Arthur Diles believes a cocktail of experience and youth puts Melbourne Victory on a solid footing ahead of the 50th Melbourne Derby.
Victory, fresh from their first win of the 2025/26 Isuzu UTE A-League season against Perth Glory last weekend, host the first derby of the campaign on Saturday, November 8, kick-off 7.35pm AEDT, at AAMI Park.
The clash is a rematch of May’s Grand Final, when a sold-out crowd watched the competition’s 20th finale – narrowly edged by City – played out on Victorian soil.
But rather than billing the fixture’s latest entry as a revenge mission, Victory’s Head Coach is expecting the diversity of experiences amongst his playing group to play a more significant role.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Diles lifted the lid on the Men’s First Team’s motivation ahead of taking on City.
“That comes from within our four walls, in the changing room, that’s what happens when you’ve got good leadership and a great changing room. They know the significance of the match.
“The beauty is, although we have a lot of young players, we’ve also got some experienced heads that can navigate through a difficult week for some young ones, because for some people, it might be the first time they’ve tasted a derby, and it’s important that our experienced heads keep them level, keep them grounded, and keep them motivated and focused on the job at hand.
“That’s what happens when you’ve got a good blend of youth and experience.”
In terms of an extra dose of experience, Diles is hoping to call on the services of his Captain, Roderick Miranda, for the first time this term.
The defender, who made his 100th appearance for the Club in the Grand Final, has been tracking well in the lead-up to Round 4.
“I think Roddy is a big chance. Roddy’s completed the full week for the first time. We’ll have our medical meeting this afternoon and cross-check everything, and I’m hoping Roddy’s right to play tomorrow.
“He’s our captain, he’s our leader and a fantastic footballer. He makes a difference when he plays. We’re a different team when Roddy’s playing.
“It’s been great having him on the pitch. He lifts the players around him, and you see his quality and what he brings to the team.”
Watch Diles’ full press conference below.
