Drums, flares and flash bombs

The A-League is back and with it comes the fanatical, vocal support unlike anything in Australia.

Victory opened the season this year against the Wanderers in what is, hands down noisiest match the league has to offer.

This fixture's timing in particular was rather fitting considering the importance the League has placed on first round impact in recent years.

Over two thousand Wanderers faithful made the trip south to support their beloved team against  Australia's biggest club and even as an outsider, boy did they deliver.

Melbourne was treated to 90 minutes of passion similar to that of the early seasons of the A-League that Melbourne was once accustomed to...

It's no secret the atmosphere at Melbourne games isn't what it once was.

Amazingly an a different type of growth either end of the ground has changed the match day experience.

The South end have grown like a maturing professional and organised chanting is seldom at best.

It's participants are content with the occasional chant, Sydney bashing and as long as their cups are half full of the piss the game is adequate entertainment.

The north end of the ground on the other hand, has been fraught with infighting, supporter politics and appears tired from the constant struggles with the club and imposed security measures.

Vocal? Yes, at times. Consistent? No. The North end are in transition and need someone to unite them much like the BWB did back in the day.

In the meantime the RBB did what they did best, chant loudly and cause trouble along the way.

As the goals piled on early the bottles began to rain on the field half full of water (and metaphorical anger).

The handful of flares, flash bombs and detonators set off RBB way, kept the off-field antics mildly interesting and were dealt with quickly by security.

However security couldn't do enough to protect the flow of the game with a rather significant pause in play as the referee dealt with (as far as we know) coins on the pitch.

Some may argue it have been worth keeping the stands out, most will roll their eyes and tell these people to continue reading the Herald Sun.

Later in the game when Victory had all but secured the 3 points the North end clicked into gear.

All three levels joined in the chants and contributed to the intimidating and awesome atmosphere as fans united.

There were laughs as the North end locked arms in a parody poznan, tears as... as... (for the sake of poetic flow I'm going to say) as the Wanderers fans realised their team could concede more than three goals and their was romance as for even a split second Victory fans could see their team achieve something bigger than even they had envisioned (it was a great performance after all)

It's good to be back at the A-League.

Sitting their watching the game flow alongside the rhythm of the drums, move with the roars of the crowd as they washed over the play, it all seemed so natural.

The passion is back for season 10. Good or bad it is a very enjoyable ride.

TBG

Did you go to a game this week? What did you make of the round one A-League atmosphere?