New Melbourne Victory defender Philipp Ziereis may have only joined the club this off-season, but he already understands just how big this weekend’s Australia Cup final against South Melbourne FC is.
The 33-year-old will line up in the heart of the Victory defence at AAMI Park on Saturday night as Victory face off against NPL VIC powerhouse South Melbourne FC for the first time in two decades.
Now with the blockbuster clash at AAMI Park close to being completely sold out, Ziereis admits he’s quickly got a handle on just what Saturday night means for football both in Victoria and Australia as a whole.
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“Yeah, I mean you can feel it in the city,” Ziereis said when speaking on Tuesday afternoon.
“You can see it everywhere on Instagram (and) stuff nowadays. So the boys told me we have, I think, Harry Sawyer played for them, so they told me what (it) is about.
“The bigger the game and the final, the better it is. That’s what we’re here for. We want to win titles.
“I think for Australian football and for us, it will be a very good game.”
Ziereis is one of six new faces in the Melbourne Victory squad this off-season, joining the likes of former Macarthur FC striker Sawyer, ex-Premier League defender and Wales international Tom Lockyer as well as Championship winner Guillermo May, who joined from Auckland FC.
Furthermore, the club is also now under the tutelage of Venezuelan head coach Giovanni Savarese, who arrived in Melbourne following a lengthy spell coaching in Major League Soccer (MLS).
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“Ah top, he is very communicative. He’s a very, very good guy,” Ziereis said when asked what it’s been like playing under Savarese.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Sydney FC coach, Patrick Kisnorbo greets Victory coach, Giovanni Savarese during the Australia Cup Semifinal match between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory FC at Jubilee Stadium, on September 09, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
“From the start, he always talked about family, about being together on the pitch, and I think that’s what we’ve showed so far.
“We defended really very well on the pitch as a whole team, and yeah, now the pre-season’s gone and the games come, you can hopefully see more development.
“But so far it’s top, and we all enjoy it.”
Joining the club from German third-tier side RW Essen during the off-season, Ziereis has impressed for his new side, starting three of Victory’s four matches en route to the Australia Cup final.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 06: Matthew Leckie of Melbourne City and Philipp Ziereis of Melbourne Victory pose during a media opportunity ahead of the A-League season at Fawkner Park, on October 06, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
The central defender missed the semi-final win over Sydney FC and the subsequent 1-1 draw with Vietnamese side The Cong in Victory’s AFC Champions League Two opener due to a concussion suffered in training, however he is fit to feature in the final.
Meanwhile off-season signing May is also available for the Australia Cup final having missed the ACL Two away trip to Vietnam in a bid to work on his fitness.
Following Saturday night’s showdown with South Melbourne FC, Victory then turn their attention towards a home ACL Two clash with FC Seoul on Wednesday night, also at AAMI Park.
Savarese’s side then open their 2026/27 A-League Men campaign with an away trip to Wellington Phoenix on Sunday, October 18 at Hnry Stadium.
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