It certainly promises to be a Super Saturday in the Isuzu UTE A-League with both the New Zealand Derby and the Melbourne Derby headlining a mouth-watering Round 20.
So to celebrate a double-dose of Derby Day action, the Total A-Leagues team of retired Socceroos winger Tommy Oar and aleagues.com.au’s James Dodd debated their top five Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures.
So will it be a fiery Sydney Derby that takes top billing, a classic encounter in the Original Rivalry or will the new kids on the block Auckland FC take out top spot following the introduction of the New Zealand Derby?
Read on below to find out.
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Tommy Oar’s top five Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures
Both Oar and Dodd selected the showpiece event between Sydney’s two biggest sides as their top fixture with both outlining the atmosphere in both the stands and the crowds.
However the four remaining fixtures threw up plenty of differences.
“I think because of the history and just because of the size of the two clubs, I think the Big Blue is second for me,” said 28-time Socceroo Oar.
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“Because you know, anytime the draw is done before the season, you’re looking at when’s the Big Blue going to happen.
“Because that’s always such an exciting game for similar reasons, because it’s two absolute juggernauts of the league, kind of going head-to-head.
He continued: “I think the Melbourne derby is my third one… it’s two teams that have been hugely successful and from a footballing point of view, it normally has repercussions, I guess, for the final league table or for silverware.
“They’re always big games and two teams that are very competitive.
“But I guess there’s other games, like the New Zealand Derby, which is kind of just maturing, but I think that we’ve seen enough from that that it’ll probably be up there in a similar kind of discussion to the Melbourne derby.
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- 1 – Sydney Derby
- 2 – The Big Blue
- 3 – Melbourne Derby
- 4 – New Zealand Derby
- 5 – Original Rivalry
James Dodd’s top five Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures
“Sydney derby is number one for me because I guess (it’s) the best atmosphere, it’s the most ferocious between the sets of fans and the players on the pitch,” said Dodd. “Then I had the Big Blue as number two.
He continued: “Recency bias, sure, but the New Zealand derby is number three.
“Just because I love the (fact) the Yellow Fever have been kind of flying the flag on their own, if we’re talking about fans in particular over there, as have Wellington Phoenix for New Zealand football.
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“But The Port and what Auckland FC have bought in so far this season, they’re not, on the face of it, an active supporter group, like The Cove or The RBB, Melbourne Victory or whatever it may be.
“But they (The Port) remind me of where I grew up. They remind me of like an English-style fan base, where the songs they sing are fun, they get into it. They create a great atmosphere. Go Media Stadium has probably been the hottest ticket in town this season.
He added: “The crowds have been brilliant, and I just love what they have brought to this derby.
“Number four was the Original Rivalry and of course, number five the Melbourne Derby.”
- 1 – Sydney Derby
- 2 – The Big Blue
- 4 – Original Rivalry
- 3 – New Zealand Derby
- 5 – Melbourne Derby
