Victory in Melbourne 

Not much going on this week, with Melbourne having the week off due to Adelaide playing in the Club World Championships. I had been trying to organise an interview all week with a Melbourne Victory W-League player for my 442 blog but to no avail, so instead I chose to write about why I can’t support Adelaide in any sort of international competition. In fact, it probably would apply to most other teams in the A-League as well. You can read it here.

Must admit that I am fairly nervous about tonight’s game against Adelaide. The team in red are in good form and the boys in blue are looking particularly toothless without the likes of Thompson, Ney Fabiano and Hernandez. A loss would see us drop six points behind our arch rivals - a gap we can ill afford at this stage of the season. The match could also see the debut of Matthew Theodore - a player I have been particularly impressed with since I watched play a number of times for the AIS in the VPL season just gone. A player with a bright future ahead of him.

On another note, the Victory ladies are taking on Sydney this weekend in their second W-League match. Will be a tough gig away from home with the arch enemy having a strong squad and are firm favourites along with Queensland Roar to challenge for the inaugral W-League title.

The Melbourne Victory W-League squad was announced earlier this week. Didn’t get much coverage in the local press, but you can find a bit more about them here. Members of the inaugral squad are as follows:

Melissa Barbieri
Nicole Paul
Megan Archer
Daniela Digiammarco
Maika Ruyter-Hooley
Marlies Oostdam
Laura Alleway
Bronwyn Nutley
Stephanie Tanti
Tal Karp
Louisa Bisby
Ursula Hughson
Sophie Hogben
Selin Kuralay
Rebecca Tegg
Brittany Timko
Alisha Foote
Deanna Niceski
Sarah Groenewald
Enza Barilla

Emergencies:
Ashley Brown
Stephanie Catley
Brianna Davey

Coach: Matt Shepherd
Ass Coach: Bill Murray
Team Manager: Naomi Hirst

First game is this coming weekend against the Central Coast Mariners as a curtain raiser to the Melbourne vs Sydney A-League match. So get there a little early and support our team.

Yesterday the FFA officially launched the W-League with the first round beginning on the weekend of the 25th and 26th of October. The Victory women’s first up game is against Central Coast Mariners on the 25th October as a curtain raiser to the blockbuster Melbourne v Sydney A-League fixture. Not sure why we couldn’t have played Sydney in this fixture, it would have made more sense. All the rest of the games will be played at either Bob Jane Stadium or Epping Stadium, so I will be definitely be able to check out the ladies in action during their first season. Also good to see at least one match each week will be televised. The FFA didn’t announce any details, but it was pretty obvious would be getting the gig with the ABC1 logo splashed over the draw. Now we all need to know, is who will be wearing the navy blue? Melissa Barbieri is a definite along with Louisa Bisby according to my sources. We just need to know the rest of the 20 person squad.