Fans set off flares in Richmond ahead of A-League grand final

Officers were directed to follow the crowds as they marched to the stadium.

Orange traffic barricades set up along Swan Street were designed to keep crowds at bay and prevent large groups of fans from congregating.

But that seemed to have impeded some members of the public as they attempted to duck from the flares.

Some fans jumped the barricades as chants of “F— the pigs” were heard.

Members of the riot squad then stepped in, pushing back crowds as they drew closer to the police barricade.

One Victory fan, Cam, who did not want to provide his surname, said he felt that the heavy police presence in the area had created an unsafe atmosphere.

“Everyone knows everyone here, they’re all supporting their team. I’m protecting my sister because we’ve got the police, the horses, they’ve made people anxious and ready to push back,” he said.

“It’s created a tone of us versus them. When was the last time you walked down the street and saw armoured police?”

Things settled down as fans streamed into the stadium as kick-off drew near.

Police remain stationed outside almost every pub on Swan Street as fans who missed out on tickets to the game turn their eyes to the broadcast.

Erkan Ozkan got swept up in the pre-game energy that fired up the Victory supporters as they made their way to the stadium.

“I was in Europe six months ago, this is nothing compared [to that] – trust me this is normal,” he said.

He’s already gearing up to be part of the action again, but only if things go his way after the final whistle.

“As long as we win … I’ll be there,” he said.

This is the first grand final meeting between the two Melbourne sides.

Much has been written about the unsavoury behaviour soccer crowds can sometimes bring, but for Victory fan Stephanie Malkoun, there’s something special about tonight’s atmosphere as she attends her first grand final.

Malkoun, who is attending the final with her two daughters, said the trio were as passionate as they come.“We’re very excited for them to bring home the trophy today,” she said while waiting outside AAMI Park.

“It always gets a bit nerve-wracking, especially after the women lost a couple of weeks ago. All of our hearts are really in it today.”

After a heartbreaking semi-final loss to Western United last year, Malkoun said she was expecting tonight’s derby final to be “epic”.

“You’re on the edge of your seat the whole time, you never know how it’s going to go. Watching your team fight ’til the end is what really makes it worth it.”

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