After a tumultuous week, Victory can still look ahead this season

Given the dramatic build-up, a 1-1 Christmas Derby draw wasn't the kind of crescendo headline writers would’ve hoped for. But having absorbed a tumultuous week, Melbourne Victory can now look ahead.

In a Melbourne Derby that offered the potential for so many colourful narratives following Patrick Kisnorbo’s walkout from Melbourne Victory, the 1-1 draw they and Melbourne City played out on Saturday evening didn’t provide the most salacious headlines. The duo unable to be separated after 90 minutes, there was no salt poured into open wounds by a rampant City eager to pile on the pain nor was there a triumphant rallying around the flag by a defiant Victory. Instead, two familiar foes went at it once more, having chances to win the game and secure a bit of derby folklore but, ultimately, unable to take them.

Perhaps this was fitting, though, as it was remarkable, given his sudden move to quit Victory seven games into his tenure to pursue an “overseas opportunity”, how little it felt the shadow of Kisnorbo hung over AAMI Park when it came to getting things underway. These displays requiring plenty of planning and preparation, the pre-game tifo of the home supporters paid homage to the 170th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade rather than sending him any parting message, while the pre-game violin performance from Evangeline Victoria was of an impressive enough nature that it gave little scope to any malcontents to hijack the show. If there were any chants directed his the former coach’s way during the game, meanwhile, they weren’t of a sufficient volume or spread to register.

Perhaps it was something of an ode to how he’d managed to seemingly disappear into thin air just days prior by those in the terraces, a collective decision to act as if he’d never existed at all.

For the Victory faithful amongst the 24,053 in attendance, the only ex-coach they appeared to have any time was Kevin Muscat, back home following his triumphant season in China with Shanghai Port and presented to supporters before the game. ‘Super Kev’ holds a special place in the hearts of those clad in navy blue, the affection they hold for their championship-winning captain turned championship-winning coach was apparent as he clapped his way around the touchline before kickoff. Perhaps a similar reception may have awaited Kisnorbo amongst the City faithful one day had he not returned from Europe and signed on to coach their most bitter of rivals – even acknowledging the brief period he would ultimately spend there.

Of the game itself, that thing that has been somewhat relegated to the background by the events of the past week, Victory probably can’t quibble with a point earned, given the context surrounding it.

The list of things that can go wrong when your coach walks out days before a derby are innumerate but, on Saturday, they were able to fight back from an early deficit and have enough possession and territory to suggest that on another day that could have been more. To some regard, the on-field action almost felt like rather than never being there as the atmosphere might suggest, Kisnorbo, or even Tony Popovic before him, had never left at all; Victory consistently worked the ball into areas of the pitch wherein they threatened the City goal but proved unable to find that final touch or moment of inspiration to convert. Elevated from his position as a figure of continuity, interim coach Arthur Diles has spoken about not changing too much but maybe he can make an exception here; Victory leads the league in big chances missed, per FotMob, and is already underperforming their expected goals (xG) by 4.4 after only doing so by 3.2 in 2023-24.

But finishing aside, Diles being able to keep Victory on something resembling the pace they are on now would, or at least on present evidence should, augur positive things. Thanks to Auckland’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Western United, Victory possesses the best defence in the league nine weeks into the season and, per FotMob, is amongst the competition’s leaders when it comes to getting the ball into the opponent’s penalty area and creating chances. The electricity sent through this side when Nishan Velupillay and Bruno Fornaroli entered the fray — the former must start and the latter will challenge in the future — showed the scope of his depth, too.

Two and a half months into the season, it appears as if there’s no clear title favourite that would present an insurmountable task for any opponent, Auckland’s loss coming at the same time that Adelaide, who haven’t beaten a top-six side all season, threw away a late lead to draw 3-3 with Sydney, who Victory plays next week. Simply maintaining the current level that the side is at, combined with some kind of improvement in being clinical, or even just a reversion to the mean on this front, should still see Victory as a contender as the season goes on. Given this, perhaps the challenge is just as much mental as it is physical for Diles and the rest of those involved in the men’s team: ensuring that standards and application aren’t allowed to drop in the wake of Kisnorbo’s sudden exit.

Victory’s leadership certainly thinks the caretaker is capable of doing so, director of football John Didulica telling JDL Media in the wake of Kisnorbo’s exit that he was “very comfortable with where the team is at [and] where the coaching staff is at.” This effusive backing, of course, raises the question of just why Diles wasn’t in greater contention for the full-time position when Popovic’s exit was confirmed after the end of the 2023-24 campaign when Victory instead cast their eyes towards figures like Kisnorbo, former Central Coast Mariners coach Nick Montgomery, and former Newcastle Jets boss Arthur Papas, who last week was unveiled as the new coach of J1 League side Cerezo Osaka.

“From our perspective, what we thought was really important at the time was a coach who had senior-level experience,” Carnegie told JDL Media.

“ The decision that we made was for where we are as a club, and for where the league is at... bringing in a head coach who had senior experience was very important to us at that time. So that doesn't mean we didn't consider Arthur, but he wasn't in that category at the time.

“Now, we bring Arthur in, and there's confidence. We went down that path that hasn't worked out, but we know that Arthur has the skills and is ready to step up.”

And really, the Victory brass needs Diles to work out, too. Bringing in Kisnorbo was always going to be a significant gamble, his legacy of success being counted upon to combine with a squad that had made last year’s grand final and deliver silverware that would douse the anger and suspicion that came with appointing someone with his legacy with Melbourne City and links to the CFG he had. But instead of trophies, he’s walked out just seven games into the first season of what was supposed to be a three-year contract, reportedly to re-join the CFG at Yokohama F Marinos as an assistant (UPDATE: Kisnorbo has been announced by Yokohama), and plunged a campaign that had a trajectory suggesting the side could one-up last seasons efforts into uncertainty. There’s an inevitable sense of betrayal from supporters but also anger that he was put in a position where he could do this in the first place, something that a positive initial bearing on the season will only add to.

If Diles can manage to keep the ship steady and Victory is thus in a position to challenge come season’s end, not only will he probably get non-sokkah journalists pronouncing his name right but some level of tension will also be soothed, even if forgiveness is hard to come by. Success will mean the structures in place that surrounded Kisnorbo and the squad that was built in the years before his arrival have proved their – and those who built them – worth. But should the wheels fall off, it’s likely not the interim that will feel fans' wrath.

Header Image Credit: Melbourne Victory