In an almost identical display to season 2016-17, the light blue team from Melbourne finished fourth in the regular season with six wins, two draws and four losses.

Pre-season signings boded well for City with Alanna Kennedy and Kyah Simon joining from Sydney FC while World Cup winner Yukari Kinga traded the Canberra green and NWSL rookie of the year Ashley Hatch rounded out the big name overseas signings.

A 4-1 loss to Glory to open the season was followed by a derby win and a 5-2 demolition of Newcastle. The starkness in results set the tone for the season – when City was on, it was on but it was more than infallible.

It was at times frustrating, the performances on the park weren’t matching the high standards all have of City.

The mid-season signings of Aivi Luik to bolster the midfield and Jodie Taylor to provide the goals up forward ensured City made finals with another comprehensive win over the Jets.

City has an almost uncanny knack for being able to find the right performance at the right time. It can’t be put down to luck because the team has done it two seasons in a row.

Two nil wins over Brisbane in the semi-final and Sydney FC in the grand final ensured that this side would go into the history books.

This season all eyes were on the departures rather than the signings; at least one departure in particular.

Jess Fishlock will spend the Australian summer on loan to Lyon from parent club Seattle Reign. Fishlock’s influence on this City team on and off the park can’t be understated. in some sense, she has come to embody the club.

The reigning champions also lost the services of Larissa Crummer to Newcastle and Kennedy to Sydney. Kennedy’s return to the harbour city leaves a hole in the heart of City’s defence but is a key pick up for the Sky Blues. Meanwhile, Crummer’s exit appears to be a much needed move away and a chance to continue her transformation into a defender.

Apart from these transfers, City has retained its core group of players from last season and added some pretty talented players to its ranks. Elise Kellond-Knight and Tameka Butt highlight the overseas based signings with Jasmyne Spencer and Theresa Nielsen signing on loan from Reign.

Locally, City has added Adriana Jones from Adelaide and Helen Caceres from Wanderers, both of whom have plenty of W-League experience.

City’s coaching set up was overhauled with Rado Vidošić coming in as both the club’s technical director and the new W-League coach. Patrick Kisnorbo will now only be an assistant coach to the men’s side. Following the departures of Kisnorbo and Fishlock, Melissa Barbieri will join the coaching staff as an assistant to Vidošić.

THE STRENGTHS

City’s two main strengths are interconnected. The club has been able to retain a massive part of the title winning squad from last season as well as more than a few players from the seasons prior. That consistency is critical in the W-League when a good start to the season is necessary.

The balancing act between overseas based players and local ones is helped not only when the squad’s make up doesn’t change much but the players continue to play together when not in City colours.

While there is a joking air to talk about City’s apparent connection to NWSL side Seattle Reign, the fact of the matter is four of City’s five defensive players (Lydia Williams, Steph Catley, Lauren Barnes and Nielsen) spent the Australian off-season playing together in Seattle. The odd one out, Rebekah Stott, moved from Seattle to Sky Blue FC at the beginning of the season. It’s this valuable time together and familiarity with each other that can’t be undersold.

City also have the luxury of five Matildas in their ranks spread across the park. All of these bundles of players who are familiar with each other give City another string to its bow and, assuming they all come together coherently, City’s hopes of an unprecedented fourth straight title look good.

THE CHALLENGES

Fishlock’s departure presents a number of challenges. First and foremost, she is an exceptional player and her loan move to Lyon – arguably the best team in the world – only emphasises the quality that has been lost.

It is also without question that Fishlock came to symbolise City and was influential on and off the pitch, particularly in the last two seasons as she took on player-coaching and assistant coaching roles.

But perhaps less obvious is the impact Fishlock’s absence will have on the goals for column. The Welsh star scored 16 goals in her last two seasons, making her a two-time golden boot winner for the club.

City needs goal scorers and the contributions in front of goal from players like Jones, Spencer and Taylor as well as the likes of Butt, Simon and Rhali Dobson are vital.

The two internationals, in particular, raise interesting questions. Spencer has been signed as a forward but didn’t have the most prolific season in the NWSL with two goals in 23 appearances. However, many of those minutes were off the bench.

Taylor returns for another season but has again joined as a guest player meaning she can only play seven games. How Vidosic and the coaching staff utilise her remains to be seen.

KEY PLAYERS

Rebekah Stott (defender)

Taken by Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline)

Stott is seemingly the unsung hero of the City defence. A W-League veteran who’s been in and around the league since 2010, Stott is a versatile defender and an important cog in the defensive unit.

Elise Kellond-Knight (midfielder)

Taken by Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline)

She’s been away from the W-League for a little while but Kellond-Knight’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. The midfielder will go a long way in helping to steer a Fishlock-less midfield and will play an important role in front of the back four.

Kyah Simon (forward)

Taken by Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline)

As Simon wears the City colours for the second season, she will be looking to get back to her best in preparation for the World Cup next year. The 27-year-old has been carrying injuries throughout the last few weeks including the Matildas matches against France and England after 18-months of football took their toll but will be looking to be fully fit come Sunday. Her passion and experience will be invaluable in a side trying to find someone to replace Fishlock when the team needs an extra push.

ONE TO WATCH

Adriana Jones (forward)

By no means a new face in the W-League, Jones will be one to watch in the context of City’s season and squad. An out and out striker, the former Adelaide and Newcastle player will be vital to the reigning champions up forward.

With no more Fishlock and plenty of players who can create opportunities, Jones needs to be the player who can finish chances. Hopefully, she can recreate her form from the 2016-17 season where she scored nine goals in 11 matches for the Reds.

SQUAD

Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, Tameka BUTT, Steph CATELY, Kyah SIMON, Helen CACERES, Adriana JONES, Yukari KINGA, Rebekah STOTT, Melissa HUDSON, Amy JACKSON, Sofia SAKALIS, Rhali DOBSON, Lydia WILLIAMS, Lauren BARNES, Jasmyne SPENCER, Jodie TAYLOR and Theresa NIELSEN