australia by a country mile, even though it’s a one-way street led by Victory.

What intrigues me most is that despite the billions of dollars Melbourne City owners, the City Football Group, has, money cannot buy what Victory has built in such a short space of time.

Melbourne Victory’s standing and support base gives weight to their derby fixtures.
Melbourne Victory’s standing and support base gives weight to their derby fixtures.Source:AAP
In just 12 years Victory has encouraged one of the largest supporter bases to jump on board and it is also building something else money can’t buy — culture and tradition.

Victory gives out all the signs that it is a massive club with solid foundations — so too does City from a monetary point of view.

City is slowly closing the gap on the pitch and the games are always edge of the seat stuff in stadiums dominated by thousands of Victory diehards.

But at this point in time Victory’s fans are somewhat like Australia’s version of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund — they’ll always be there no matter what — while City is an Aussie version of AS Monaco, a great side that cannot attract a decent fan base.”

MATT WINDLEY (Herald Sun)

“Unfortunately, even with my Melbourne hat on, I’d have to say the Sydney derby is bigger and better.

Crowds for the Melbourne version have been on the decline in the past few years.

A title would go some way to energising Melbourne City’s support base.
A title would go some way to energising Melbourne City’s support base.Source:Getty Images
City fans stay away from Etihad Stadium derbies in droves but the excuses about ticket prices and being so far away from the action don’t wash for me considering that these are supposed to be the biggest games of the year.

There is also a growing trend of AAMI Park derbies failing to sell out, too — and that is arguably the premier ground in the competition — so the reasons for the drop are obviously deeper than affordability and proximity to the pitch.

Victory-City feels like big brother-little brother. Sydney FC and Western Sydney, from the outside looking in, feels like so much more than that.

Here are two clubs on equal footing, who do not like each other, creating a fantastic atmosphere both at Allianz and ANZ stadiums. These games are the biggest events of the season.”

THIS WEEK: Which derby is bigger — Melbourne or Sydney?

DAVID DAVUTOVIC (Herald Sun)


“Melbourne may have had a two-year derby headstart, but the Sydney derby has overtaken it by virtue of Western Sydney’s sudden impact.

The Wanderers may be steeped in the DNA of inaugural coach Tony Popovic, but with the foundations solidified, they will continue to thrive.

The battle for Sydney is a passionate, intense affair despite being relatively new.
The battle for Sydney is a passionate, intense affair despite being relatively new.Source:News Corp Australia
While the atmosphere has dropped slightly with the Wanderers moving due to their stadium renovation, once they return to Parramatta Stadium they will only grow.

Foundation A-League clubs Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC are rock-solid, but Melbourne City are the ones with ground to make up and one wonders what a maiden title, or at least grand final appearance, will do for their supporter base.”

CARLY ADNO (Daily Telegraph)

“The Sydney derby wins hands down. The immediate and huge success of the Western Sydney Wanderers, with the most passionate fans in the country, adds an atmosphere to the games that’s unique in Australia.

But the Sydney fans play their part too, with the active support groups at either end chanting throughout the match.

On the field, the competition is fierce and the rivalry genuine given plenty Sydney FC players come from the west and vice versa. It’s a massive derby and it’s only going to get bigger.”

Wanderers fans have brought noise and colour to the A-League.
Wanderers fans have brought noise and colour to the A-League.Source:AAP
MARCO MONTEVERDE (Courier Mail)

“Sydney beats Melbourne in the derby battle.

Western Sydney Wanderers are the main reason, with the support they generate being the making of the Sydney derby.

The Wanderers’ Western Sydney location ­— a true working-class football heartland ­— is also crucial to their rivalry with Sydney FC.

Melbourne City don’t yet have the support to give the Melbourne derby the true edge and atmosphere it needs.”


VAL MIGLIACCIO (Adelaide Advertiser)

“The Melbourne derby is king of Australia by a country mile, even though it’s a one-way street led by Victory.

What intrigues me most is that despite the billions of dollars Melbourne City owners, the City Football Group, has, money cannot buy what Victory has built in such a short space of time.

Melbourne Victory’s standing and support base gives weight to their derby fixtures.
Melbourne Victory’s standing and support base gives weight to their derby fixtures.Source:AAP
In just 12 years Victory has encouraged one of the largest supporter bases to jump on board and it is also building something else money can’t buy — culture and tradition.

Victory gives out all the signs that it is a massive club with solid foundations — so too does City from a monetary point of view.

City is slowly closing the gap on the pitch and the games are always edge of the seat stuff in stadiums dominated by thousands of Victory diehards.

But at this point in time Victory’s fans are somewhat like Australia’s version of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund — they’ll always be there no matter what — while City is an Aussie version of AS Monaco, a great side that cannot attract a decent fan base.”

MATT WINDLEY (Herald Sun)

“Unfortunately, even with my Melbourne hat on, I’d have to say the Sydney derby is bigger and better.

Crowds for the Melbourne version have been on the decline in the past few years.

A title would go some way to energising Melbourne City’s support base.
A title would go some way to energising Melbourne City’s support base.Source:Getty Images
City fans stay away from Etihad Stadium derbies in droves but the excuses about ticket prices and being so far away from the action don’t wash for me considering that these are supposed to be the biggest games of the year.

There is also a growing trend of AAMI Park derbies failing to sell out, too — and that is arguably the premier ground in the competition — so the reasons for the drop are obviously deeper than affordability and proximity to the pitch.

Victory-City feels like big brother-little brother. Sydney FC and Western Sydney, from the outside looking in, feels like so much more than that.

Here are two clubs on equal footing, who do not like each other, creating a fantastic atmosphere both at Allianz and ANZ stadiums. These games are the biggest events of the season.”

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TOM SMITHIES (Daily Telegraph)

Catch a Melburnian in a quiet moment and they’ll admit that actually the weather there isn’t the greatest — and the truth is they feel the same about their derby too.

There have been great moments in Melbourne derbies of course, but you need more than great moments for a great series.

From the very first derbies of 2012 the Sydney classico had a unique feel — whether the crammed nature of Parramatta Stadium, with fans piled up in corners, or the great sweep of Wanderers supporters marching on Allianz Stadium.

Last year’s record crowd for a club match at ANZ Stadium rather summed it all up, a game that has become integral to the sporting landscape whatever the fortunes of the teams at the time.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/football/a-league/melbourne-v-sydney-which-city-boasts-the-biggest-and-best-aleague-derby/news-story/3d66c75922dc523a3e836f6010c0b4a9

Clearly Sydney has a much better derby.

The Melbourne derby doesn't even represent anything ffs. Sydney has clearly got a territorial battle on the lines and the perceived rich v working class folk which adds a bit of spice to it.

Both have gotten quite stale but if I were to chose it'd be Sydney. 

potentially melbourne victory vs melbourne rangers (south-east melbourne / team 11 bid team) could become the biggest derby in the a-league.

No. Stop peddling this rubbish. It doesn't exist. 

Sydney by a country mile. The only game in Melbourne that could get close to that intensity would be us against South Melbourne.

+1

Victory v South.

Is Val correct that the Melb derby is a victory one way street? I think he's wrong.

In real derbies fans give a shit about their derby opponent not who's derby is better. They don't even care about the league half the time as long as they win the derby.

Time to dust off the cock TIFO

Why dont city fans go to etihad? The crowd ratio resembles something like essendon v gws giants. 

Seems like this article pops up every single Sydney Derby ffs.

-PB

The issue is Sydney fc failed to achieve what victory dis. Which was capture a whole city, the problem with that is there's no real oppposition whereas wsw had practically a whole other city to capture.

For Melbournes derby to mean a anything we need two generations of city supporters... so we need to current ones to go through puberty then have kids so weve got another 25 years.

Love watching the Sydney derbies. Absolute daylight between Sydney's and ours. Ours is just a big game against another team from Melbourne. 

It's obviously the Sydney Derby and not even close.

Tbf though, Heart are not even our biggest rivals. I would say Syd FC and Adelaide matches are more important for the vuck populas. Heart need us way more than we need them.

Sydney Derby has the better atmosphere and build up these days. Games, drama and quality have all been far better in Melbourne however.

Going to echo the sentiments and say the Sydney Derby by a country mile

You can't have a derby without hate. How many MV fans hate City or vice versa? Not many, if any.
But WSW fans hate how they used to be on our bandwagon but jumped on WSW's bandwagon and are now needing to explore their wagon-storage options to manage all the wagons they keep jumping between

Story of the Sydney Derby: Fan review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EspgB_eqlV0

Sums up why the Sydney Derby is King.

I fucking hate sydney fc but I'm pretty sure Victory supporters hate them nearly as much. Melbourne heart are a nothing side so it's hard to hate them.

 Also comparing derbies is very lame. I can enjoy other aleague games but I don't care at all unless wsw are playing. I imagine it's the same for most people? Am I weird for not even knowing when other 'derbies' are on? And do melbournians even give any shits about the Sydney derby (apart from giving it a casual watch)? What even is this supposed to mean?
I guess the Sydney one has 2 largish support bases where Melbourne only has one. So by that metric... But whatever I'm keen for Saturday night, gonna go bash some double bay wankers and spend the night in gaol.

Melbourne derby always feels much more manufactured. Definitely feel like theres less dislike of them teams. Sydney derby is two different teams that have both had success and both have defined identities. Melbourne derby is just Melbourne Victory vs other non-Victory side. From the outside looking in I feel like the Big Blue and whatever Victory/Adelaide is called seems far more genuine rivalries and to me rank as higher games than Melbourne derby. 

Also, even though i hate losing, that long winless streak by the wanderers in derbies probably helped stoke the rivalry. I hope we come back with our own winning streak but nothing like a long awaited win to keep emotions high.

Well said.

It's been called the Original Rivalry of late.

Oh theres no love lost from the City fans side of it. Perhaps Victory have a few more rivals to share their hate around with, but the hate is definitely there from the AAMI Park side of Melbourne.

I'm sure all 7 of them loathe us.

I would say Sydney, I think the potential of the rivalry is massive, already it is strong with good support on both sides and a real geographic and cultural divide. The thing is, it has rarely produced much in the way of quality as a game, there have been some thrillers, at lot of passion and physicality but rarely a classic, open, attacking, quality on both sides type of game. That is it sometimes hasn't lived up to the occasion, not that it isn't always great to watch,. whereas there have been some really good Melbourne derbies in terms of quality and entertainment of late.

I am really hoping this year the games live up to the occasion, WSW look to have a lot of exciting quality and SFC are a solid team again( I really hope Meizerjewski is good to go), so hoping all the fans and the TV audience a treated to a quality game.

If a team has Broxham, it's easy to hate!!!! Maybe that's what City needs.

That's the thing about Sydney. No team could ever capture the whole city. There is too big of a divide between different parts of the city in terms of culture, income, heritage and socio-economic factors.
...I have more to say in this post but I got to go to a meeting.