He acknowledges that grand finals are important in Australia, and the way that champion teams are determined in this country means winning the Premiers Plate isn't always the definining moment of any club's season.

But for a man like the Melbourne Victory coach, who spent a decade in the cut-throat world of European football where being on top of the ladder  is the only thing that matters, there is a special resonance about finishing the regular season leading the A-League standings.

"If you ask anyone, any traditionalist, they'd put these down, winning [premierships], as the biggest nights. I'm not naive, I know there's a massive game for us in a couple of weeks. Australian sport loves grand finals, and so do I, but to achieve this with this group it's certainly special,"  he said in the aftermath of the match in which Victory was presented with the Premiers Plate.

"I thought it was a very good night for us tonight, a massive night for the football club. It's been far too long, a long wait for a trophy."

It's been six years since the A-League's biggest and best-supported club has secured silverware of any sort, but Muscat will be hoping that is a good augury. Victory won the Premiers Plate in the 2008-09 season, and went on to win the grand final that year, defeating Adelaide.

Victory are regarded by their rivals as the team to beat, and Muscat is not afraid of any rival his side may face. "We have all seen that you have to respect everybody. All the way through it's sudden death. I don't particularly fear anybody more than anybody else."