Football Season Guide

Melbourne City WFC

In


Dali Gorr-Burchmore (gk) South Melbourne / Ayana Aoyagi (gk) South Melbourne / Ellie Wilson (def) Melbourne Victory / Danielle Turner (def) Aston Villa / Keira Sarris (def) Victoria Academy / Kaya Jugovic (mid) Victoria Academy / Izabella Rako (mid) Chelsea Australia Academy / Danella Butrus (mid) Bulleen Lions / Chinaza Uchendu (att) Nantes / Deven Jackson (att) Newcastle Jets / Aideen Keane (att) Canberra United /

Out


Sophia Varley (sp) (gk) contract ended / Isabella Accardo (def) contract ended / Tyla-Jay Vlajnić (sp) (def) contract ended / Rhianna Pollicina (sp) (mid) Melbourne Victory / Lourdes Bosch (k) (mid) Denver Summit / Kiera Meyers (mid) Brisbane Roar / Kathryn Harvey (r) (mid) Unity FC / Emilia Murray Makris (att) Adelaide United / Mariana Speckmaier (r) (att) Durham FC

Despite going unbeaten the entire season and winning the Premiership (regular season champs) in 2nd consecutive season City failed to even make it to the Grand Final. Went undefeated W16 D7 for the 3rd time in their history during the regular season. Scored 56 goals in these 23 matches, 10 more than the 2nd best attack in the league. Lethal Holly McNamara missed the opening 10 rounds injured and still she won the Golden Boot with 15 goals in 12 appearances. Disaster struck in the semifinals though. Directly reaching that stage as Premiership winners City drew 2-2 and 0-0 with Mariners only to conceded seconds before the penalties and suffer a shocking end to the season. The other big disappointment of last year was in the Champions League. City became the 1st Aussie team to reach the final but there they lost, leaving them without a trophy despite suffering a single defeat in all competitions all season. Angry and hungry for successes City are gearing up for another very strong campaign. McNamara could target the league’s record for most goals in a season if she stays injury free. Lost their main starters on the wings Lourdes Bosch, Kathryn Harvey and Mariana Speckmaier this summer. Replaced them well. Nigerian Uchendu arrives from France and she should make the right wing her own. Jackson and Keane will compete for starting role on the left. Solid CB Turner arrived from England. She will add experience and extra aerial threat to the mix. The overall feel in and around the league is that City are perfectly capable of going undefeated again this year.

Target


Winning it all domestically and making another deep run in the Asian Champions League.