The entire season saw Melbourne City in the bottom half of the league table. Perhaps the most inconsistent team in the league seeing themselves on each side of blowout games. 

The club will once again display an impressive rosters with many of the top Matildas.

The former three-peat champions are looking to solidify their reign as the best club in W-League as being the first team to claim four titles. The race for four between them and Sydney FC could be accomplished this season as both teams are arguably favorites to win the Grand Final.

While Sydney are coming off their own title win, Melbourne will look to better their 6-1-5 record from a year ago.

 

WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM LAST SEASON?

The biggest takeaway from last season has to be that City is beatable. 

Since joining the W-League in 2015, Melbourne City had been the champion year in and year out. They asserted their dominance amongst the other teams, proving they are the best.

Then last season, City could not get anything going in their favor. They started the year off with a 2-0 loss to Canberra United and never got more than three wins in a row. 

If you look at the statistics, however not much changed for City. They scored and gave up the same amount of goals that won them the title in 2017-18. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the competition in the W-League improved as a whole and the names on City’s roster no longer intimidated their opponents. 

One of the players returning from City is Rhali Dobson and she fully grasps that City has to rely on more than just their talent for this upcoming season.

“Last year it was disappointing. Certain things just didn’t work out and that happens sometimes. You look at teams across the world, you can have the best team in the world on paper but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to win a game,” she says.

“It’s about how you gel together. It’s about how you implement everything asked of you as players and as a team. That was just a learning curve for everyone and that’s okay. That’s all a part of playing a sport. So we take what happened last year and take what is being asked now to improve this year.”

THE STRENGTHS

City not making the playoffs last year may have been the most helpful thing for their upcoming season. They now know for the first time what it means to not be the top team and that could make them even hungrier for a title this year.

Top players are still on their club and they have some of the best new signees like Emily van Egmond and Ellie Carpenter. Combine the new signees with a majority of City’s roster from a season ago and they may have their best squad to date. 

Their roster will once again be impressive, but this year they are ready to work together for a championship.

“I think they (front office) are putting together a very well-balanced side this year. A very competitive side and we’re really looking forward to what we can achieve this year,” Dobson says.

Tied with the most Matildas on a roster with Brisbane Roar there is no denying City will be talented. Combine that talent with a team that has something to prove there is no telling what City can accomplish.


One of those Matildas is goalkeeper, Lydia Williams. She returns after giving up just 15 goals in 2018-19, tied for a league best. Having Williams return to City and return from injury will see City able to stay in games if the offense struggles.

 

THE WEAKNESSES

The biggest question for Melbourne City is will they be able to get back to their usual ways or was last season a new trend for the club?

SInce joining the league, City has been a favorite for players to join and a favorite to win the title. They know how to win and win often. 

But other teams are stepping up and getting top players to join their team as well. The league is tighter than it has ever been before.  

City also has players returning from injury and you never truly know how they will come back. City players Kyah Simon, van Egmond, Williams, Carpenter all played in the NWSL this past season, but saw their time on the pitch limited from their lingering injuries.

If those players are not fully healed than City will have to rely on less experienced players that might not be able to compete in the league. 

DOBSON TELLS HOW CITY ATTRACTS TOP PLAYERS LIKE HERSELF

“For me, City does feels like home and I have very high expectations. The type of person that I am I have a winning mentality so for me being at City creates that atmosphere and that situation of you want to work hard together as individuals and get the best out of each other. 

“City as soon as I arrived it felt like home.”

Back in 2017 when Dobson didn’t know what her W-League plans would be, City approached her with an offer she could not turn down.

“I was going to have the summer off and they just said, look we want you here can you come here and I couldn’t say no to the biggest club in the competition. I have ended up staying because it is a second home. I haven’t looked at going anywhere else. It has been an amazing opportunity.”

 

KEY PLAYERS

Emily van Egmond

Perhaps the biggest signing of this season for the whole league was van Egmond. She has spent a majority of her career with her hometown club, the Newcastle Jets. Van Egmond was a staple in their lineup and on their stat sheet netting 16 goals. 

Her overall 20 goals for the W-League has her on the league’s all-time scoring list at number 20. She is one of the best players that Australia has had in their history and she will be a big asset for City.

And all of her accolades are from the midfield position. One of the top scorers plays both sides of the ball and she is a phenomenal facilitator and defender.

 

Steph Catley

Not only was Willimas key to City’s impressive goals against total, but a lot of that success can be attributed to their defensive line. One of those top defenders is Steph Catley who will be returning for this year. 

One of the most capped players in the W-League is also one of the best defenders. Often dealt with matching up against the opposing team’s top forward Catley proves to make their 90 minutes very difficult.

Known for her bruising tackles and blistering speed Catley will be a top player for City. 

 

Ellie Carpenter

Youth combined with experience describes Carpenter. At just 19 years old she already has 35 appearances for the Matildas including the Olympics and World Cup. Whenever Carpenter plays people often comment that they cannot believe she is so young because she plays with such poise.

This will be the first year she suits up for City and their defence will only get stronger. Imagine having to face both Catley and Carpenter when heading towards goal. 

Not only do international opponents of the Matildas have to face this, now opposing W-League opponents have that problem.

 

ONE TO WATCH

Claire Emslie 

A teammate of van Egmond on the Orlando Pride, City have signed Claire Emslie. The Scottish international joins the W-League for the first time having played in the FA Women’s Super League for three seasons.

Emslie was able to score Scotland’s first ever World Cup goal. Her goal scoring experience will help alleviate some pressure on the other forwards and give City a more  balanced attack.

If Emslie can carry over her attacking success from her previous clubs she could be a breakout star for Melbourne City.

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