The showpiece contest in the showpiece event, played in front of a fraction of the potential crowd.
It will still be a brilliant occasion, but the stadium fiasco is a great shame.
Nevertheless, we move on and take important lessons away.
To the game first, though.
The emerging coach against the experienced. Two former Socceroos. An amazing array of players on both teams, there's plenty of subtexts to this clash.
It is fitting that the two have been unable to separate themselves this season, as the margin between them is so, so small. Often in A-League matches - certainly this season concerning the divide between the top and bottom teams on the table - there are significant relative weaknesses and strengths, greater or less acumen on the benches, well-organised systems overcoming those not so.
Not here.
This is a match-up between two of the highest quality teams we have seen in A-League history, both by personnel and organisation.
Look at the two midfields, for example. Mark Milligan, Carl Valeri and Gui Finkler for Victory. More than half a century of international caps between the first two, and one of the finest creators we have been blessed to watch in Gui. They'll be up against Sydney trio Milos Dimitrejevic, Mickael Tavares and Alex Brosque. Alex has impressed greatly in his new leadership role, and finished the season like a freight train, and the other two are of exceptional experience and quality.
In this midfield battle, there are no young up-and-comers, only battle-hardened competitors with high technical quality capable of managing the game under the most extreme pressure.
That battle will be something else. Not forgetting, of course, that the versatile Broxham might feature there at some point, as could Terry Antonis, another Socceroos player, no less.
Up front, the superstar Besart Berisha patrols one end, for Victory, while at the other lurks the A-League's top scorer, Marc Janko. Both are serviced by fantastic wingers capable of creation and scoring in Bernie Ibini and Chris Naumoff, Kosta Barbarouses, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Archie Thompson at the other.
Wow. We are really in for a treat.
Two aspects to watch are the defending at set pieces by Victory - an area where Melbourne City created a great deal in their semi final and where Dimitrejevic's delivery is precise - and Sydney's defensive issues. Even last week, the Sky Blues conceded a high number of chances against Adelaide after conceding four, three, two and three against Brisbane Roar, Western Sydney Wanderers, Central Coast Mariners and Victory, respectively.
Victory will be very confident of scoring goals. Hopefully, this makes for a thrilling Final, although a tense tactical battle is equally as absorbing, simply signifying the small margins between the teams.
For the record, I've done the bleeding obvious and picked a score draw with penalties and Victory prevailing, by virtue of home advantage, which is very important in a penalty shootout.
Finally, to the stadium.
We can debate all year whether Football Federation Australia (FFA) could, or should, have wrapped up the date for Melbourne, although I imagine it may not have been so straightforward, particularly with planning for the Asian Cup playing havoc with dates, nevertheless playing at AAMI is certainly the right outcome in difficult circumstances.
Everyone understands the grand final is a promotional tool for the game as much as a competitive contest, however the right to play in one's own city is immutable.
What interests me is the stance of the AFL. It is making conciliatory public statements while ensuring football does not get to maximise its premier event. No issue from me. I would do the same in return.
There are many fans that cross both codes, which is great, more power to them, but when push comes to shove it is a competitive market with each sport trying to kill the other.
After all, we just released a 20-year plan stressing that we aim to - and believe we will - become the number one sport in the country. If that is not a provocation, I'm not sure what is?
AFL has not, nor will it do, football any favours, except when it comes to an international event for the nation like the World Cup, where even then it could not see past its narrow interests.
That was the point at which all Australians knew unequivocally that AFL will protect itself even in the face of the nation's future.
When one shamelessly blockades the World Cup, what sort of trifle is a grand final?
That was never a surprise, nor is the current imbroglio.
Competition is fierce and neither sport will take prisoners.
We take a hit in this round. No problem. We keep our powder dry for the next and enjoy a brilliant finale in the meantime.
See you all in Melbourne.
