Melbourne Victory visit Brisbane Roar in Round 1 of the Ninja A-League on Saturday, November 1, kick-off 5pm AEDT.
167 days since their last competitive outing, Victory’s Women will step out at Spencer Park with a clear ambition: three points on the road to fire up their pursuit of silverware.
Last season’s runners-up, in both the regular season and the Grand Final, need little more in the way of motivation than turning the pain of 2024/25 into the joy of celebration come next May.
The Girls in Blue
After their opener in Queensland, it is a trip to Western Sydney Wanderers for Melbourne Victory on Sunday, November 9, kick-off 4pm AEDT, before a return to the Home of the Matildas on Saturday, November 15, kick-off 5pm AEDT, for the hosting of Central Coast Mariners.
The home bow is a mouthwatering repeat of the competition’s most recent finale, and gives Victory an early opportunity to put that disappointment firmly in the rear-view mirror. But before that clash comes into focus, the labours of the off-season will be showcased in back-to-back away matches against two sides who finished on the bottom half of the ladder.
A successful campaign was always going to bring potential suitors for our players, and Matildas stars Alex Chidiac, Emily Gielnik and Alana Murphy all departed for new ventures overseas.
Panic not, Victory have strengthened across the board. The capture of Championship winner Taylor Ray was swiftly followed by the signature of Kennedy White, following her 32-goal season for Hungarian top-flight outfit Győr ETO FC.
Then came the influx of A-League knowhow, with Young Matilda Sienna Saveska, Chelsea Blissett, after a 69-game stint with Brisbane, Rhianna Pollicina, ending a four-year run with Melbourne City, New Zealand youth international Zoe McMeeken and A-League All Star Grace Maher all joining the Club.
Additionally, youngsters Jessica Young, Sienna Techera and Fiorina Iaria, along with goalkeepers Payton Woodward and Chloe McKenzie, signed for 2025/26, whilst there were contract renewals for Alana Jancevski, Sofia Sakalis, Holly Furphy, Courtney Newbon, Rachel Lowe, Nicki Flannery, Laura Pickett and Ella O’Grady.
Round 1 Squad: 1. Courtney NEWBON, 3. Claudia BUNGE, 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 6. Taylor RAY, 8. Sienna SAVESKA, 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 11. Nickoletta FLANNERY, 16. Kennedy WHITE, 17. Poppy O KEEFFE, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 19. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 23. Rachel LOWE, 24. Laura PICKETT, 27. Rosie CURTIS, 30. Payton WOODWARD, 41. Jessica YOUNG, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 81. Grace MAHER
Unavailable: N/A
Roaring back?
With just one A-League win to their name in 2025, Brisbane Roar will be hoping that their form from the first half of last season returns for the new campaign if they are to have any hopes of targeting a top-six finish.
The Roar were victorious in six of their first eight matches, notably, hitting Newcastle Jets for six and putting eight past Western United either side of Christmas. These away days featured successive hat-tricks for striker Laini Freier, and while she is going to continue playing her football in Brisbane, it is for the city’s NPL side, Brisbane City.
This follows the one-time Australian international’s surprise off-season retirement from football at 24-years-old to focus on her “work career”.
Laini’s twin sister, Sharn, has returned to Brisbane, though. Just five months after joining VfL Wolfsburg in a multi-year deal, the forward has headed home from Germany on loan for the season.
In a further boost, the services of 134-time Matilda Tameka Yallop have been retained, whilst international ‘keeper Chloe Lincoln arrives equipped with experience from Canberra United and Western United.
There were also, amongst 12 new signings, arrivals from Ajax and SK Slavia Praha, as Bente Jensen and Marianna Seidl joined Alex Smith’s squad, and successful recruitment much closer to home, with NPLW QLD golden-boot winner Kyla Hanson making the move from Eastern Suburbs.
Run it back
Melbourne Victory ended the 2024/25 regular season schedule with a 2-0 win against Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park, securing an advance pass to the competition’s Semi-Finals.
The deadlock, after Rachel Lowe saw a goal ruled out for offside, was broken as half-time loomed, when a Nicki Flannery rocket found the top corner.
And a second goal was added just nine minutes into the second period. Holly Furphy’s attempt deflected into the path of an alert Alex Chidiac, who finished cutely before the afternoon went from bad to worse for the Roar as Momo Hayashi saw red for dissent.
Last time out
Melbourne Victory enjoyed a pre-season hit out against Adelaide United at the Home of The Matildas in mid-October.
The contest ended 1-1, with Rachel Lowe equalising from the spot for Jeff Hopkins’ side after Dylan Holmes had opened the scoring for the visitors.
Brisbane Roar ran out comfortable 5-0 winners against semi-professional Queensland counterparts Olympic FC at Goodwin Park.
Bente Jansen, Ashlyn Miller, Daisy Brown and Momo Hayashi, as well as an own goal, were on the scoresheet.
