Postecoglou denies spying claims

Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou has rubbished suggestions his team had a spy watching the Heart’s closed training session.

Heart coach John Aloisi was left furious after an unidentified intruder was spotted filming his team’s behind-closed-doors session at AAMI Park on Friday.

Aloisi was unsure whether the spy was from Victory ahead of the derby, but Postecoglou said no-one from his team was sent to watch the session.

“We were training at the same time so I’m not really sure. It certainly wasn’t one of our staff members,” Postecoglou told SEN Radio on Friday.

“We had about 20 cameras at our training session and if you got on a tram on Swan St you’d get a good look at it as well.

“It wasn’t one of our guys.”

The incident has added some extra spice to Saturday’s derby, which is expected to be played in front of a sell-out crowd of close to 30,000.

The eighth meeting between the two Melbourne clubs shapes as a chance for the Victory to get a much-needed win over their rivals.

Only one of the seven clashes has been won by the Victory and Postecoglou said the encounter was also important for other reasons.

“We probably owe them a few – certainly from this year we do,” he said.

“When you’re playing your nearest neighbour, there’s always an extra bit of incentive to knock them off.

“Regardless of that, it’s a big game for both clubs.

“We’re obviously in a position where we want to stay in touch with the top two. We don’t want too much of a gap to develop. Heart obviously need the points to climb up the ladder.

“The rivalry and the need for points makes it an extra special one.”