In the build up to this Saturday's third and final Melbourne derby it seems fitting that the first player to play for both clubs should have his say on the biggest clash in Victorian football.
Last week I was fortunate enough to interview one of Melbourne Heart's most impressive youngsters: Aziz Behich. The 20 year old has displayed tremendous pace, versatility and determination to claim a regular place in John van't Schip's starting XI.
Aziz chatted about life at Heart, what it was like jumping from VPL to EPL opposition and who is the most skilled with the controller at FIFA11.
What was your inspiration as a youngster to pursue the dream of becoming a professional?
I started when I was five years old and I just played locally at a club, my father played football for a good 25 years so obviously it just ran in the family.
Did you have a footballing hero growing up?
As a youngster, I always liked Beckham and as I grew a bit older I liked Maradona, they're both players that I always looked up to in a footballing sense.
As a hero to many young players who dream of turning professional, what words of encouragement would you pass on to guide them?
Never give up, always take advice, always train hard and stay disciplined!
When you first started your career in Australia, were you content to stay and build a career domestically, or are you determined to eventually move overseas?
As every young player wishes, everyone wants to play in the highest league possible, but I'm just taking it as it comes, trying to improve every day on the training park and just see where it can take me. Australia is a good stepping stone for me in the A-League and obviously in the future whatever happens will happen.
Can you remember the day you were first offered a full time contract - how was it?
Oh, big relief! Nothing better could've happened! It was the best feeling!
Clearly there are many sporting clubs in Melbourne, how do you view your role as a player in raising awareness for both the club and the league?
You have to promote the club and the league, always be as professional as possible around the club and outside the club and always be a gentleman and a humble person.
As a player at a brand new club, what goals did you set yourself for the inaugural season and are you close to achieving them/have achieved them?
Playing regular football, trying to develop everyday on the training park and obviously as a team goal we've got to make the finals and just play the brand of football the coach wants us to play.
With players like Nick Kalmar, Adrian Zahra and Kliment Taseski all coming from the VPL, what advice would you give to players who are within a stone's throw of a professional career?
Obviously the VPL is also a good league to play in. You've always got to work hard as you never know who's watching and never know what can happen. With Nick, Kliment, Adrian and myself all coming from the VPL, I suppose it was just hard work and dedication.
From playing in the VPL to facing off against Everton earlier this season, it must have been an incredible experience. What did you learn from playing against such a classy opposition?
You learn a lot actually! Obviously they're a massive club in England and are at a different level to us with the way they play and the way they pressure. Just watching them while you're playing; the way they move the ball around, it's unbelievable and was a very good experience. It's a dream come true to play against players like Cahill, Neville, Saha - it's just a dream.
With Euro-experienced role models like JVS and Jesper Olsen, how has their technical instruction differed to previous coaches? Has it helped your game?
It's helped me a lot. Our brand of football is to move the ball around and play with as much possession as possible. Learning different styles of football from JVS and Jesper Olsen; two very big players and role models, it's just unbelievable to have them as a coach!
As the first player to play for both Melbourne Heart and Victory, how do you see the rivalry evolving in the future?
Obviously it's going to be a big rivalry! Both Melbourne teams want to be on top of each other, it'll be a good rivalry for the A-League and hopefully continues to get a large crowd involved!
What has been the main difference between playing for Heart compared to Victory?
There are different styles of play, the coaches and it's a different atmosphere from both clubs. The players around you also make a difference experience wise. Players like John Aloisi taking Australia to the world cup, Gerald Sibon who's an awesome player as well having played at the top level and Josip Skoko, another Australian international. It's like a dream playing with all those players.
Who's the class clown at the club? What's their best prank?
There are a lot of people who start a bit of banter but I think I could be up there stirring the pot and having a bit of a laugh.
Do you play FIFA or Pro Evo? Why that game? And who's the best at the club?
A couple of us always go to Ante Tomic's house and play a bit of FIFA. We're all pretty much FIFA boys, I always teach him a bit of a lesson!
For all those who have ever wondered what you get up to during the week, please take us through an average day at the club:
I'll wake up early in the morning, have a shower and then eat a good breakfast before training. Usually I arrive at training around 9:30, have a bit of a chat with the boys in the morning and start getting ready and then head off to the training park. Once training's finished (depending on what the coaching staff want), we've either got yoga or a gym session in the afternoon and then we're finished for the day.
A huge thank you to Melbourne Heart's media manager Simon Chiarelli and Aziz for making the interview possible.
