Melbourne Victory Women meet Newcastle Jets in Shepparton in Round 16 of the Ninja A-League on Saturday, February 7, kick-off 7:30pm AEDT.
Dealt a defeat on their trip up to the Capital by Canberra United last weekend, Victory Women will aim to do the double over the Jets this season, heading up to John McEwen Reserve as part of a special regional football showcase.
Falling out of the top six following the weekend’s action, Jeff Hopkins’ side will be determined to return to winning ways and end a tough run of form.
Similarly, the ninth-placed Jets are seeking to pick up some crucial points in their hunt for finals football, most recently recording two consecutive losses to Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix.
The Girls in Blue
Back on Victorian soil ahead of a four-game home run, Melbourne Victory will be aiming to rebound after a challenging away clash versus Canberra United.
With Claudia Bunge dealt a harsh red card just past the half-hour mark, which has since been overturned by the match review panel, the visitors had an early uphill battle on their hands at McKellar Park.
However, a stunning Kennedy White strike gave the Girls in Blue hope of a big away result against the odds, with the 25-year-old American forward netting her eighth goal of the season.
With Victory fighting hard to keep the hosts out, a quick-fire double past the hour mark, plus a later blow to extend their lead, saw Canberra claim the win.
Now without a triumph in their last six outings, Victory’s duel with the Jets in Shepparton poses a vital opportunity to return to the A-League Women’s top six and, importantly, take points from a direct rival for Finals.
Victory fans would have been pleasantly surprised to see star midfielder Rhianna Pollicina make her first appearance back from injury in ACT, brought off the bench in the 65th minute against Canberra.
Removing herself from Victory’s injury list and in contention to have a larger involvement this Saturday, the 28-year-old provides a big boost to the squad seeking a much-needed win in Shepparton.
Round 16 Squad: 1. Courtney NEWBON, 3. Claudia BUNGE, 4. Chelsea BLISSETT, 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 6. Taylor RAY, 7. Ella O’GRADY, 8. Sienna SAVESKA, 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 16. Kennedy WHITE, 17. Poppy O’KEEFFE, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 23. Rachel LOWE, 27. Rosie CURTIS, 28. Sienna TECHERA, 30. Payton WOODWARD, 41. Jessica YOUNG, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 81. Grace MAHER
Ins: 10. Rhianna POLLICINA
Outs: 24. Laura PICKETT
Unavailable: 11. Nicki FLANNERY (injured), 19. Zoe MCMEEKEN (injured), 24. Laura PICKETT (injured)
Newcastle Jets
Jetting back to Victoria for Round 16, the Newcastle Jets will hope to put a spanner in the works as the visitors to Regional Victoria this weekend.
While the Jets have recorded a disappointing six losses in their last eight games, including two defeats on home soil, they pulled off a shock victory over league leaders Melbourne City at AAMI Park in Round 13.
Sitting just one point behind Melbourne Victory in the ladder, albeit with a game in hand, the Jets, led by Head Coach Stephen Hoyle, remain in strong contention to make the top six in a highly condensed A-League Women’s competition.
Former Victory forward Melina Ayres jumped into the lead as the Novocastrians’ top scorer after netting her fourth of the season and her side’s only goal of the game against Wellington, while Kiwi goalkeeper Anna Leat has been an effective recruit for the side, previously playing for English Clubs West Ham United and Aston Villa.
Run it back
Going to battle last in December 2025 at Newcastle’s No. 2 Sportsground, Melbourne Victory completed an impressive 1-3 win on the road.
Jumping into the lead via Kennedy White’s 25th-minute headed goal, Victory eventually doubled their advantage thanks to a beautifully worked goal that was finished off clinically by Rhianna Pollicina.
Substitute Nicki Flannery opened her account for the season, scoring the away team’s third and final goal of the night in the 77th minute.
The Jets would go on to score a consolation goal through winger Lauren Allen, but ultimately fail in troubling the Girls in Blue enough to recover the deficit.
Last time out
Despite taking the lead early in the second half through Kennedy White, while a player down to Canberra United, Melbourne Victory would lose out in the capital
Conceding a 62nd-minute equaliser struck by Sasha Grove proved a crucial blow and opened the floodgates for the hosts.
Mary Stanic-Floody netted the go-ahead goal, and Tegan Bertolissio enabled the hosts to run away with the win at McKellar Park.
The Jets would be blown away at No. 2 Sportsground by the flying Wellington Phoenix, falling four goals behind after just 24 minutes of action.
The Phoenix’s young gun, Pia Vlok, would go on to score her side’s fifth and complete her hat-trick, while the Jets’ Melina Ayres would at least give the home crowd something to celebrate with her 73rd-minute goal in the 1-5 reverse.
