2010–11 Melbourne Victory FC season

The 2010–11 season was Melbourne Victory's sixth season in the Hyundai A-League. It was the first A-League season with two teams from the same city, after the introduction of Melbourne Heart.

Melbourne Victory
2010–11 season
ManagerErnie Merrick
Mehmet Durakovic (caretaker)
A-League5th
FinalsQualified
AFC Champions LeagueQualified
Top goalscorerRobbie Kruse - 11
Highest home attendance32,231 v Melbourne Heart (22 Jan 2011)
Lowest home attendance10,287 v Gold Coast United (30 Jan 2011)

Season summary

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The 2010–11 season was Melbourne Victory's sixth in the A-League. It was the first A-League season with a second club from Victoria (Melbourne Heart). This hoped to create a Melbourne derby more fierce than those with Sydney FC and Adelaide United. The rivalry reached a new level when Victory skipper Kevin Muscat was red carded for an unacceptable tackle on young Heart player Adrian Zahra.[1] Victory moved their home games to AAMI Park for regular season matches. Melbourne Victory started their pre-season by signing former Socceroos keeper Michael Petkovic from Sivasspor,[2] promoted Diogo Ferreira, Petar Franjic and Sebastian Mattei from the youth team[3][4] and with Archie Thompson sidelined with a long term injury, Ricardinho was officially unveiled as Melbourne Victory's international marquee player from Oeste Futebol Clube, where he signed a two-year deal and was handed the number 9 shirt.[5] Victory also loaned Geoff Kellaway from Victorian Premier League Premier Dandenong Thunder.[6] On 24 December 2010, Daniel Allsopp rejoined Victory after a year with Al-Rayyan Sports Club and D.C. United.[7]

Meanwhile, promising goalkeeper Mitch Langerak was transferred to Borussia Dortmund after his impressive 2010 AFC Champions League performance.[8] goalkeeper Glen Moss was also transferred to Gold Coast United[9] and attacking midfielder Nick Ward to Wellington Phoenix.[10] Nathan Elasi was released to Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Mathew Theodore was released to Dandenong Thunder.

2010–11 saw Melbourne Victory finish in fifth place in the regular season and qualify for the finals to face fourth placed Gold Coast United in the first week knockout stage. On 20 February 2011, Gold Coast United's Dino Djulbic 90+1 header bundled Melbourne Victory out of the championship race with a stunning 1–0 win in sweltering conditions at Skilled Park.[11]

Melbourne Victory were drawn into Group E in the 2011 AFC Champions League along with Jeju United, Gamba Osaka and sister city team Tianjin Teda.[12] Isaka Cernak had been signed from North Queensland Fury for the 2011 AFC Champions League and the following season.[13]

Towards the end of the 2010–11 A-League season was preceded by major changes at the club, not only in the playing group but also on the board. Inaugural chairman Geoff Lord stepped down and was replaced by Anthony Di Pietro.[14] This led to a changing of the coaching staff. On 12 March 2011, Ernie Merrick came to an agreement with the board of directors to part company with the club after being publicly criticised by fans and media for the club's poor 2010–11 season performance, especially the 4–1 loss to arch rival Adelaide United, and the 5–1 loss to Gamba Osaka in its opening 2011 AFC Champions League game.[15] Youth team head coach and former Socceroo Mehmet Durakovic was then appointed as caretaker manager for the remaining 2011 AFC Champions League competition.[16] Merrick's sacking was followed by that of former Socceroos striker Gary Cole on 12 April 2011 as Football Operation Manager after six years of service.[17] Assistant coach Aaron Healey joined the casualty list of the post-Merrick era the following week, as the club sought to reinvent itself as the pre-eminent football force in Australia.[18] Captain Kevin Muscat announced his retirement after the 2011 AFC Champions League.[19]

Many changes were made to the playing group in the off-season. The club announced on 8 February 2011 that they had signed Perth Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi on a two-year deal.[20] On 28 February 2011, it was announced that Mate Dugandžić strengthened the rivalry between the two Melbourne clubs by signing for cross town rival Melbourne Heart and became the first player transferred directly from Victory to Heart.[21] Aziz Behich and Kristian Sarkies were the first two players to play for both teams but not transferred directly as Aziz Behich played for Hume City FC after Victory and before Heart during the A-League off-season while Kristian Sarkies transferred via Adelaide United. The club ended weeks of speculation on 11 March 2011 by officially confirming that they had signed attacking midfielder Marco Rojas for the upcoming season, securing him on a two-year deal.[22] Ricardinho was not selected as one of the five foreign imports for Melbourne's 2011 AFC Champions League campaign, and as a result was loaned to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B club Paraná Clube until 31 December 2011.[23] On 26 March 2011, Socceroos striker Robbie Kruse announced he had signed with 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf on a three-year contract beginning with the 2011–12 season.[24] The club announced the signing of Jean Carlos Solorzano from Brisbane Roar on 28 March 2011, with L.D. Alajuelense extending his loan deal for one more season so that the move could take place.[25]

Players

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First team squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   AUS Michael Petkovic
2 DF   AUS Kevin Muscat (Captain)
3 MF   AUS Mate Dugandžić (Youth)
4 DF   AUS Petar Franjic (Youth)
5 DF   THA Surat Sukha
6 MF   AUS Leigh Broxham
7 DF   AUS Matthew Kemp
8 MF   SCO Grant Brebner
9 FW   BRA Ricardinho (Marquee)
10 FW   AUS Archie Thompson (Australian Marquee)
11 MF   CRC Marvin Angulo (on loan from CS Herediano)
12 DF   AUS Rodrigo Vargas
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 MF   AUS Diogo Ferreira (Youth)
14 MF   AUS Billy Celeski
15 MF   AUS Tom Pondeljak
16 MF   CRC Carlos Hernández
17 DF   AUS Matthew Foschini (Youth)
18 FW   AUS Danny Allsopp
19 DF   AUS Evan Berger
20 GK   AUS Sebastian Mattei (Youth)
21 FW   AUS Robbie Kruse
23 DF   AUS Adrian Leijer (Vice Captain)
27 MF   WAL Geoff Kellaway

Transfers

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Winter

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Player From League Fee Date
  Diogo Ferreira Melbourne Victory – Youth   National Youth League Free April 2010
  Petar Franjic Melbourne Victory – Youth   National Youth League Free April 2010
  Michael Petkovic Sivasspor   Süper Lig Free June 2010
  Sebastian Mattei Melbourne Victory – Youth   National Youth League Free July 2010
  Geoff Kellaway Dandenong Thunder   Victorian Premier League Loan August 2010
  Ricardinho Oeste Futebol Clube   Campeonato Brasileiro Série D Not disclosed August 2010
  Danny Allsopp D.C. United   Major League Soccer Free December 2010
Player To League Fee Date
  Mitchell Langerak Borussia Dortmund   Fußball-Bundesliga Not disclosed May 2010
  Nathan Elasi Bonnyrigg White Eagles   NSW Premier League Released May 2010
  Mathew Theodore Altona Magic   Victorian Premier League Released May 2010
  Nik Mrdja Central Coast Mariners   A-League End of Loan May 2010
  Glen Moss Gold Coast United   A-League Free July 2010
  Nick Ward Wellington Phoenix   A-League Free August 2010

Summer

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Player From League Fee Date
  Tando Velaphi Perth Glory   A-league Free March 2011
  Isaka Cernak North Queensland Fury   A-league Free March 2011
  Marco Rojas Wellington Phoenix   A-league Free March 2011
Player To League Fee Date
  Mate Dugandzic Melbourne Heart   A-League Free March 2011
  Evan Berger Perth Glory   A-League Free March 2011

Managerial and captain changes

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Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Table Incoming manager Date of appointment Time
   Ernie Merrick Sacked 12 March 2011[26] 5th (10–11) Mehmet Durakovic (caretaker) 12 March 2011 GF week
Previous captain Manner of change hand Date of change hand New captain Date of appointment Time
  Kevin Muscat Resigned as captain 16 February 2011 Adrian Leijer 16 February 2011 Regular season

Matches

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2010–11 Pre-season friendlies

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6 July 2010 Melbourne Victory   2–1   Bentleigh Greens Olympic Park, Melbourne
Pondeljak   21'
O'Dea   75'
Report[permanent dead link]   85' Crenich Attendance: 16,019

2010–11 Hyundai A-League fixtures

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7 August 2010 Sydney FC   3–3   Melbourne Victory Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Saturday 20:00 EST A. Brosque   36'
McFlynn   53'
Cole   86'
Report
Summary
Broxham   66'
Dugandžić   68'
Celeski   73'
Attendance: 12,106
Referee:   Matthew Breeze
14 August 2010 Melbourne Victory   0–2   Perth Glory AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday 19:30 EST Report
Summary
Harnwell   23'
Sterjovski   49'
Attendance: 20,358
Referee:   Gerard Parsons
22 August 2010 Melbourne Victory   2–2   North Queensland Fury AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 15:00 EST K. Muscat   30' (pen.), 75' (pen.) Report
Summary
Sseppuya   16'
Grossman   30'
Akoto   81'
Payne   82' (pen.)
Attendance: 13,318
Referee:   Chris Boyle
12 September 2010 Melbourne Victory   3–0   Brisbane Roar AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 15:00 EST Pondeljak   51'
Ricardinho   56'
Brebner   71'
Report
Summary
Attendance: 13,792
Referee:   Ryan Shepheard
8 October 2010[Note 1] Melbourne Heart   2–1   Melbourne Victory AAMI Park, Melbourne
Friday 19:30 EDT Aloisi   11'
Alex   48'
Behich   48'   74'
Report
Summary
Kruse   37' Attendance: 25,897
Referee:   Ben Williams
16 October 2010 Melbourne Victory   3–0   Sydney FC Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 18:45 EDT Vargas   20'
Hernández   49'
Kruse   90'
Report
Summary
Attendance: 17,299
Referee:   Ben Williams
23 October 2010 Brisbane Roar   2–1   Melbourne Victory Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday 20:15 EST Nichols   26'
Solórzano   77'
Report
Summary
Kruse   48' Attendance: 9,425
Referee:   Peter Green
29 October 2010 Melbourne Victory   2–1   Adelaide United Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Friday 20:00 EDT Kruse   22'
Hernández   68'
Report
Summary
Fyfe   2' Attendance: 16,269
Referee:   Ben Williams
6 November 2010 Melbourne Victory   0–1   Gold Coast United Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 19:00 EDT Report
Summary
Vargas   55' (o.g.) Attendance: 15,534
Referee:   Peter Green
14 November 2010 Perth Glory   3–1   Melbourne Victory nib Stadium, Perth
Sunday 16:00 WST Fowler   13', 64', 71' Report
Summary
Dugandžić   79' Attendance: 6,217
Referee:   Chris Beath
3 December 2010 Melbourne Victory   3–3   Brisbane Roar AAMI Park, Melbourne
Friday 20:00 EDT Kruse   63', 77'
A. Thompson   71'
Report
Summary
Kemp   30' (o.g.)
Solórzano   45+1'
McKay   90+4'
Attendance: 11,886
Referee:   Peter Green
11 December 2010 Melbourne Heart   1–3   Melbourne Victory AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday 19:00 EDT Sibon   17' Report
Summary
Kruse   12', 28'
Srhoj   54' (o.g.)
Attendance: 23,059
Referee:   Chris Beath
18 December 2010 Melbourne Victory   2–0   Perth Glory AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday 19:00 EDT A. Thompson   45+4'
Vargas   64'
Report
Summary
Attendance: 12,124
Referee:   Matthew Breeze
27 December 2010 Melbourne Victory   2–1   Newcastle Jets AAMI Park, Melbourne
Monday 18:00 EDT Hernández   20'
Ricardinho   90'
Report
Summary
Zadkovich   54' Attendance: 16,378
Referee:   Matthew Breeze
31 December 2010 Central Coast Mariners   1–2   Melbourne Victory Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Friday 18:00 EDT Leijer   48' (o.g.)
Kwasnik   41'   53'
Report
Summary
Ferreira   85'
Brebner   87'
Attendance: 12,409
Referee:   Ben Williams
9 January 2011 Melbourne Victory   1–4   Adelaide United AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 15:00 EDT K. Muscat   57'   65'
Dugandžić   90+4'
Report
Summary
Flores   12'
van Dijk   57', 78'
Barbiero   74'
Attendance: 18,558
Referee:   Peter Green
15 January 2011 Sydney FC   1–1   Melbourne Victory Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Saturday 19:30 EDT Makela   90+1' Report
Summary
Allsopp   52' Attendance: 11,387
Referee:   Matthew Breeze
22 January 2011 Melbourne Victory   2–2   Melbourne Heart Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 19:00 EDT Allsopp   10'
Hernández   31'
K. Muscat   79'
Report
Summary
Aloisi   45+2', 51' Attendance: 32,231
Referee:   Chris Beath
30 January 2011 Melbourne Victory   2–0   Gold Coast United AAMI Park, Melbourne
Sunday 17:00 EDT Allsopp   25', 56' Report
Summary
Attendance: 10,287
Referee:   Peter Green
2 February 2011 Melbourne Victory   2–0   Newcastle Jets Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Wednesday 19:00 EDT Pondeljak   57'
Kruse   69'
Report
Summary
Fiorentini   61' Attendance: 11,296
Referee:   Strebre Delovski
11 February 2011 Adelaide United   2–1   Melbourne Victory Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Friday 19:30 CDT Reid   6'
T. Dodd   78'
Report
Summary
A. Thompson   65' Attendance: 21,083
Referee:   Ryan Shepheard
Notes
  1. ^ Game was moved to stop a clash with the AFL grand final replay [1] Archived 4 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine

2010–11 Finals series

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20 February 2011 Semi-Final 4 v 5 Gold Coast United   1–0   Melbourne Victory Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Sunday 16:30 EST Djulbic   90+1' Report
Summary
Attendance: 3,281
Referee:   Strebre Delovski

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Brisbane Roar (C) 30 18 11 1 58 26 +32 65 Qualification for 2012 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series[a]
2 Central Coast Mariners 30 16 9 5 50 31 +19 57
3 Adelaide United 30 15 5 10 51 36 +15 50 Qualification for 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off and Finals series
4 Gold Coast United 30 12 10 8 40 32 +8 46 Qualification for Finals series
5 Melbourne Victory 30 11 10 9 45 39 +6 43
6 Wellington Phoenix 30 12 5 13 39 41 −2 41
7 Newcastle Jets 30 9 8 13 29 33 −4 35
8 Melbourne Heart 30 8 11 11 32 42 −10 35
9 Sydney FC 30 8 10 12 35 40 −5 34
10 Perth Glory 30 5 8 17 27 54 −27 23
11 North Queensland Fury 30 4 7 19 28 60 −32 19
Source: ultimatealeague.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ First place qualifies for the 2012 AFC Champions League group stage.
    Winning the 2011 A-League Grand Final automatically earns qualification for the 2012 AFC Champions League group stage, unless first place are champions.
    Second place qualifies for the 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off, unless they qualify for the 2011 A-League Grand Final alongside first place or become A-League Champions, subsequently third place then qualify for the 2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off.

Statistics

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Leading scorers

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Total Player Goals per Match
 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
11   Robbie Kruse 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1
5   Carlos Hernández 1 1 1 1 1
  Mate Dugandžić 1 1 1 2
  Daniel Allsopp 1 1 1 2
4   Archie Thompson 1 1 1 1
3   Rodrigo Vargas 1 1 1
2   Kevin Muscat 2
  Ricardinho 1 1
  Grant Brebner 1 1
  Tom Pondeljak 1 1
1
  Leigh Broxham 1
  Billy Celeski 1
  Diogo Ferreira 1

Discipline

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Updated as end of the season

Name Cautions   2nd Caution – Send-Off     Send-Offs  
  Rodrigo Vargas 6
  Billy Celeski 6
  Grant Brebner 5
  Adrian Leijer 6
  Leigh Broxham 4
  Robbie Kruse 5
  Diogo Ferreira 5
  Mate Dugandzic 2
  Matthew Foschini 1
  Ricardinho 3
  Surat Sukha 1
  Kevin Muscat 5 1 1
  Carlos Hernández 4
  Marvin Angulo 3
  Michael Petkovic 4
  Matthew Kemp 1
  Tom Pondeljak 3
  Daniel Allsopp 2
  Evan Berger 1

2011 AFC Champions League

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Group stage

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Gamba Osaka 6 3 1 2 13 7 +6 10[a] Advance to knockout stage
2   Tianjin Teda 6 3 1 2 8 6 +2 10[a]
3   Jeju United 6 2 1 3 6 10 −4 7
4   Melbourne Victory 6 1 3 2 7 11 −4 6
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Tiebreakers: Gamba Osaka and Tianjin Teda are ranked by their head-to-head records: Gamba Osaka (3 pts, +1 GD), Tianjin Teda (3 pts, –1 GD).
Gamba Osaka  5–1  Melbourne Victory
Takei   4'
Adriano   7' (pen.)
Lee Keun-Ho   10'
Futagawa   62'
Kim Seung-Yong   90+1'
Report Muscat   21' (pen.)
Attendance: 12,949
Referee: Ali Hamad Madhad Saif Albadwawi (UAE)
Tianjin Teda  1 – 1  Melbourne Victory
Zorić   19' Report Muscat   52'
Melbourne Victory  2 – 1  Tianjin Teda
Hernández   44'
Muscat   45+1' (pen.)
Report Chen Tao   37'
Attendance: 5,693
Melbourne Victory  1 – 1  Gamba Osaka
Leijer   12' Report Nakazawa   43'
Round Date Home team Score Away team Crowd Stadium
Group Stage 1 March 2011 Gamba Osaka 5–1 Melbourne Victory 12,949 Osaka Expo '70 Stadium, Suita
Group Stage 15 March 2011 Melbourne Victory 1–2 Jeju United 4,825 Etihad Stadium
Group Stage 5 April 2011 Tianjin Teda 1–1 Melbourne Victory 25,456 TEDA Football Stadium, Tianjin
Group Stage 20 April 2011 Melbourne Victory 2-1 Tianjin Teda 5,693 Etihad Stadium
Group Stage 4 May 2011 Melbourne Victory 1–1 Gamba Osaka 7,437 Etihad Stadium
Group Stage 11 May 2011 Jeju United 1–1 Melbourne Victory 1,519 Jeju World Cup Stadium

References

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  1. ^ Bernard, Grantley (23 January 2011). "Kevin Muscat says sorry for his tackle on Adrian Zahra". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Michael Petkovic signs for Melbourne Victory". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). 30 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Angulo to stay in A-League with Victory". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Victory call up Mattei". A-League Official Website. 28 July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Brazilian Ricardinho signs for Victory". FIFA. 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  6. ^ Slevison, Andrew (17 August 2010). "Melbourne Victory sign Dandenong Thunder's Kellaway". Tribal Football. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Allsopp returns to Melbourne Victory". FIFA. 24 December 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Melbourne Victory Agree Fee With Borussia Dortmund For Mitch Langerak". Goal.com. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  9. ^ "Gold Coast United Agree Terms With Melbourne Victory Goalkeeper Glen Moss". Goal.com. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Wellington Sign Victory's Ward". FourFourTwo Australia. Haymarket Group. 1 September 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Victory crashes out of finals". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  12. ^ "Mouth-watering matches on the ACL agenda". the-afc.com (AFC). 7 December 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Cernak set for Victory move". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). 20 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  14. ^ Slevison, Andrew (31 January 2011). "Lord to step down as Melbourne Victory chairman at season's end". Tribal Football. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  15. ^ Bernard, Grantley (12 March 2011). "Ernie Merrick dumped as Melbourne Victory coach". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  16. ^ "Victory and Merrick part ways". ABC News. 12 March 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  17. ^ Bernard, Grantley (12 April 2011). "Melbourne Victory axe football boss Gary Cole". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times.
  18. ^ "Players Pole-Axed By Cole Axe". FourFourTwo Australia. Haymarket Group. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  19. ^ Coerts, Stefan (16 February 2011). "Former Australia International Kevin Muscat Announces Retirement". Goal.com. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Victory sign Velaphi". A-League Official Website. 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  21. ^ "Heart signs former Victory striker Dugandzic". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  22. ^ "Victory secure Rojas signing". A-League Official Website. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  23. ^ Slevison, Andrew (22 March 2011). "Melbourne Victory loan Ricardinho to Brazilian outfit Parana Clube". Tribal Football. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  24. ^ "Kruse signs with Dusseldorf". Sportal. 26 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  25. ^ "Victory sign Solorzano". melbournevictory.com.au (Melbourne Victory). 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011.
  26. ^ Merrick and Melbourne Victory part ways
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Preceded by A-League Premiers
2008/09
Succeeded by
Preceded by A-League Champions
2008/09
Succeeded by