Australia’s Socceroo’s will once again be present at this year's FIFA World Cup as they continue to defy the odds by consistently qualifying for football's showpiece event.They will certainly fancy their chances of causing a few upsets in Russia after being drawn in a group alongside France, Peru and Denmark as they bid to march on past the group stages for the first time in their history.While France are certainly favourites to top Group C, the tussle for second could be very interesting.Australia’s growth on the international stage has been due in part to the improvent of their local domestic structure, with the A League coming on in leaps and bounds in terms of quality and competitiveness.The top tier Down Under employs a rather strange system for crowning a winner however.

This year in particular made it look all the more bizarre after Sydney FC, who completed the league phase of the season 14 points clear of the chasing pack, were knocked out in the semi-final stage.Ultimately, the last two teams standing were the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory who finished in second and fourth place respectively.Saturday’s Grand Final (who doesn’t love a Grand Final) represented an opportunity for the Victory to complete an unlikely, well, victory and claim the biggest prize in the Australian domestic game.


The Melbourne side had a dream start after a controversial goal handed them the lead in the opening ten minutes.From that point on it proved to be a frustrating evening for the Jets, who simply couldn’t find a way through to force an equaliser and keep their hopes of glory alive.It was only a matter of time before tempers boiled over with so much on the line. 

Ray O'Donovan's terrible challenge.

With five minutes of stoppage time added, the Jets poured forward in a desperate attempt to salvage the game.

However, the game was to end in ugly scenes after one of the most dreadful challenges you could imagine resulted in a bit of a fracas between the players.

With 93 minutes on the clock, the Jets swung a free kick into the box when Ray O’Donovan criminally chose to attack the ball with his foot rather than his head.

Good lord.

A kick a samurai would be jealous of.

O’Donovan connected with the face of the Victory goalkeeper who was fortunate not to have not been more severely injured. Quite frankly, it makes Sadio Mane’s challenge on Ederson earlier this season look like child’s play.

O’Donovan was righlty red carded as Victory went on to be crowned champions.