Zoe McMeeken’s Melbourne Victory journey is a new one, but this city has always been in her heart.
The talented defender, who signed in September, has hit the ground running wearing the Big V, scoring, assisting and contributing across the pitch for Jeff Hopkins’ side.
Starting all three of Victory’s Ninja A-League matches at the beginning of the 2025/26 season, she looks settled and at home in the famous navy blue, and there is good reason for that.
Preparing to face her former club, Wellington Phoenix, where she racked up a half-century of appearances before her 21st birthday, McMeeken has spoken to melbournevictory.com.au about her lifelong connection to the city.
“The girls joke a lot that I’m Victorian because I was probably a few months old when I moved back to New Zealand. My parents spent a few years here and had me before moving back.
“Whenever I travelled here with Wellington (Phoenix), I felt something in the soil, I felt a connection to here. It’s super nice even though I didn’t necessarily grow up here.”
A fan of a whole range of sports in her early years, McMeeken’s heart was not always exclusively set on pursuing a football career.
“Even up to when I was 15, I was still doing athletics and represented New Zealand at the youth level.”
Particularly gifted in the 1500m, as well as possessing a strong arm at Javelin, a career in the Decathlon was at the back of McMeeken’s mind while she progressed up the footballing pyramid.
Drawn to the team aspect of the beautiful game, McMeeken’s impressive showings for New Zealand’s U16s and U17s national teams saw the opportunity to join the inaugural Wellington Phoenix Women’s team arise.
“Nothing about it was going through my mind before I got the call-up. I didn’t hear about this team that might be a thing, so it was genuinely such a shock.”
Despite being the youngest member of the team, the 17-year-old at the time would make the XI in all but one of the Nix’s games, earning the chance to represent New Zealand at the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
“I feel as I get older, I’ll appreciate it more. Life was hectic then; I was going from the A-League season to the World Cup.
“But they are experiences that I remember so fondly, trying to achieve a goal with a group of girls, supporting each other with the pressure, big crowds, amazing players to play against; it’s unforgettable stuff.”
Turning out for the Phoenix for a further three seasons, and even competing at a second FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in 2024, the young Kiwi international jumped at the opportunity to join Victory.
“When I heard that it was an option, it was just pure excitement to represent such a big club. I was so eager to get here after talking to Jeff (Hopkins) and a few girls I knew that had him as a coach, including Claudia (Bunge).”
Since making the jump across the ditch in the off-season, the transition has been an enjoyable process for McMeeken.
“It’s honestly been surreal. I’ve never been in such a high-performing environment, where every single person wants to do their job to the best, and that’s where I really thrive.
“Everyone’s so welcoming, I feel like I get along with every single girl on the team and all of the staff.”
Welcomed with open arms by the team and coaching staff, McMeeken has repaid the faith shown by the Club with strong performances across the white line.
Speaking highly of Hopkins’ winning mentality and tactical structure, and the guidance from defensive partners Claudia Bunge and Kayla Morrison, McMeeken selflessly credited her surrounding environment for an outstanding Round 2 performance in Western Sydney, which included a goal and an assist.
“It was pretty cool to get my first goal, but I honestly just wanted to do it for the team and coaching staff because the amount of work that they put in – it motivates me to show what I can do.
“At the start of the game, we weren’t playing our best, so I was proud of all of us to really stick in it and come out on top. I know we can play a lot better as well, so it’s super exciting.”
Describing herself as a player who is eager to run up and down the pitch and fulfil her defensive duties, while making a difference in the attack, the towering Melburnian-from-birth is excited to do battle against them on Sunday, November 23, kick-off 2pm AEDT.
“It’s always a good game between Victory and the Phoenix; we just have to focus on ourselves and keep sticking to the game plan.
“I’ll definitely have that extra energy of knowing my parents are in the crowd, and I might accidentally walk into the wrong changing room! But it’ll be cool, and we want to win.”
