Jeff Hopkins is relishing the opportunity to lead Melbourne Victory on home soil against Central Coast Mariners this weekend.
The 61-year-old is eager to see the Women’s First Team make their mark in front of the Victory faithful on Saturday, November 15, kick-off 5pm AEDT.
Hopping from Queensland to New South Wales, as the 2025/26 Ninja A-League season started with trips to Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers, a return to the Home of the Matildas has felt a long time coming.
This wait was eased, thanks in no small part, by last weekend’s thumping 1-4 away success over the Wander Women, but it is clear that nothing compares to the feeling of winning with your own supporters for the Head Coach.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Hopkins talked passionately about the value of being back in Melbourne for Round 3.
“We’ve had a good week of training back on the main pitch today. The sun’s out and the players are really looking forward to playing in front of their own supporters.
“It’s almost like another restart for us. The two away games were a tough start for us. Both games came with their own challenges. We are nice and comfortable with our own supporters, and last year we made the Home of the Matildas a fortress, and we are out to do that again this year.”
Hopkins has named an unchanged match day squad for the Grand Final rematch, with Chelsea Blissett (back), Taylor Ray (foot), Sienna Saveska (medical), Nicki Flannery (leg) continuing their return to play programs.
He will, though, have the attacking services of the competition’s leading goalscorer to call on. Kennedy White has netted four times in the opening two matches, including a rapid-fire hat-trick against the Wanderers, and the Head Coach believes there is even more to come from Victory’s American striker.
“I have been very impressed with her. First of all, her attitude to training is very, very professional – she looks after herself, looks after her body, and she trains really hard.
“I still think she has got a lot more to show. In terms of us using her to the best of her ability, we still need to find out how to use her a little bit better.”
Watch Hopkins’ full press conference below.
