Both City squads are locked in for a massive Saturday of football, with our Men set for the first Melbourne Derby of the season and our Women returning home for the first time this season.
Aurelio Vidmar’s side will head into Saturday night’s clash against Melbourne Victory full of confidence following a dramatic midweek AFC Champions League Elite win in Japan. It was a night to remember for the Club, with a youthful City lineup overcoming Machida Zelvia 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Andrew Nabbout.
The focus now quickly shifts back to domestic action, as City looks to extend our unbeaten start to the Isuzu UTE A-League campaign. After one win and two draws across the opening three rounds, Vidmar’s men will be hungry to claim all three points in what will be the first meeting between the two sides since our Grand Final triumph in May.
Harry Shillington returns after missing the last league fixture through concussion, though the 21-year-old did start on Tuesday night in Japan.
Beckham Baker – who also started midweek – and Ryan Kalms have both been promoted, while Mathew Leckie will miss the clash through a hamstring injury which saw him substituted at half time last Friday.
The good news for City fans is the injury is on the lighter side, with the City veteran a chance to be back available for the team’s first fixture after the upcoming international break.
City will train on Friday morning, which will serve as the team’s only session between games. All players will be assessed pre-training, so further changes to the extended squad could still be made.
Meanwhile, our Women will play their first home match of the new Ninja A-League season when they host Central Coast Mariners on Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields’ ctrl:cyber Pitch.
Michael Matricciani’s side began the campaign with a strong performance against Sydney FC last weekend, sharing the points after an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Shelby McMahon and Aideen Keane both found the back of the net in what was a promising first outing for City’s new-look attack.
The squad is boosted this week by the inclusion of New Zealand international Deven Jackson, who returns from Football Ferns duty and is in line to make her City debut. Promising youngster Kaya Jugovic has also been added to the extended squad.
ALM Round 4 Squad
1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 4. Liam BONETIG, 10. Takeshi KANAMORI, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 17. Max CAPUTO, 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Ben MAZZEO, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 37. Peter ANTONIOU, 38. Beckham BAKER, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 44. Besian KUTLESHI, 45. Ryan KALMS, 47. Kavian RAHMANI.
In: 36. Harry SHILLINGTON (returns from injury), 38. Beckham BAKER, 45. Ryan KALMS (both promoted).
Out: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring).
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 11. Elbasan RASHANI (hamstring), 16. Aziz BEHICH (hamstring), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (ankle), 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN (hamstring), 35. Medin MEMETI (hamstring), 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (ACL), 41. Lawrence WONG (MCL), 48. Mathew BAKER (international duty).
ALW Round 2 Squad
2. Ellie WILSON, 3. Danielle TURNER, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia MCKENNA, 7. Danella BUTRUS, 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 9. Holly MCNAMARA, 10. Izabella RAKO, 11. Deven JACKSON, 12. Shelby MCMAHON, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 14. Laura HUGHES, 15. Chinaza UCHENDU, 17. Kaya JUGOVIC, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 20. Caitlin KARIC, 21. Aideen KEANE, 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 24. Malena MIERES (GK).
In: 11. Deven JACKSON (returns from international duty), 17. Kaya JUGOVIC (promoted).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN (knee), 22. Bryleeh HENRY (back).
