DRIVING in to Etihad Stadium you pass The Nixon pub.

It’s 90 minutes before kick-off of one the most anticipated Melbourne A-League derbies ever, yet out the front Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City fans happily mingle.

Upstairs a throng of fans walk across the footbridge from Southern Cross Station.

There’s plenty more navy blue than City blue, but both sets of fans converge on Docklands as one.

The only drama is the tickets some fans had on their phones weren’t scanning properly.

Otherwise the atmosphere is jovial.

Welcome to the derby, Melbourne-style, where the rivalry is fierce on the pitch but doesn’t require there to be bloodshed off it.

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media_camera Tim Cahill celebrates the win. Picture: George Salpigtidis

In many parts of the world you would not see this before a clash of local rivals.

Away fans would be tightly guarded by security as they enter, they would sit together in a tiny pocket and then be escorted out again post-game.

Active ends aside, Victory and City fans with regular reserved seats sat side-by-side, revelling in the occasion together.

It’s too common a misconception, the supposed soccer violence, and only one look at the diversity in the crowd would tell you that.

Walking in to the ground about 40 minutes before the game was a family of four.

Mum, Claudia, and dad, Sonny, were in City tops, their sons Dante, 9, and Aidan, 7, were kitted out in Victory gear.

Sonny said they once had a liking for Victory but switched to Melbourne Heart when they came in.

Their kids, however, can’t be dissuaded.

“Because they’re the best,” Dante says when asks why he supports Victory.

At least two in the family will be happy this morning.

Inside the noise starts to boom 15 minutes before kick-off.

And, in stark contrast to the Socceroos game at Etihad four nights prior, it barely lets up for the rest of the night - particularly at the Coventry End of the ground where Victory’s active North Terrace fans stand.

media_camera Melbourne City players after their Derby win. Picture: George Salpigtidis

At the opposite end there’s Victory’s South End and then City’s Melburnians next to them in a corner bay, with plenty of banter exchanged.

There’s a bloke called Tim Cahill playing his first A-League game. It’s kind of a big deal.

His inclusion added to the pre-match hype and then he sent that buzz through the ground’s open roof with a 27th minute volley that would rate high even on his already cluttered highlights reel.

Victory’s active fans tried to remain in full voice, but as City got further ahead an eerie quiet descended over the shocked stadium.

Around the water cooler this week Victory fans might be even quieter as their noisy neighbours now have plenty of cause to crow.

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EVENT NO.2: A-LEAGUE, MELBOURNE DERBY

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City, Etihad Stadium

Tickets: adults from $49.80

Running time: 7.50-9.50pm

Crowd: 43,188

Food prices: $5 pie, $4 hot chips, $5.60 soft drink

Best way to get there: public transport to Southern Cross Station

Coming to the event I was most looking forward to: a tightly fought Melbourne derby.

Walking out I: was left marvelling at the brilliance of Tim Cahill.