To see today's training session...

Roar coach Frank Farina said after the game that Kruse had sent some inflammatory text messages to his former team-mates in the lead-up to the encounter.

But Kruse said today he had responded to jibes, but it was all in fun, and there was nothing malicious.

"I had a good relationship with them back at the Roar," he said after Victory training today. "I guess leaving is a bit disappointing for them. I've moved on.

"I'm happy to be down here in Melbourne. I'm loving it down here and I'm loving the way the team plays and my style I've been asked to play.

"I guess they were just trying to fire me up or get me rattled, but it didn't work. We played excellent on the night and we deserved the three points."

He added: "It was to be a bit expected, against my old team. I'm just thankful that we got the three points.

"They are a physical team Brisbane, they always have been so, I guess they with me leaving, they weren't too happy, I'm just happy to be down here.

"It doesn't really bother me. We won that's all that counts."

Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick backed the youngster today and voiced his disappointment in the actions of Brisbane's experienced players.

Both Danny Tiatto and Charlie Miller were involved in incidents during the game with Kruse, who left the Queensland club earlier this season. Tiatto was booked for his challenge on the 20-year-old in the first half, while Miller will come under the scrutiny from the Match Review Panel for an off-the-ball incident in which Kruse was felled.

In the build-up to the game, Roar captain Craig Moore questioned Kruse's character and commitment, setting the scene for a hostile 90 minutes for the youngster.

Merrick said it appeared Roar's senior players had gone out to target and intimidate Kruse during the match and the treatment handed out to his new recruit was unprecedented in the A-League's history.

"There's no doubt he was fouled a lot during the game, which is perhaps part of the game," said Merrick. "We have always played football, that's our brand.

"It's about quality technical football and technical play. The referee is responsible for the behaviour on the field and the FFA deals with the rest.

"I was disappointed. I haven't seen that in A-League football. What was impressive that none of our boys retaliated, especially not him.

"Every time he got the ball, he tried to play football and it was just impressive that he had such good self-discipline and he had such a good game."

Merrick said that if Roar players had deliberately set out to hurt Kruse, then it would be enormously damaging for the image of the game and the league.

"It's not a good image anyone being targeted. I'm sure the FFA will deal with that," he said.

"None of our players other than Adrian (Leijer) were yellow carded, apart from Adrian, who was protecting the player on the ground."

To see today's training session...