Tony Popovic and Jeff Hopkins have named their extended squads.
Head Coach Tony Popovic has named his first extended squad of the 2023/24 Isuzu UTE A-League season ahead of our Round 1 clash with Sydney FC.
Paul Izzo returns to the selection mix after spending the late stages of pre-season managing a hand injury. The goalkeeper has made a full recovery and will be available for selection.
This weekend will see the competitive return of Jake Brimmer and Jason Geria to the Melbourne Victory squad. Both finished the 2022/23 season with long to mid-term injuries that kept them out of the squad with Brimmer returning from a knee injury while Geria makes his way back from a hip injury.
Popovic was quoted in the pre-season that their return would be like new signings for the squad for the upcoming season and will be available for selection on Saturday.
Daniel Arzani, Zinedine Machach, Fabian Monge, Ryan Teague and Christian Siciliano could all make their Isuzu UTE A-League debut for Victory this Saturday and new signing Adama Traore could make his return after last playing for Victory in the 2021/22 season.
Josh Inserra and Franco Lino have recently returned from International Duty with the Young Socceroos.
Melbourne Victory Men.
2.Jason GERIA, 3.Adama TRAORE, 4.Rai MARCHAN, 5.Damien DA SILVA, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Chris IKONOMIDIS, 8.Zinedine MACHACH, 10.Bruno FORNAROLI, 11.Ben FOLAMI, 14.Connor CHAPMAN, 16.Stefan NIGRO, 17.Nishan VELUPILLAY, 19.Daniel ARZANI, 20.Paul IZZO, 21.Roderick MIRANDA, 22.Jake BRIMMER, 23. Fabian MONGE, 24.Eli ADAMS, 25.Ryan TEAGUE, 40.Christian SICILIANO
Ins: nil
Outs: nil
Matildas Elise Kellond-Knight and Emily Gielnik have been added to the extended side for this week’s contest with Western United.
Both have trained strongly this week as they get closer to a return from their respective injuries and as Jeff Hopkins outlined last week, a cautious approach to the two will be taken with the international break just around the corner.
Lia Privitelli and Tori Hansen are also named in the extended side but are less likely to feature.
Melbourne Victory Women.
1.Lydia WILLIAMS, 2.Jamilla RANKIN, 4.Sara D’APPOLONIA, 3.Tori HANSEN, 5.Jessika NASH, 6.Beattie GOAD, 7.Ella O’GRADY, 9.Emily GIELNIK, 8.Alana MURPHY, 10.McKenzie WEINERT, 13.Kurea OKINO, 15.Emma CHECKER, 16.Paige ZOIS, 18.Kayla MORRISON, 19.Lia PRIVITELLI, 20.Miranda TEMPLEMAN, 21.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 22.Ava BRIEDIS, 23.Rachel LOWE, 27.Rosie CURTIS
Ins: 3.Tori HANSEN (promoted), 9.Emily GIELNIK (promoted), 19.Lia PRIVITELLI (promoted), 21.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (promoted)
Outs: nil
