Match Details
Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory
Friday 12 January
Kick-off: 5.00pm (AEDT)
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
PREVIEW
Jeff Hopkins’ side is desperate to halt a run of three straight A-League Women’s defeats as they host Perth Glory at Leichhardt Oval on Friday.
Looking to get back on the winners list, Hopkins says he’s confident his team can turn things around.
“I think the team has shown a lot of resolve. The training has been good. We need to turn up this week and put in a really good performance,” he said.
“What we need to do first of all is just to get ourselves a win and start to then build on that, to start accumulating points.
“Not really worry too much about our league position, it’s about accumulating points now. Keep an eye on the game in hand, what we need to do week to week.
“If we can start doing that, the league position will look after itself.”
Looking ahead to the match against second-placed Perth, Hopkins said he’s “looking forward to the challenge”.
“They’re a good side, a tough side. They’ve got a lot of good individuals. They play with quite a different way of playing as well,” Jeff explained.
“They give you different tactical problems to deal with. There’s a number of things that they do really well and there’s a number of things that we’ll have to do really well to get something out of the game this weekend.”
An ankle injury to Lydia Williams last week meant the Matildas goalkeeper had to be taken off at half-time, and remains day-to-day heading into Friday afternoon, however, Emily Gielnik is expected to make her long-awaited return to action.
“Lydia, obviously her ankle, she came off with that last week. We’re having a good look at that and will make a decision,” Jeff said.
“But we’re pretty confident that Emily Gielnik will be playing some part this week. She’s trained really well with a real intensity. She’s got a fair bit of volume into her now and yeah, she’s raring to go.”
“It will be great for us to have a player of Emily’s quality back to play a part this week. That’s the real bonus for us. I’m really looking forward to seeing her on the park and seeing what she’s capable of doing over the next three or four weeks.”
THE STATS
Melbourne Victory Women
1.Lydia WILLIAMS, 2.Jamilla RANKIN, 3.Tori HANSEN, 4.Sara D’APPOLONIA, 5.Jessika NASH, 7.Ella O’GRADY, 8.Alana MURPHY, 9.Emily GIELNIK, 10.Alex CHIDIAC, 11.McKenzie WEINERT, 13.Kurea OKINO, 15.Emma CHECKER, 16.Paige ZOIS, 18.Kayla MORRISON, 19.Lia PRIVITELLI, 21.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 22.Ava BRIEDIS, 23.Rachel LOWE, 27.Rosie CURTIS, 50.Courtney NEWBON
Ins: 9.Emily GIELNIK, 7.Ella O’GRADY, 19.Lia PRIVITELLI
Outs: nil
Unavailable: 6.Beattie GOAD
