Melbourne Victory host Perth Glory in Round 5 of the Ninja A-League on Sunday, November 30, kick-off 4pm AEDT at the Home of the Matildas.
Playing at the Home of the Matildas for just the second time this season, Jeff Hopkins’ Women’s First Team are determined to make it two from two at home after defeating Central Coast Mariners 1-0 earlier this month.
Victory will also have the bit between the teeth to bounce back from last weekend’s single-goal loss across the ditch to Wellington Phoenix.
The Girls in Blue
Facing Perth Glory should be the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways. Melbourne Victory completed a league double over this weekend’s opposition last season, recording clean sheets in both matches.
The Women’s First Team have also not lost to the Glory in the last six A-League meetings, and despite losing at Wellington Phoenix in their latest outing, Victory have already shown their ability to bounce back this term.
Round 1’s narrow loss to Brisbane Roar was responded to by well-deserved wins over Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners in what was a Grand Final rematch.
Hopkins’ side have also not conceded from a set-piece in the first four rounds, whilst boasting the competition’s highest xG (expected goals), highlighting the team’s capabilities at either end of the pitch and a genuine cohesion despite the season’s infancy.
They will be without Football Fern Claudia Bunge and Young Matilda Poppy O’Keeffe this weekend due to national team commitments, but off-season recruit Taylor Ray is in line for her debut in the Big V after recovering from an injury that has ruled her out of action to date.
Round 5 Squad: 1. Courtney NEWBON, 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 7. Ella O’GRADY, 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 14. Fiorina IARIA, 16. Kennedy WHITE, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 19. Zoe McMEEKEN, 20. Leyla HUSSEIN, 23. Rachel LOWE, 24. Laura PICKETT, 27. Rosie CURTIS, 30. Payton WOODWARD, 41. Jessica YOUNG, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 81. Grace MAHER
Ins: 6. Taylor RAY
Outs: N/A
Unavailable: 3. Claudia BUNGE (national team), 4. Chelsea BLISSETT (back), 8. Sienna SAVESKA (medical), 11. Nickoletta FLANNERY (leg), 17. Poppy O’KEEFFE (national team)
The Glory
Perth Glory are without a win or even a point since the opening weekend, but the significance of their Round 1 victory cannot be underestimated.
In the 2024/25 season, they failed to collect three points in any of their interstate fixtures, heavily relying on home form to land a 10th-place finish.
But they quickly ended these away-day woes thanks to a 2-3 success at Western Sydney Wanderers, with star striker Gabby Hollar scoring twice.
Her brace was bookended by Rola Badawiya’s debut goal, following the American forward, who previously represented Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners, swapping Braga in Portugal for Perth during the off-season.
Unfortunately, travel sickness has resurfaced in recent weeks, seeing them slip up at Sydney and Canberra United on the back of a home defeat to strong starters Brisbane Roar, and the flow of goals against means they have conceded four more than any other team.
Glory’s trip to Melbourne is followed by a bye before Wellington Phoenix visit Western Australia.
Run it back
Melbourne Victory claimed all three points to make it back-to-back wins when Perth Glory visited the Home of the Matildas back in January.
The contest’s decisive moment, and an emphatic one at that, came shortly after the half-hour mark. Glory failed to clear a wide free kick, and when the ball broke to Kayla Morrison, her thumping half-volley crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.
Victory’s route to the win was aided during the second period when Tijan McKenna picked up two yellow cards in double-quick time, but they still had Courtney Newbon to thank for a fine save that pushed Gabby Hollar’s curling effort round the post.
Last time out
Melbourne Victory suffered their second defeat of 2025/26, losing to Wellington Phoenix and missing the opportunity to make it three straight wins.
Wellington’s first-ever triumph over Victory came courtesy of Pia Vlok’s 38th-minute goal. The 17-year-old New Zealand youth international got herself onto the end of Manaia Elliott’s speculative cross to finish from close range.
Perth Glory were dismantled early on as they lost 3-0 away to Canberra United last Saturday.
Stephen Peters’ team were two down inside just eight minutes at McKellar Park, allowing Michelle Heyman and Emma Robers the freedom of the penalty area to give United a flying start.
The capital punishment was completed early in the second half when Heyman turned provider for Bethany Gordon, who finished sharply into the corner.
