The Original Rivalry

Early matches (2005–2006)

The two teams first met in a 2005 Australian Club World Championship Qualifying Tournament match on 7 May 2005 with Adelaide progressing to the next round of qualifying, winning a penalty shootout after the match remained 0–0 after extra time.^[3] The teams met again in a friendly match on 26 June 2005 in Bendigo, with the teams finishing 0–0 at full time.

Beginning of rivalry (2007–2009)

However, a proper rivalry between the two teams did not begin until 2010, when Adelaide United were defeated twice in an A-League Grand Final both in 2007 and 2009. In the 2007 Grand Final in front of a sold-out crowd of 55,436 at the Telstra Dome Victory would defeat Adelaide 6-0 with 5 of the goals scored by Archie Thompson.^[4] On top of the scoreline, in the 34th minute, Adelaide captain, Ross Aloisi, was given a second yellow card. During the 2008–09 season, they both finished on the top of the ladder equal on both points and the goal difference. The rivalry between both sets of fans remains very strong,^[5][6] since the majority of the matches get an attendance of at least over 12,500.

In 2009, Melbourne Victory would once again win the Grand Final, claiming a hard-fought 1–0 win in front of 53,273. The match, however, was marred by controversy, as Adelaide United striker, Cristiano, was given a straight red card in the 10th minute.^[7] Cristiano was adjudged to have elbowed Rodrigo Vargas whilst contesting an aerial ball. Former Socceroo, Robbie Slater, remarked that he "thought it was a disgraceful decision and the Grand Final was ruined", whilst calling for Football Federation Australia to appoint international referees for the sake of neutrality.^[8] The sending off of Danny Allsopp was also controversial, as he was given a straight red for an apparent headbutt during an altercation with Robert Cornthwaite.^[9]

Another event that helped start the rivalry was in the 2006-07 season on the field included at the time Adelaide coach John Kosmina and Melbourne Victory Captain Kevin Muscat. The ball rolled out near the Adelaide technical area, Kosmina went to pick up the ball, only to be pushed to the ground by Muscat also trying to retrieve the ball himself. Kosmina responded by getting to his feet and grabbing the Victory captain by the throat. Kosmina was sent off by referee, Matthew Breeze,^[10] and was later handed a five game suspension.^[11] It’s an incident that has set the tone for what has followed in this fiery fixture.^[12]

2010s

Following the Grand Final, Victory now had six consecutive wins against Adelaide. During the 2009–10 season, The Reds plummeted down the table, claiming the wooden spoon. Melbourne continued their form, finishing second on the ladder, losing out to Sydney on the final day.^[13] Melbourne took a clean sweep of derbies during the season: winning 2–0 in Adelaide,^[14] 3–1 at Docklands,^[15] and 2–0 at home to momentarily go top of the table.^[16] Victory extended their streak to ten consecutive wins in October 2010, coming from behind to win 2–1.^[17] Adelaide finally broke Victory's streak with a 4–1 win in Melbourne in January 2011, their first win against them in almost three years, and their equal largest win in the fixture.^[18] Adelaide would beat Victory again on the final day to secure third spot, and qualification for the Champions League.^[19] The 2011–12 season saw both clubs drop into the bottom half of the ladder.

2020s

In March 2021, Adelaide United striker, Kusini Yengi, was subject to racial abuse from some Victory fans online after scoring in their 3–1 win.^[20] In January 2022, Melbourne Victory were fined $5,000 after some of their fans directed homophobic abuse at Adelaide United player, Josh Cavallo, during a game earlier that month.^[21]

Following the release of the 2023–24 A-League Men fixtures, Adelaide Venue Management, the company that own and operate Coopers Stadium, announced that Melbourne Victory supporters would not be allowed into the ground for the round 20 match, due to the incident in last year's Melbourne Derby, and previous incidents between Adelaide and Victory supporters.^[22] They backtracked a few hours later, deleting the announcement and publicly stating that the decision had been reversed.^[23] The CEO of AVM, Anthony Kirchner, was stood down three days later,^[24] and sacked in late September.^[25]

During a match on 4 November 2023, in the fifth minute of stoppage time with the scores level, Adelaide player, Nestory Irankunda, received the ball on the right wing. Victory player, Chris Ikonomidis, pulled his shirt and bumped him to the ground, causing Irankunda to lash out after a foul wasn't given. The referee, Alex King, sent Irankunda off with a second yellow card.^[26] Former Adelaide United player, Bruce Djite, called the sending off an "absolute joke", stating that the referees "need to get their act together" and should be "protecting the hottest, brightest prospects in Australian football." Former Victory forward, Archie Thompson, agreed with Djite's comments, adding that "the linesman should've been helping (Alex) King, because the players were right in front of him."^[27] Adelaide coach, Carl Veart, said that "Nestor has to be better" and that "he has to learn to be able to control them (his frustrations) a little bit better." Veart stated that he asked King why he didn't give the foul, and that the referee said that "he told him, he has to be stronger."^[28][29]

Cup knockouts and title deciders

Adelaide and Melbourne have met twice in an A-League Grand Final, there have also been Original Rivalry games in the FFA Cup which have significantly contributed to one of the two clubs winning a trophy. These include:

• Melbourne Victory 6–0 Adelaide United (18 February 2007) The Grand Final match of the 2006–07 league campaign, with both Adelaide and Melbourne to reach their first A-League Finals trophy. The game had most goals and largest victory in an A-League Grand Final with Archie Thompson scoring five goals and Kristian Sarkies scoring the sixth goal in the third minute of stoppage time.

• Melbourne Victory 1–0 Adelaide United (28 February 2009) The Grand Final match of the 2008–09 league campaign, with Adelaide and Melbourne facing each other at Telstra Dome again since the 2007 A-League Grand Final. The final result was a 1–0 scoreline with Tom Pondeljak scoring the goal in the 60th minute.

• Melbourne Victory 3–1 Adelaide United (22 September 2015) The FFA Cup Quarter-Finals match to face Hume City next round.^[30] After seven minutes, Osama Malik had slid in to Fahid Ben Khalfallah who had given Victory a free kick. Guilherme Finkler opened the scoring after ten minutes via the free-kick. Kosta Barbarouses scored the second just before the half-time whistle. Adelaide had earned a penalty as Daniel Georgievski had fouled Craig Goodwin. Marcelo Carrusca the penalty taker had successfully converted spot-kick as Lawrence Thomas dived correctly. Besart Berisha had also scored his penalty with ten minutes to go, booking them to the cup semi-final against Hume City.

• Adelaide United 3–0 Melbourne Victory (23 August 2017) The FFA Cup Round of 16 match to face Heidelberg United next round.^[31] No goals were scored in the first half until Johan Absalonsen scored the opener in the 53rd. Ten minutes later, a penalty was awarded via a handball by Rhys Williams. The penalty was successfully converted by George Blackwood sending Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas the wrong way. Nathan Konstandopoulos in the final minute of regular time scored his first FFA Cup goal. After, stoppage time was up. The Reds moved on in the quarter-finals to face Heidelberg United in Melbourne.
• Melbourne Victory 1–0 Adelaide United (21 September 2024) In 2024 the two sides would face each other in the 2024 Australia Cup Semi Finals. the match would be played at AAMI Park in front of 5,131 in attendance. The two sides fought hard in the first half. in the 30th minute Adama Traore had a close chance for Victory but his shot was saved and deflected for a corner.^[32] Adelaide then looked to break the deadlock on a dangerous counter-attack, but Jack Duncan was up to the task after being forced into a double save to keep the scores locked at 0–0.^[33] the half would finish 0–0. Both sides would continue to fight hard into the second half but only one side would score. In the 88th minute Jordi Valadon would score the winner for Victory. Melbourne Victory advanced to the Australia Cup final against Macarthur FC. Macarthur FC would defeat Victory 1–0 in Melbourne.^[34]

Adelaide United vs. Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory vs. Adelaide United

Head-to-head record

As of 27 February 2026

Comparative league placings

Adelaide United, then Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory, then Adelaide United