Melbourne Victory Men’s are set for a pre-season friendly against Original Rivals Adelaide United at the Mildura Sporting Precinct on Saturday, October 4.
Facing off against Adelaide in a charity fundraiser match, with all proceeds benefitting the Mildura Base Public Hospital, Melbourne Victory will have the opportunity to test themselves against the Reds in preparation for the 2025/26 A-League Men’s season.
Melbourne Victory
Returning from WA, going two from two over Perth Glory, Victory will be hopeful to continue their hot form heading into the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League season with an exciting Original Rivalry match-up in Mildura.
After coming away as 1-0 victors in a tight clash in Mandurah against the Glory, led to the win by a Jordi Valadon strike in the 47th minute, Victory stepped up their levels in Bunbury.
Along with maintaining their solid defensive structure that saw Arthur Diles’ men keep a second clean sheet against the Glory, goals from youngster Jing Reec, Matthew Grimaldi and Oliver Dragicevic powered Victory to a 3-0 win.
Defeating Adelaide in their last competitive fixture, a 5-3 thriller at AAMI Park, Victory will hope to get the better of the Original Rivals at the Mildura Sporting Precinct this coming Saturday.
Travelling Squad: 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 3. Adama TRAORÉ, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. SANTOS, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 28. Kayne RAZMOVSKI, 29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 41. Malik OLUKHALE, 42. Xavier STELLA, 44. George MIHAILIDIS
Adelaide United
Coming off a top-six finish in the 2024/25 A-League Men’s season, Adelaide United’s squad has seen a number of changes over the off-season.
Brazilian Ayrton Andrioli has taken the head coach role of United following the departure of Carl Veart, while the likes of Archie Goodwin, Zach Clough, Stefan Mauk, James Delianov and Josh Cavallo are some of the notable players who have left the club.
Adelaide legend Craig Goodwin arrived back in SA for his fourth stint at the club, joining up alongside international recruits Anselmo, Juan Muñiz and Joshua Smits.
The Reds began their pre-season preparations with local hit-outs against The Cove FC, Playford Patriots and Adelaide Blue Eagles in July, prevailing 5-0, 7-1 and 6-1 respectively.
To round out the month, United lost 2-1 to Newcastle Jets in their Australia Cup Round of 32 fixture.
The Reds bounced back in August with a clinical 9-0 win over West Adelaide, before travelling to Melbourne in September to face both Melbourne City and Victory.
Drawing one-all with City at the Home of the Matildas, United went on to defeat Victory 2-1 a few days later in a behind-closed-doors game.
Adelaide have rounded out their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against the NPL SA All-Stars, where they went on to win 5-3 on penalties, along with a 6-2 win over MetroStars at Coopers Stadium.
Taking on Victory again ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 A-League Men’s season, the Reds will certainly give their all in what should be a tasty Original Rivalry battle in Mildura.
