IF EVERTON’S first pre-season game was anything to go by, the travelling supporters will be made very welcome in Melbourne today.
While Z-Cars greeted the visitors on to the pitch at the ANZ Stadium on Saturday where Everton faced Sydney FC, ‘A Grand Old Team...’ sent them on their way south along the East coast for this morning’s match against Melbourne Heart.
The line from that ditty ‘if you know your history’ couldn’t be more fitting than for today’s friendly.
While Everton were established in 1878 following a rent dispute that would ultimately lead to one of the fiercest rivalries in football, Melbourne Heart were formed just two years ago after taking inspiration from city neighbours Melbourne Victory.
With 130 years between them, Everton could provide a history lesson for their hosts today.
The expatriated and travelling Evertonians will be hoping for a football lesson too, although Tim Cahill has warned against complacency as the Premier League club take on the A-League newcomers.
As the Socceroos’ box office draw, Cahill will again be the star attraction at the Etihad Stadium today.
The 30-year-old insisted on cutting his post-World Cup break short to take part in Everton’s tour of his home nation and is ensuring all of his team-mates are not treating the far flung excursion as a holiday.
“I didn’t want to bring Everton here and have all the kids playing,” said Cahill.
“No disrespect to them but I wanted to have our main players out here and show respect to the people that are coming to watch the games.
“For us, the manager has been really focused on how hard we train. We trained yesterday afternoon and again this morning before the game. He’s putting us through our paces.
“It’s been non-stop training.
“This trip is for us to get fit, not to have a good time or anything. We have to make sure we give the Melbourne boys a lot of respect, as well as the fans, and try to ensure we put on a good spectacle.”
Such is the anticipation of Everton’s visit to Melbourne that today’s game has been moved from Heart’s 30,050-capacity AAMI Park stadium to the larger 53,359-seater Etihad; the focal point of a multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex that has played host to, among others, AC/DC, U2, Bruce Springsteen and Barbara Streisand.
