Tim Cahill’s signing at Melbourne City will significantly boost the Melbourne Derby, according to Melbourne Victory CEO Ian Robson.
Victory hosts City in Round 2 of the new season – at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, October 15 – in what could be Cahill’s first game for his new club.
The Melbourne rivals also meet in Round 11 and Round 18 of the 2016/17 season.
“I have no doubt that what is good for football and what is good for A-League and good for Victoria is having two strong clubs in Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City,” Robson told SEN.
“I think in a way we’ve already achieved it. This is a city where the major sporting events don’t even have the date in the calendar in our mind.
“The AFL Grand Final is the last Saturday in September. The Melbourne Cup is the first Tuesday in November.
“We want to have that iconic sporting status around the three Derbies every season.
“They’re competitive and compelling fixtures that no longer bring the bolted-on fans of the game, but the theatre-goers who want to increasingly be drawn.
“(Tim Cahill) is only going to add to that, and that’s a fantastic thing.”
