Bumper summer on the road

Orica Green Edge rider Simon Gerrans at the Herald Sun Tour Launch. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

AUSTRALIA'S top bike riders will barely break for Christmas, with next week heralding the start of a bumper summer of cycling in Victoria and SA.

It starts with the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic in Geelong on January 2 where young gun Caleb Ewan will be out to defend his title.

Ewan became the youngest ever winner of the series this year, then went on to enjoy an outstanding under-23 season in Europe which led to a WorldTour contract with Orica-GreenEDGE.

The four-day Bay Cycling Classic also visits Portarlington and Williamstown, where Matt Goss will be looking to ignite his 2014 season after an unusually quiet couple of years since winning Milan-San Remo in 2011.

The Aussie peloton then heads to Ballarat for the national road titles from January 8 where riders will battle for the right to wear the green and gold jersey in Europe for the rest of the year.

Luke Durbridge did the double this year when he won the time trial and road race, but he faces an almighty fight to keep them next year.

Former champion Simon Gerrans yesterday became the latest rider to confirm his spot on the start line for the men's road race on January 12.

"I was really honoured to be national champion in 2012 and I really enjoyed wearing the Australian green and gold jersey throughout all the big races in Europe," Gerrans said.

"It's a race I'd love to win again. It's a course that suits me quite well because it's demanding with quite a lot of short and explosive climbing."

While the road race - which will also feature a full team of riders from new Pro Continental squad Drapac Professional Cycling - promises to deliver a showdown on Mount Buninyong, there is just as much interest in who will claim the time trial crown.

Depending on which riders nominate for the TT, Durbridge will have tough competition to retain the jersey with Michael Hepburn, Rohan Dennis, Richie Porte, Michael Matthews and Richie Porte expected to line up for a shot.

A decision on whether Cadel Evans rides the national titles is yet to be made but he would also be among the favourites.

The national championships are expected to provide Australian riders with a perfect lead-in to the Santos Tour Down Under in Adelaide on January 19.

With a new course for the opening and closing criteriums and Australia's best two Grand Tour general classification riders confirmed starters in Evans and Porte, the race is being touted as the best in years.

Drapac this week announced its team for the TDU would be led by former Saxo-Tinkoff sprinter Jonathan Cantwell and include Thomas Palmer, Travis Meyer, Will Clarke, Bernard Sulzbeger and Darren Lapthorne.

"Everyone knows Jonathan Cantwell is quick, but Drapac is taking a very balanced squad to the race," sports director Henk Vogels said.

"We'll aim to be the most attacking team and will be looking to take our opportunities wherever we can.

"Our guys won't just be waiting to come off Andre Greipel's wheel in a sprint finish. Expect Drapac to be mega-active where it counts."

The final stop for some riders before heading back to Europe is the Jayco Herald Sun Tour from February 5-9.

Orica-GreenEDGE and Garmin-Sharp - whose team is expected to feature Dennis, Nathan Haas, Lachlan Morton and Steele Von Hoff - are already confirmed for the race which starts with a twilight prologue through the Melbourne CBD.

A third WorldTour team, tipped to be Italian outfit Cannondale and include Tasmanian Cameron Wurf, is set to join them in the five-day race which finishes on Arthurs Seat.

AUSTRALIAN SUMMER OF CYCLING:

Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic - Thursday, January 2 to Sunday, January 5

Mars Road National Championships - Wednesday, January 8 to Sunday, January 12

Santos Tour Down Under - Sunday, January 19 to Sunday, January 26

Jayco Herald Sun Tour - Wednesday, February 5 to Sunday, February 9.

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Porte earning career the hard way

Richie Porte credits a move to Italy with giving his pro cycling career its impetus. Source: Colleen Petch / News Limited

RICHIE Porte says claiming a Tour Down Under wildcard ride in 2008 did not open the flood gates towards a professional cycling career - contrary to popular belief.

The popular Team Sky Pro Cycling all rounder said he struggled on the "bones of his arse" for the next two years after making an instant impact at the 2008 TDU where he finished ninth overall.

He was an instant TDU revelation riding for UniSA after finishing fourth overall at the Australian national cycling championships and fifth in the 2008 time trial.

But Porte, 28, said it was his time with Italian amateur cycling outfit Bedogni Grassi Natalini that really kick-started his career before winning his first professional contract with Team Saxobank, which at the time housed Australians Stuart O'Grady and Brad McGee.

"I didn't get a pro contract for another two years after that ride as a wildcard at the Tour Down Under,'' Porte said.

"(The ticket towards a pro contract) was from an Italian amateur team, to be honest. It was that team that did a lot more.

"I shifted to Italy and it was a kind of round about way to win the pro contract."

The former Launceston-based swimming pool lifeguard worked a nine to five job in between jumping on the bike before emerging with a bullet at the 2008 TDU.

Porte didn't climb the ranks through the Australian Institute of Sport cycling system but said he was determined to earn a career in cycling despite being the "hard way."

"I worked around Launceston for an outdoor pool which was open all year,'' Porte said.

"It was always a dream to win a pro contract and when it happens it's just a life target."

"It was always my dream to turn professional but I have had some good people in my corner along the way like Brad McGee and Stuart O'Grady people like that.

"Stuey (O'Grady) is one of the best human beings you'll ever meet.

"I guess there were some of the lucky breaks to have people vouge for you and in cycling it's a lot of who you know, there's a lot of people that can't get into it.''

But after having a huge 2013 with Team Sky where he Paris-Nice overall honours and helped his good friend, teammate Chris Froome claim the Tour de France general classification, Porte who finished 19th overall at the French Grand Tour said he was now targeting GC at the TDU next month.

"I'd love to win it (TDU),'' Porte said.

"I think (Simon) Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) is motivated as well and between us it's quite solid, the chance to trying to win the ochre jersey."

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From war zone to sailing dream

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SWAPPING one danger zone for another isn't everyone's choice of a holiday.

But for intrepid sailor Zoe Leffler, being bucked around and fire hosed by tonnes of water on the bow of a Sydney to Hobart racer for three or four days is the perfect choice for a break from her work in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The Swedish sailor, who works for the European Union in Pakistan, answered an advertisement in a newsletter to go sailing in December and is now part of the crew on the old Australian racer Helsal III.

While she has significant race miles under her belt, the 69th edition of the race will be her first Sydney to Hobart appearance and is part of Leffler's three-week vacation from work on the other side of the world.

"I miss the water when I am in Pakistan,'' admitted Leffler, who recently moved from Kabul to Islamabad for her job with the EU.

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"This, doing a Sydney to Hobart, has also been my dream since I was at university in Melbourne.

"When I saw the ad in the newsletter I get I just jumped at it.''

Leffler, who has a degree in law and politics, was born in Sweden and has completed three Atlantic crossings in boats, sailed dinghies during her childhood and has also done numerous Tall Ship events in Europe.

The former deckhand on super yachts around the world has also done a delivery from Hobart to Melbourne.

"I like being where it is wet and wild,'' she said of her job on the bow of the 29-year-old 66-footer.

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The well known Tasmanian yacht has been chartered by Gunnedah doctor Paul Mara, who has assembled a league of nations crew, including a British skipper in Paul Jackson and Corey Dollison, a carpenter from the Northern Territory.

This will be Mara's second race to Hobart after he made his debut in last year's race on the Sydney yacht Kioni.

"It was just something I always wanted to do,'' Mara said. "It's an incredible challenge.''

This years fleet of 94 is the biggest since 100 yachts started the 628 nautical miles in 2009.

The fleet ranges on size from the 100-foot fleet headliners to the 34-footer Wilparina.

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Gooch: England trying its best

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GRAHAM Gooch says England has to weather the storm of abuse and ridicule coming its way in its broken Ashes campaign.

The former captain turned England batting coach said there was no lack of effort by the beleaguered tourists who had just been outpointed by a "totally dominant" Australia.

"I think there has been a lot of fight over last 3-4 years," Gooch said.

"If you look at our record in the past year (England had been unbeaten in Tests since November last year before this tour), this team has been a good team and has played very good cricket.

"But this series, it's not working out. We've not played good cricket; not been allowed to play good cricket by Australia and they've got a settled team.

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"You can't say we haven't worked in the practice and training area, but it's not happened on the field.

"Everyone's got to look at their role and see how they can improve. Our performance is not acceptable to English cricket."

Gooch said it had been a "shock to everyone" that Graeme Swann had retired and that he'd leave "a big hole" in the English line-up.

"It's always disruptive when people go. You come out with a plan, with what you think your team is going to be and how it will play … and it clearly hasn't worked out," Gooch said.

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"You have to take that on the chin, get what's coming our way and we have to move on.

"When you're 3-0 down, there's always going to be a lot of noise around in the media and people (looking) for off-the-ball stories and anything to harp on.

"But the simple fact is we've been outplayed with the ball, the ball and in the field."

"We've just got to look at ourselves - the coaching staff, players, everyone - and say our performance has not been acceptable and we've got to improve on that, starting Boxing Day."

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Ken can't back Glyn right now

Kumaon (No. 6), ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, made Ken Callander's best run of the day.

I AM going to put a line through Glyn Schofield. I cannot back him at the moment.

I am still getting over his ride on The Alfonso at Randwick on Villiers Day and then comes his tearaway ride on Number One Gun, which the stewards are inquiring into, at Randwick on Friday followed up by Northern Glory at Rosehill on Saturday where Schofield missed the jump and gave the only other horse in the betting Calming Influence an impossible start.

It is too much for me with a top class jockey.

I hope Glyn is riding better when Boban returns from a spell. Otherwise Chris Waller might be tempted to look elsewhere.

One horse I thought Schofield rode a treat on Saturday was Vilanova, the day's best backed runner, and ironically, with the horse needing speed on, he had things made to order when Nash Rawiller set a record-breaking pace on the $15 chance Almighty Charge. Vilanova just wasn't good enough.

***

You will notice in the $190m redevelopment of the SCG the "new" stands are still named after cricket's heroes such as Don Bradman and Victor Trumper.

Yet when Kate and Will visit Sydney at Easter the move is strongly alive to christen the new Randwick grandstand as the Queen Elizabeth Stand. Michael Crismale, the new ATC chairman, and his committee can't be so out of touch. We would become the laughing stock of the world, even of the Poms.

There is only two possible names for the stand, the Tommy Smith Stand, after our all time Sydney racing hero, or the Punters Stand, after the people who paid for it.

***

I think Peter Snowden is certain to take over John O'Shea's 72-box Randwick stables when the Darley changeover occurs in May.

Snowden going to Randwick would be a good fit. Firstly Pete wouldn't be subconsciously looking over his shoulder at the Darley horses each morning as he may if he stayed at Warwick Farm and secondly I understand a large number of the current O'Shea owners would be agreeable to Snowden taking over their horses.

***

If the stipes had let the punters who backed Cyclone determine Nash Rawiller's suspension after the second race on Saturday the hoop would have got a lot longer stint on the sidelines than an extra six meetings.

Rawiller's carelessness on Franceso cost his stablemate Cyclone any hope of winning and cost punters thousands. For all of those punters who thought one Waterhouse runner would not protest against another, let me assure you the stewards would have fired in a protest if it had not been forthcoming.

The margin between second and third was a length and a half, but I am certain upholding the protest was the correct decision.

***

Peter Snowden and Kerrin McEvoy's incredible hot run gathered more pace at Rosehill with the wins of Kumaon, Limes and Emblems.

I have said it a few times recently, but Kerrin MvEvoy seems to be riding with a new found aggression. He's my new pin-up hoop - when you back him you feel he has tried everything possible to get his horse over the line first.

***

I think I must have been the only punter on Auld Burns on Saturday, who eased from $4 to $7.50 before running last in the four horse first race, the weakest Sydney Saturday field in memory.

Unless David Hayes can pull off a last to first form reversal like Glastonbury in the Metropolitan 20 years ago, he should be aiming Auld Burns at Gundagai or Bourke.

***

A happy and healthy Christmas to all of my readers and may you have some luck in the New Year.

***

RIDE OF THE DAY

Nathan Thomas on Mighty Lucky. If it was a higher profile jockey in the saddle the critics would be raving.

RUN OF THE DAY

Kumaon. Did heaps wrong and had little luck but still won the prize.

FORGET IT RAN

Cyclone. Was knocked flat and denied his winning chance.

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Live: Mitch cameo revives Scorchers

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CHRIS Lynn has saved Brisbane Heat from a perilous position with a match winning knock of 81 in a thrilling win over Perth Scorchers in their BBL grand final rematch.

In a match where the batsmen struggled to tame a pitch that had a bit in it for the bowlers, Lynn was superb - freeing his arms in the second last over to finally get the run rate under control.

He couldn't quite see the job out, losing his wicket to a stunning catch from 42-year-old Brad Hogg with just four deliveries remaining, but the cool head of Ben Cutting prevailed - the Heat's star with the ball finishing the game with a boundary.

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While the Heat players were elated with their victory over last season's grand final opponents, the Scorchers were visibly shattered after strong performances from Hogg and Mitch Marsh looked to have got them over the line.

Hogg once again defied his age, sparking a Heat collapse with 3-21 from his four overs, after Marsh had ensured the Scorchers had a competitive total to defend.

Marsh top scored for the visitors with 57 off just 35 balls to scramble the Scorchers to a total of 7/151 after early wickets to Alistair McDermott (1-38) and Ben Cutting - who was sensational throughout, finishing with the return of 4-31 - stopped the Scorchers in their tracks.

The only other Scorchers batsman to really get away was Marsh's older brother Shaun, who departed for 37 off 30, although skipper Simon Katich was the unlucky victim of an umpiring error - sent packing by a Daniel Vettori catch even after the bowler, McDermott, had clearly overstepped the crease and should have been called for a no ball.

And you can catch all the action right here, with our live blog, featuring social media updates and commentary on all the big moments!

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So close but no caviar for Belle

THE $2.6 million half-sister to the great Black Caviar was pipped on the post on debut in a Bendigo maiden yesterday.

But trainer Danny O'Brien and jockey Damien Oliver said they were far from giving up on Belle Couture despite the inauspicious racetrack start.

Starting $1.50 favourite, the three-year-old filly was edged out by a short half-head by home-bred fellow first-starter Paddy's Gem, the $7.30 second elect.

"She came here for the ­experience and education and it is not the end of the world," O'Brien said.

"I think she will be a filly who can get out to 1400m or a mile and that gives her a lot of options.

"She is not a rip, tear and sprint galloper. Very much more like (Black Caviar's star half brother) All Too Hard than Black Caviar.

"I think she has the right ­attitude to make a good racehorse. This is the start, not the finish.

"I do believe she is a stakes-class filly, if not this autumn then by next spring."

Oliver said Belle Couture, by Redoute's Choice out of Helsinge, the mother of Black Caviar and All Too Hard, was fighting back and would have won in another stride or two.

"A little further and she would have won,'' he said.

"This is not the worst thing that can happen to her because she can get to be a racehorse in normal circumstances instead of being under the microscope."

O'Brien agreed, saying the filly now could return with more maturity for another maiden rather than having to go straight to town for her ­second run.

Belle Couture took the lead at the 200m mark of the 1100m race but was quickly tackled by Paddy's Gem and I'm An Outoftowner.

She fought back in a blanket finish to be beaten a short half-head with a neck to third.

The let-down continued a dramatic past fortnight.

Belle Couture was bought by Bill Vlahos's now failed BC3 outfit at the 2012 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale. Receivers last week ordered the sale of BC3's remaining 16 per cent of Belle Couture and the share was snapped up on Wednesday by shareholder Donna Love.

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Waller in box seat for double

Good things come in threes but Chris Waller is aiming to win the trainers' double. Source: Colleen Petch / News Limited

CHRIS Waller is this week expected to be granted his Christmas wish of more boxes at Flemington.

And should Waller be given the green light to expand his team from 10 horses to 20 horses down south, his quest for an historic Sydney and Melbourne trainers' premiership double in the same season will become fair dinkum.

After two wins from two starters at Flemington on Saturday, Waller suddenly moved to 14 wins for the Melbourne season, just three behind Darren Weir, who has had the double the amount of starters.

Waller's double at Rosehill took his Sydney tally to 67, exactly 30 clear of Darley's Peter Snowden. He's $1.01 to win his fourth successive Sydney premiership.

Waller said yesterday he had spoken with Victoria Racing Club officials about doubling his boxes, and hoped to learn of their decision as early as this week.

The champion trainer said the only way he could make a play for the Melbourne title was to have more of a presence.

"At this stage I'd say 'no' (to winning the Melbourne title) because we're still taking little steps down there, the first step is getting more boxes, and we need more boxes to be competitive,'' Waller said.

Asked if it was easier to win races in Melbourne than it was Sydney, Waller said: "If you've got the right horse it doesn't matter where you go. A Saturday race is a Saturday race, they're all hard to win.

"I like having options. As soon as a horse runs, I'm looking where I can run them again within two weeks. Sydney is the preferred option, and if there isn't a race here, I'll see what's in Melbourne.

"You need a horse in peak form, and you're better off running them interstate rather than waiting around in your home state for three or four weeks for a suitable race. The way I train, my horses lose fitness three and four weeks between runs.'

Waller only has four Melbourne staff, led by Justine Hailes, who have done a remarkable job to keep in touch on the premiership table with limited numbers.

While there will be no Melbourne runners on Boxing Day, Waller said Index Linked would fly the stable flag on New Year's Day. I'm Imposing and Hoylonny will line up in the Summer Cup at Randwick on Thursday.

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Slater's mid-season Report Card

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MISSING marquees has been the story of the A-League season so far - and it's one of the reasons the championship and premiers plate remain wide open.

Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey, Shinji Ono, Youssouf Hersi and Harry Kewell seemingly have spent as much time in physio rooms as they have on the park this season.

Sydney FC and the Wanderers are both brilliantly positioned to make a dash at Brisbane Roar in the back half of the season.

The two clubs reflect the part of Sydney they call home. FC have the flair of Del Piero and goalscoring potential to be in any game. If you score goals, you win more than you lose. The Wanderers play with work boots. They are so hard to crack that it just takes one flash of inspiration to win a game.

With CentralCoast and Melbourne Victory also lurking, the season is set up for an epic finish.

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SYDNEY FC

TO be brutally honest, they haven't played to their potential yet they are winning. That's what having goalscorers, or game-breakers, will do for you. Second best for most of the game against Melbourne Heart, a moment of magic from Alessandro Del Piero and another goal from Rank Despotovic changed everything.

Winning becomes a habit and the Sky Blues should be enjoying the ride after a tough couple of seasons.

Enjoy it while it lasts, Sydney FC. Source: Getty Images

At some point, they will have to address the elephant in the room - the probable departure of ADP at the end of the season.

The Cove should enjoy it while it lasts.

Grade: 7 out of 10

WESTERN SYDNEY

TO highlight how far the Wanderers have come, they went three games without a win and suddenly there were whispers of a slump.

Not much can go wrong, because this is a professional football club built on solid ground. Tony Popovic's team can grind out wins better than anybody and they have battled on without Youssouf Hersi for much of the season and only fleeting appearances from Shinji Ono.

Once their X-factor players return, combined with their hard-nosed approach to winning, and the Wanderers will be there when it counts.

Grade: 8

ADELAIDE

There has been more action off the park than on it as the first half of the season has devolved into Spanish soap opera. It's always a concern when the biggest story at a club becomes the coach, with Josep Gambau a target for fans and having confrontations with the local media.

Adelaide's main problem is a coach forcing his tika-taka style on a team without playing to the Reds' strengths, which is very much the front third.

To make a significant impact in the second half of the season, they must get the ball up to the likes of Marcelo Carrusca, Jeronimo Neumann, Bruce Djite and the likes rather than fiddling around at the back.

Grade: 5

There's been a lot of focus on Josep Gombau. Source: Getty Images

BRISBANE

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TOP of the class. The Roar are a clear standout and easily the team to beat for the title. They have the best striker in the league with Besart Berisha - he's combative, irritating and has a great nose for goal. Mike Mulvey has done a great job, but this is an ageing team coming towards their end of their cycle, so they need to cash in.

They play slightly more direct than they did during the glory years under Ange Postecoglou, yet the basic principles remain the same. They control position and tempo of games before unleashing the likes of Thomas Broich and Berisha. It's been a deadly one-two punch for years.

Grade: 9

CENTRALCOAST

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SUFFERING from a pre-Christmas hangover with Graham Arnold's move to Japan. It's been like losing a family member. Still, Phil Moss is a quality football man and he will turn things around. The retirement of Patrick Zwaanswijk has also bitten hard because he was the on-field leader. This is one team I expect to rally. Firstly, Daniel McBreen is still finding his feet after starting the season late. Marcos Flores is another with more to contribute as he eases himself into the Mariners' style.

Can do better - and they will.
Grade: 6

MELBOURNE HEART

FOOTBALL can be a cruel game and it's hard not to feel for John Aloisi. Coaching, though, is results driven business and the Heart have struggled to make a dent on the A-League this season. They need Harry Kewell on the park and firing because he can offer an avenue to goal. Forget the horror penalty against Sydney, and Kewell changed the game when he came on against Sydney last week. The Heart should have won that game.

Kewell has been impressive coming off the bench, but you need more than cameos from your marquee men. Getting him fit to play 90 minutes after an injury-hit start might save Aloisi yet.

Grade: 3

John Aloisi will be hopeful of more from this main man. Source: Getty Images

MELBOURNE VICTORY

ANGE Postecoglou wasn't as entrenched at Victory in the same way Arnold was at the Mariners, still his departure has been felt and it will take time for Kevin Muscat to put his stamp on the club.

This a team full of quality with Archie Thompson and Mark Milligan and the excitement of Kostas Barbarouses and Adam Traore.

The Victory will be better in the second half of the season and will be dangerous in the finals.

Never write them off.

Grade: 7

NEWCASTLE

BEFORE the start of the season, the two coaches under most pressure were Gary van Egmond and Sydney's Frank Farina. Both have done a fantastic job.

Van Egmond will always give youth a go and he has had his reward with Adam Taggart their leading goalscorer.

Obviously, the pre-season knee injury to Emile Heskey hurt them at the start and only now are they building into their season.

The Jets are always tough to beat.

Grade: 6

There are some positive signs at Newcastle. Source: Getty Images

PERTH GLORY

THIS is a sad story - a club divided on family lines. The player revolt that led to the demise of coach Alistair Edwards was ugly, with his two sons, Ryan and Cameron, caught in the middle. Even though Alistair is gone, his boys are still there which could cause a volatile environment.

I think, in the cool light of day, Alistair might realise he made a mistake signing his two boys because sometimes players need to be free from the shadow of the coach and that can be difficult when his sons are in the dressing room.

Hopefully, it will turn out all right for Ryan and Cameron.

Grade: 4

WELLINGTON

STRUGGLING for wins, horror travel schedule for the club's Kiwi internationals, talk of Carlos Hernandez being unsettled - it's been quite an introduction for Ernie Merrick.

I feel for Merrick, who is trying to open up the Phoenix game after the Ricki Herbert era. They have goals in them with Hernandez and Paul Ifill, but nothing has flowed for them yet.

Phoenix probably need to go through some pain before rising again and it's important they keep faith in Merrick, who has the goals on the board from his time at Victory.

Grade: 3

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Victory punishes 10-man Heart

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AFTER threatening for several weeks Melbourne Victory finally showed a ruthless streak, inflicting a merciless 3-1 defeat on 10-man Melbourne Heart to leave them rooted to the bottom of the A-League ladder for Christmas.

Victory rose to third after a sublime performance from Mitch Nichols, who scored two and set up a James Troisi goal in a heated AAMI Park derby in front of 26,491.

Kevin Muscat's side was aided by the red card to Heart defender Patrick Kisnorbo after just 20 minutes for a studs up tackle on Connor Pain when the game was scoreless.

Re-live all the action in our live A-League Match Centre by clicking here, for video highlights, stats, line-ups and play by play commentary .

Who'd be a coach. Source: Getty Images

Though fighting to the death, Heart's winless streak now stretches to 16 games and sets up a must-win clash at home to struggling Wellington Phoenix on Friday, or else coach John Aloisi will be fighting to save his job.

The win also gives Victory the derby edge now (four wins, three losses, four draws) but opens up an alarming 14 point gap between the pair.

The controversy started before kick-off when Archie Thompson twinged his hamstring, with Pain brought into the XI and Andrew Nabbout onto the bench.

There was no love lost during the derby. Source: Getty Images

Heart started well and buzzing about after opening his scoring account last week, Michael Mifsud forced a save from Nathan Coe before finding the side netting - from a Harry Kewell pass _ in the space of three minutes.

But that would be his last contribution as he was sacrificed in the reshuffle that ensued after Kisnorbo's red card.

Defender Patrick Gerhardt came on to partner Rob Wielaert in defence as Heart reverted to a 4-4-1 with Kewell playing up front alone with Mate Dugandzic and David Williams asked to drop deeper.

Heart even created the next chance as Kewell curled in a lovely cross for Williams, but his tame header was easily saved by Coe.

But Victory then started gaining the ascendancy as Kosta Barbarouses forced a good save from Redmayne in the 34th minute before opening their account four minutes later.

Redmayne fluffed his clearance sending it straight to Mark Milligan who with an exquisite first touch not only set up Nichols but ensured he remained onside and the former Brisbane player did the rest, controlling it and slotting it past the keeper.

Heart then appealed for a penalty when Leigh Broxham brought down Williams but his namesake with the whistle correctly adjudicated it to be outside the area, by centimetres.

Victory had three chances to kill of the game by half time through Milligan and Pain (twice) with the latter striking the upright after cutting in from the right.

Mitch Nichols punishes Andrew Redmayne. Source: Getty Images

Importantly Heart went into the rooms just one goal in arrears and Kewell was again influential after the restart.

Three minutes after the restart he got goalside of Pablo Contreras after a long Wielart pass but failed to connect when trying to lob Coe before the Chilean recovered.

He spun and shot in a tight space in the 53rd minute with his shot flying inches wide of the post and Heart was made to pay for not converting.

Troisi made a clever run and released Nichols out wide on the right who played it straight back for him to cleverly curl it inside the post with his right boot.

And Victory weren't going to relent, bringing on Gui Finkler for Troisi and the Brazilian was involved in the fourth, cleverly dinking the ball over a Heart defender's foot with Nichols then slotting it past Redmayne.

Heart pulled one back through Nick Kalmar, who knew little about it as Coe's clearance whacked him in the head and rebounded into the net.

Dugandzic then had a golden chance to make it a tense finish in the 85th minute but tried to control Aziz Behich's cross when he should've volleyed from point-blank range.

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