Sean Walsh blogs on the Melbourne Victory for BPL. Click here to blog on your favourite A-League team.

Walking along Swan Street towards The Stockade (aka AAMI Park) on Saturday night I was filled with optimism.  Imagining the look of a stadium filled to near capacity and the Victory putting Glory to the sword.  Things even started off well when Victory were introduced in their sash strip.  A strip that is streets ahead of the current Reebok offering. I would favour using this strip forever more as our home strip. Some supporters would be up in arms over the loss of the V, but I would counter that the name is Melbourne, Victory gives a nod to Victoria and really how far do we need to smash people over the head about our origins.  "Oh you're from Victoria, we get it now!!"

So lulled into a false sense of security I applauded the first whistle. The last I would applaud for the night.  My first moment of concern began when I realised that there weren't thousands of people waiting outside to get in and we really were only going to get the 20,000 already there. The Blue and White Brigade although loud of voice has lost much weight over the years and is a shadow of its former self.  The South end along with the West well populated but the toffs over in the East stand need an influx of talent.  Victory's belief in transferring some games to Etihad must surely be under review.  Crowds of 30,000 plus are not going to be a common event and maybe our cloth should be cut accordingly and just think it means never having to play on a dodgy home surface again.

Apart from some terrible refereeing the game started reasonably well.  Then our old friend Mistake from Defensive Set Piece decided to visit.  Petkovic flapped and no other defender could intervene resulting an easy goal to Harnwell. This shouldn't have been a suprise to anyone for two reasons.  Fowler had moments before hit the bar direct from a corner and Harnwell was doing a good impression of an AFL tagger on Petkovic before (and during) the taking of the corner. The crowd called foul but our estimable ref decided to wait a few minute before giving the decision.  At the next corner absolutely no contact between Harnwell and Petkovic but he gives the obstruction, go figure, couldn't see that one coming.

At 1-0 down Victory continued to huff and but for little actual threat. Perth Glory's defense, which was compact before the goal, now decided to redefine the word.  If I had thought CCM posed little threat last week this was taking it to the next level. Victory could occasionally get round the sides of this block of humanity but without a target in the box this became futile. Part of the problem was that Victory were terribly slow in the buildup and unable to attack the defensive block quick enough to seperate it.  Posession was retained but to the detriment of penetration. There was a noted lack of movement off the ball and two defensive midfielders was surplus to requirements. One was more than enough to play a poor pass and concede a well taken second. Celeski's introduction at the half was welcome and provided a momentary spark but should have been for Brebner (who without someone to mark was without a function) rather than Sukha who along with Berger had been our most energetic in the first half.  After playing all his cards so well last week, Merrick's intervention didn't improve our play.  Leijer was left to play something of a wing back role, which is not the best use of his talents.  An interesting change may have been Celeski for Muscat.  Our Captain didn't have the major errors of last week but his distribution left a little to be desired at times.

After the second goal Victory continued to try hard but it was a futile enterprise and everyone knew it. Angulo was introduced and showed the touch he is known for without improving the whole.  Ferreira came on and did not look out of place in the company, firing one particularly well struck shot.  Perhaps showing his elders one other avenue that could have been tried.  Brebner was lucky to stay on the pitch until the final shrill whistle, but the same could be said of Burns.  His tackle on Berger in the middle of the park, studs up, from behind, making contact had all the ingredients for a red card but was deemed to not even be yellow. Go figure.

Dugandzic playing high all game could not get into it. Carlos looking as unfit as ever, came deep to get the ball, held it well but had no-one to play through, over or around the packed defense. His lack of fitness also meant after laying off, he was not able to make any runs into the box to get on the end of any good work. Sukha and Berger were good on the flanks, but could not find a recipient for any of their work. Defense was solid, perhaps too solid.

And so it ended, optimism soundly thrashed out of the system. The only hope left seemingly that a visa application for a rumoured Brazilian striker is sitting on top of the pile on some desk in Canberra.

Roll on North Queensland and a chilly Melbourne day to welcome them.