Few sporting rivalries in Australia make sparks fly like the Hyundai A-League’s Big Blue between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
Since their inaugural clash in 2005, the contest between Sydney and Victory has consistently set the standard for drama and intensity in the competition.
We have seen some epic contests over the years between the two interstate giants. And during the week, www.aleague.com.au caught up with Melbourne Victory fullback Corey Brown and Sydney FC duo Brandon O’Neill and Rhyan Grant to recall their standout memories and preview Saturday evening’s big clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
TICKETS: Click here to secure your seats for Saturday’s Big Blue clash
STATS PREVIEW: Le Fondre and Toivonen face off
WATCH: Milos Ninkovic discusses his journey from war-torn Serbia to Sydney FC superstar
MATCH PREVIEW: Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
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Q: You’ve all had contrasting histories in this fixture. We have a seasoned pro in Rhyan, Corey made his Big Blue debut earlier this season, while Perth-born Brandon knows all about the rivalry having been at the Harbour City for nearly five years now. What are your earliest Big Blue memories?
Brandon O’Neill: “I didn’t really know what to expect coming from Perth. We didn’t have a main rivalry and then coming to Sydney it felt like every game was a bit of a rivalry. I remember walking in on my debut and there was just a different kind of feeling. I remember the crowd was outside waiting to get into Allianz Stadium, and that was a first for me. I thought, ‘oh this might be bit different’. That took my breath away because I was only a young lad. I thought, ‘right, this is probably a big game here‘.”
Straight away from kick off, the first five-10 minutes of my debut was probably the craziest I’ve felt in a game.”
– Brandon O’Neill on his Big Blue debut
Corey Brown: “Playing for the Roar I’ve obviously played in big games over the years, but never really had that derby. It feels like every week it’s a derby with the Victory. It was something really special that day [Round 5]. Jubilee put on a really big spectacle, and it was just a really good experience. It was a tough game… just the intensity of it is more than most other games. It was something I’ll never forget.”
Rhyan Grant: “I remember walking out on my first game in Melbourne and their crowd was packed. They had this ‘welcome to hell’ sign. I was 17 or 18. It was pretty intense.”
Q: Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory players past and present say the white-hot intensity of the Big Blue is unique. When did you come to realise this yourself?
BO: “Straight away from kick off, the first five-10 minutes of my debut. It was probably the craziest I’ve felt in a game. I was only 19-20 at the time, so being that age… the intensity, the tackles flying in, the screaming and shouting… you were trying to get to your man quickly.”
CB: “The first 10 minutes of the game is just helter-skelter. Everyone flying in, tackles flying in, the intensity is high, the energy is high. The first 10 minutes are always like that in a Big Blue. After that, you try and calm yourself down, calm your team down, and play some football. But it doesn’t always work out that.”
RG: “Victory have always been known to come out strong and start games really well. We learned that a couple of years ago when we lost the Grand Final to them, when they came out and bullied us. We knew going forward that to beat them we couldn’t repeat that. You’ve got to put your front foot forward and make sure you get it over them early doors.”
WATCH: Big Blue 2015 Grand Final
Q: Who’s the opposition’s best player?
CB: “Milos Ninkovic. He sees things others don’t see. You think you’re in the right position defensively and then all of a sudden he sees something different and he’s around you. I rate him very highly. It’s always tough to come over in your first season as a foreigner, but I think Adam Le Fondre has done very well.”
You’ve got to put your front foot forward and make sure you get it over them early doors.”
– Rhyan Grant on the importance of the first 10 minutes
BO: “I don’t want to try and big them up too much because they are our rivals. I know Storm Roux and Corey Brown really well, they’re terrific guys. This season their big men, [Ola] Toivonen, [Keisuke] Honda and [James] Troisi have all been crucial.
You look at their squad and you look at our squad and you think ‘jeez, it’s going to be one hell of a game’.”
RG: “[Kosta] Barbarouses is having a cracking season. It’s hard to pinpoint their best players, there is a lot of unsung heroes in that team that go about their business week in, week out.”
Favourite Big Blue moment?
BO: “I can’t go past that Grand Final win two years ago against them. It was probably the best footballing experience, one of the best footballing days of my life. To play a Grand Final against such a rival, and to beat them the way we did, on penalties. And to be able to score a penalty in a Grand Final like that… it’s something I’ll be able to remember when I’m done and dusted, what we achieved that day.”
You try and calm yourself down, calm your team down and play some football, but it doesn’t always work out that.”
– Corey Brown on the Big Blue’s infamously intense opening 10 minutes
CB: “It hadn’t come out yet, but I had already signed for Victory and was in Brisbane watching last year’s semi-final with a bit of a Melbourne cap on. I was at the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) with Terry [Antonis] at a young age, and when the own goal went in I was pretty devastated for him. You could see how much it meant when he scored the winner. I was buzzing for him. That was a pretty crazy game to be fair.”
