Grand Final snapshot and flashback

2009/10 A-League Grand Final - MELBOURNE VICTORY v SYDNEY FC

Melbourne Victory’s Tom Pondeljak is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance. Pondeljak spent three seasons (55 appearances) with Central Coast Mariners before joining the Victory in 2008.

In terms of all national league Grand Finals, Tom Pondeljak will become Australia’s most experienced Grand Final player of all time if he makes an appearance in the 2010 Hyundai A-League Grand Final.

Leading in to the 2010 decider, Pondeljak is tied with Damian Mori on seven Grand Final appearances.

In terms of all national Grand Final victories, Melbourne’s Tom Pondeljak is aiming to become the country’s all-time leading Grand Final winner (five Grand Final victories) this weekend. Leading into the 2010 decider, Pondeljak is tied with Alex Tobin and David Cervinski on four Grand Final victory appearances each.

Pondeljak’s previous Grand Final successes were in 1996 (with Melbourne Knights), 2002 (Sydney Olympic), 2004 (Perth Glory) and 2009 (Melbourne Victory).

HEAD-TO-HEAD: In 17 previous Hyundai A-League encounters, Melbourne Victory have won 6, Sydney FC have won 4 with the two teams drawing 7 times; Melbourne have scored 22 goals to Sydney’s 20.

In their 9 previous encounters in Melbourne, the Victory have won 4, Sydney have won 2 (3 draws); Melbourne have scored 13, Sydney have scored 10.

MELBOURNE V SYDNEY GRAND FINALS: For the first time in the Hyundai A-League, Melbourne take on Sydney in the Grand Final.

In 24 previous national league Grand Finals (NSL and Hyundai A-League), a Melbourne-based team has taken on a Sydney-based team four times, with Melbourne teams winning all previous Melbourne-Sydney Grand Final confrontations.

The last time a Melbourne-based team played a Sydney-based team in a national league Grand Final was in 1999, when South Melbourne defeated Sydney United 3-2 at Melbourne’s Olympic Park.

Hyundai A-League Grand Final flashbacks:
Hyundai A-League 2006 Grand Final
Sydney FC 1 (S.Corica 62') Central Coast Mariners 0
at Sydney Football Stadium. Crowd: 41,689.

Hyundai A-League 2007 Grand Final
Melbourne Victory 6 (A.Thompson 20'/29'/39'/56'/72', K.Sarkies 93') Adelaide United 0
at Telstra Dome. Crowd: 55,436.

Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final
Central Coast Mariners 0 Newcastle Jets 1 (M.Bridge 64')
at Sydney Football Stadium. Crowd: 36,354.

Hyundai A-League 2009 Grand Final
Melbourne Victory 1 (T.Pondeljak 60') Adelaide United 0
at Etihad Stadium. Crowd: 53,273.