Melbourne Victory has changed the location of its team bench for home matches in an effort to capitalize on the energy from its passionate supporter group, the North End, at AAMI Park. The switch was implemented during Saturday night’s Melbourne derby against Melbourne City, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Victory head coach Giovanni Savarese explained that the decision was motivated by a desire to be closer to the fans. “I wanted to be closer to our fans,” Savarese said in a post-match interview. “I wanted to feel our group, our people, the people that come to the game.” The move aims to strengthen the connection between the team and supporters, hoping that the home crowd’s noise and enthusiasm will provide an extra boost during matches.

The derby attracted 19,008 spectators, with Victory expectedly holding the majority support. Although the attendance was significantly lower—by approximately 10,000—than that of the recent Australia Cup final at the same venue between Victory and South Melbourne, the atmosphere remained intense throughout the game. Despite taking the lead, Victory allowed Melbourne City to equalize, continuing a pattern of relinquishing leads in recent fixtures.

Victory’s demanding schedule, which includes participation in AFC Champions League Two matches, is placing pressure on the squad’s stamina and depth. The club will need to quickly adapt to these challenges to improve consistency on the pitch. Coach Savarese’s bench switch reflects broader efforts to galvanize both players and fans as the team navigates a congested and competitive season.