The occasion of an historic and sold out Grand Final is not lost on Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar, who “can’t believe” Saturday will be the first ever Melbourne Derby in an Isuzu UTE A-League decider.
City and rivals Melbourne Victory will go head-to-head in a blockbuster 2025 Grand Final at AAMI Park, where a capacity crowd will witness history.
TUNE IN THIS SATURDAY: How to watch the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final 2025
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know for Saturday’s title decider
JOHNNY MARREN MEDAL: Nicolas Milanovic crowned the Isuzu UTE A-League’s best
“Personally, I still can’t believe, after 20 years it’s the first Derby in a Grand Final,” Vidmar told reporters.
“And you know what the derby is like. They’re always intense… so we just have to try to prepare for anything and everything.
“We prepared so well this year, we’re ready. So whatever happens on the night, we’ll be ready.”
THE BIG PREVIEW: This Grand Final will settle Melbourne’s great debate amid Fornaroli’s 10-year fight
Victory now have the chance to claim a fifth Championship and first since 2018, while 2021 champions City are eyeing their second title thanks to reaching a fifth Grand Final in six years.
Bragging rights are on the line at AAMI Park, as the biggest Melbourne Derby in history will not only crown this season’s champions but also the most successful outfit in the city, with the two clubs currently tied on 13 major trophies apiece across their men’s and women’s sides.
VISIT THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE FINALS SERIES HUB
City take an eight-game unbeaten streak into the Grand Final (W5 D3), while Victory have only lost two of their past eight matches (W5 D1).
Victory, though, are unbeaten in three Melbourne Derby fixtures this season, while City have not won a match against their fierce rivals since April 2023.
As for Vidmar, he is winless in seven career showdowns against Victory, including the 2009 Grand Final while in charge of Adelaide United.
DEEP DIVE: Why Victory skipper shapes as key to Grand Final glory
WONDERKID WATCH: Aussie teen makes Victory debut after trip of a lifetime with Bayern Munich
“I’d be extremely proud, because it’s not a yearly event that you can get to a Grand Final,” Vidmar said when asked what it would mean to get his hands on the Championship.
“I know we’ve put in, not just myself, but all the coaching staff, the high performance staff, the admin staff, every single person at the club has put in an incredible shift this season.
“We all headed in the right direction, the same direction. No one ever wavered. Even we had moments in the middle of the year, I think we lost three in a row. We just kept a straight face, and we kept battling away, and we put ourselves in a great position.
“Everyone deserves it.”
