Archie Thompson with Ashton Billing and Nicholas Thorne
FOOTBALL Federation Tasmania is hoping Saturday night's top-of-the-table A-League clash between Melbourne Victory and the Central Coast Mariners in Launceston will draw a crowd of 10,000 supporters.
It will be top against third when the ladder-leading Mariners meet Ange Postecoglou's resurgent Victory at Aurora Stadium.
The match is Tasmania's second official A-League fixture featuring the Victory as part of a three-year deal with the Launceston City Council.
The Victory's star striker, Socceroo Archie Thompson, was in Launceston yesterday to drum up local support for the match and run a junior football clinic at the NTCA Ground.
``We've been coming here for a number of years now and we've always felt welcome,'' Thompson said.
``These matches give kids a chance to watch top level football, and an idea of what they can achieve.''
Tickets for Saturday's match can be bought at www.ticketmaster.com.au.
Presale adult tickets are $18.50 each, junior tickets are $8.50.
A portion of gate takings will be donated to the Tasmanian Bushfire Appeal.
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