Kewell came under fire after Sunday’s game for dodging two possible yellows for apparent  simulation amid suggestions from Perth that Kewell was a protected species.

But the Socceroo legend was having none of that and explained his side of the incident after training yesterday.

“Me? Wow! Well, if that’s the case, I’ve got all these bruises and scrapes down my shin all the time," he said. “Technically, maybe the second one was a dive.

"But sometimes when you’re in full motion and a defender sticks his leg out but brings it back at the last second, you’ve already seen that as an attacker and you’re already trying to adjust to get past him.

“And that off-puts your balance.

“A lot of people say the defender didn’t touch you but the intent is there. That’s the difference between getting a penalty or not getting one.

“We see things a lot quicker than what other people see. If that defender sticks his leg out, I see that - but not everyone else.”

Sydney visit Melbourne's AAMI Park for a blockbuster Big Blue on Thursday at 4pm, and the prospect brought a beaming grin to Kewell’s face.

“I think there’s no bigger day to correct [the form] than on a wonderful day like Australia Day and turn it on and make it a special day for Melbourne Victory," he said.

Kewell also sung the praises of new signing 17-year-old former Bayern Munich youth player and Sierra Leone born Julius Doe Davies.

Kewell said players from Africa were a welcome addition to Australian football and society.

“He’s working hard and playing the right kind of football we’re trying to produce," he added.

“As long as you do your job on the park and that’s one great thing about Australia, we’re such a multicultural country where we can adapt to anyone coming in.

“As long as you work hard and want to play good football or in any kind of job, I’m sure anyone can make it.”

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