Video: go inside the pulsating RBB

Red and Black Bloc ... we take you inside the passionate RBB during the A-League grand final. Source:News Limited

Step inside the passionate, pulsating heart of the RBB.

The Western Sydney Wanderers crowd support has been embraced as an adrenalin jolt to sports viewing in Australia, and Fox Sports was along for the ride inside the Red and Black Bloc during last weekend’s grand final loss to Central Coast Mariners.

Check out our vision, including the reaction to the Mariners' two goals. Daniel McBreen slots home the clinching penalty and the RBB barely pauses for breath.

They’re not to everyone’s taste and when they filed out of the Sydney Football Stadium last week - still singing - there were some broken seats left in their wake and observers upset at their behaviour during the national anthem and presentation ceremonies.

As Wanderers member #1743 and part of the active support on grand final day, my perspective differs from those watching on TV or from elsewhere in the stands; and I emerged with issues over how the event was staffed and unsafe procedures that allowed a crowd to nearly become a mob. 

Indicative, though, is how quickly this issue has disappeared and how the fan focus has returned to the amazing turnout for the season celebration parade in Parramatta this week and the comments of A-League chief Damien de Bohun in the Daily Telegraph on Friday.

In a story where flares, seats and chanting over the anthem went unmentioned, de Bohun instead focused on how the Wanderers support might give a boost to Australia’s participation in the Asian Champions League.

"I think you'll find that Western Sydney fans will embrace the Wanderers playing in the ACL and I think it will actually be the turning point for Australian clubs in the ACL," de Bohun said.

"I think they've demonstrated in a very short period how much incredible support they've managed to garner in western Sydney."

In the middle of that intense support, the noise, the physicality and the language is not for everyone but if you’re curious, have a look at the video, and if you're keen to join in, learn the words.

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Roar, Victory in pulsating draw

Equaliser ... Ivan Franjic beats Nathan Coe to score. Source: Peter Wallis / News Limited

Brisbane Roar continued to thwart Melbourne Victory and their former coach Ange Postecoglou with a 1-1 draw in an enthralling A-League encounter at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

While the defending champions were far more welcoming of their old mentor than back in round two, Postecoglou endured a frustrating second return to Brisbane as the Victory failed to end a seven-match winless run against the Roar.

Diminutive midfielder Leigh Broxham scored the first headed goal of his career, and the visitors could well have led 3-0 at halftime, but the home side finished the stronger on a patchy surface.

After a month of rain and a series of rugby union and league matches, the pitch failed to deliver the even surface the Roar are used to at home.

But it did not prevent two quality goals and an entertaining contest in which Brisbane had a 12,624-strong crowd expecting a late winner as Ben Halloran made a huge impact off the bench.

The draw left third-placed Melbourne five points behind second-placed Central Coast on the A-League table while Brisbane are out of the six, but just one point from fifth.

Melbourne had lost in their past four visits to Brisbane, including the 5-0 rout in round two when anti-Postecoglou signs and chants were the order of the day.

Despite an enterprising opening 25 minutes by the home side, Melbourne looked in control and set for the three points at 1-0 approaching the hour mark.

But a superb pass by classy midfielder Luke Brattan put Ivan Franjic in the clear down the right sideline and the winger finished brilliantly by blazing past goalkeeper Nathan Coe.

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Re-live the end-to-end action from Brisbane Roar's draw with Melbourne Victory in our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights.

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Counterpart Michael Theo had until then kept the Roar in the match with some desperate reflex saves, stopping close-range efforts by Daniel Mullen and Archie Thompson.

Theo had no way of preventing a stunning opening goal by Broxham, against the run of play in the 11th minute.

Thompson had perfectly timed and weighted a lofted cross in the box for the 169cm Broxham who leapt high onto the back of Franjic, Australian Rules style, and headed over Theo.

The Roar, with captain Thomas Broich taking a far more direct approach on goal, continued to outflank Melbourne for most of the first half but the Victory's defence was up to each foray.

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