The Westfield W-League is back! Melbourne City Women’s FC begins its title defence with a home clash against Newcastle Jets at CB Smith Reserve on Sunday.
The Lowdown
This time last year, City was preparing for its very first match in the Westfield W-League.
An emphatic 6-0 win over Sydney FC set the tone for a stunning debut season which yielded a record 14 straight wins and a historic Premiership and Championship double.
Now led by new captain Steph Catley, City enters season nine of the W-League with a target on its back as the defending champions.
Standing in its way of an opening round win is a Newcastle Jets outfit with real hopes of improving on its sixth place finish last season.
Newcastle coach Craig Deans has moulded a squad with a good mixture of local and international talent, with American imports Jen Hoy and Arin Gilliland joining captain Gema Simon and Matilda Chloe Logarzo.
The slate is wiped clean. City may well be favourites, but with every team upping the ante to reach the levels reached by Joe Montemurro’s side last season, we are set for the most exciting W-League campaign yet.
Team News
City boast a near clean bill of health heading into its season opener. Captain Steph Catley and defender Rebekah Stott have progressed steadily in their rehabilitation from their respective foot injuries and are expected to start against the Jets.
It could be a day full of debutants with Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams expected to take her position between the posts, while defender Teigen Allen and American duo Lauren Barnes and Erika Tymrak are likely to make their City debuts.
Key midfielders Jess Fishlock and Aivi Luik returned to the City Football Academy midweek following stints overseas in America and England, and are set to rekindle a formidable partnership in the middle of the park.
Golden Boot winner Larissa Crummer is the only long term absentee as she continues her recovery from an ankle injury.
From the Dressing Room
“What we did last year was remarkable and very difficult to repeat. We want to play good football being a possession-based team, and we want to improve on last year in terms of the way we played.” – Melbourne City Women’s captain Steph Catley.
Opposition Viewpoint
“I’m pretty happy with the players we have been able to keep, including some of the internationals so that was a big thing for us. We have also signed some experienced players from Sydney, and we had quite a young squad overall last year. There is a good mix of locals and girls from outside and I’m happy with the balance of the squad.” – Newcastle Jets Head Coach Craig Deans
Join us CB Smith Reserve!
You can catch our record-breaking Women’s team in Westfield W-League action against the Jets at CB Smith Reserve this Sunday, kick-off at 3pm.
Alternatively, you can follow all the match action on Twitter on @MelbCityWFC, using the official match hashtag: #MCYvNEW.
You can guarantee your seat to all our W-League home matches with a Melbourne City membership. Become a part of the City Family today!
Match Details
Westfield W-League – Round 1
Melbourne City Women’s FC
Newcastle Jets
Venue: CB Smith Reserve, Faulkner
Kick-off: 3pm.
Melbourne City Women’s FC squad: 1.Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 2.Teigen ALLEN, 3.Lauren BARNES, 4.Rachel BINNING, 5.Laura ALLEWAY, 6.Aivi LUIK, 7.Steph CATLEY (C), 10.Jessica FISHLOCK, 11.Erika TYMRAK, 12.Olivia ELLIS, 13.Rebekah STOTT, 14.Melina AYRES, 15.Amy JACKSON, 17.Marianna TABAIN, 18.Jacynta GALABADAARACHCHI, 19.Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC, 30.Kelsey QUINN (gk) **two to be omitted**
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 9.Larissa CRUMMER (ankle – 4 weeks)
Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Kelsey WYS (gk), 3.Elizabeth O’REILLY, 4.Megan OYSTER, 5.Arin GILLILAND, 6.Cassidy DAVIS, 7.Gema SIMON (c), 8.Emma STANBURY, 9.Jennifer HOY, 10.Rhali DOBSON, 11.Tara PENDER, 13. Grace MACINTYRE, 14.Brooke MILLER, 15.Elizabeth COPUS-BROWN, 16.Liana DANASKOS, 17.Jenna KINGSLEY, 19.Ashlee BRODIGAN, 20.Claire COELHO (gk) **two to be omitted**
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 18.Clare WHEELER (international duty – 1 week), 2.Sophie NENADOVIC (international duty – 1 week), 2.Chloe LOGARZO (international duty – 1 week)
