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The streets of Richmond were engulfed in smoke and tension on Saturday evening as fans gathered ahead of the highly anticipated A-League Grand Final between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
Supporters of both clubs descended on Swan Street early, with Victory fans assembling near the corner of Lennox and Swan streets for a planned 6pm march. Clad in navy blue, many had taken over the popular pub precinct well before kick-off, and some began setting off flares directly in view of a substantial police presence.
Victoria Police had promised a "strong, visible presence" at the event, and true to their word, officers were positioned across every nearby park, pavement, and parking lot. Despite their numbers, chaos briefly erupted as flares sent fans scrambling, with many shielding their faces using scarves and beanies.
"The release of flares may have excited some rowdy attendees, but the majority of fans were visibly annoyed by it," one observer noted. The flares triggered confusion and discomfort, though police remained calm, describing the behaviour as the work of “a few bad eggs”.
As the fan march progressed toward the stadium, officers were instructed to follow the crowd, with orange barricades set up to control foot traffic. However, the measures seemed to backfire in parts, obstructing pedestrian flow and forcing some fans to leap over the barriers. Chants of “F--- the pigs” could be heard echoing through the streets, particularly from the G Bar area shortly after 5pm, according to the Herald Sun.
As tensions flared, members of the riot squad were called in to restore order near the Precinct Hotel. The situation eventually calmed as the bulk of fans entered the stadium for the long-awaited Grand Final — the first ever between the two cross-town rivals.
Inside AAMI Park, Melbourne City fans were given an early reason to celebrate. Just ten minutes into the match, Yonatan Cohen found the net after a blistering build-up. Aziz Behich’s run down the left wing set up Andreas Kuen, whose cross met Max Caputo. Although Caputo’s shot struck the crossbar, Cohen was quick to capitalize on the rebound.
Despite Melbourne Victory’s efforts to respond, the scoreboard remained unchanged at halftime, and the second half offered few opportunities. City maintained their 1-0 lead to claim the Derby crown in a closely contested finale.
Meanwhile, Victoria Police confirmed that reception counters at several police stations — including Camberwell, Oakleigh, Boronia, and Rowville — would be temporarily closed for the evening. This decision was made to redirect resources toward crowd management and safety efforts at the match.
"Whenever police are planning for a large response to an event or an emergency incident, service delivery to the community is always factored into the planning," a police spokesperson said.
"In the affected areas, there will still be around-the-clock patrols to prevent, detect, and respond to crime.
"As always, if there is an emergency we urge the community to call Triple Zero for urgent assistance."
The atmosphere surrounding this year’s Grand Final was already heightened, given the history of volatile clashes between the two clubs’ fanbases. Past encounters have resulted in brawls and pitch invasions, with one infamous incident in 2022 leaving a goalkeeper injured after supporters stormed the field.
On this night, however, most fans eventually made their way inside to witness a historic Melbourne Derby, while police continued to maintain a watchful eye on those watching from nearby venues.
With nearly 30,000 spectators in attendance and heavy law enforcement presence both inside and outside the ground, authorities and clubs alike reiterated their message: support your team with passion — not violence.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / p ng, Instagram / @gomvfc
