Melbourne City’s Academy continues to shine, with all four Junior Boys teams qualifying for this Sunday’s JBNPL Grand Finals.
It’s a remarkable achievement in the first season that finals football has been introduced in the JBNPL competitions, with City’s U14, U15, U16 and U17 sides all earning the chance to compete for silverware.
Making the achievement even more special is the fact that almost 80% of players across the Junior Academy play up an age group, highlighting our commitment to individual development.
The Grand Finals will be held at the Home of the Matildas in Bundoora, setting the stage for what promises to be an action-packed day as the next generation of City stars showcase their talent.
U14s
City’s youngest side will be the first in action on Sunday, taking on Essendon Royals at 9:30am.
The U14s finished fourth on the table before hitting their stride in finals.
A commanding 3-0 Elimination Final win over Western United was followed by a thrilling Preliminary Final victory against Manningham United, where City twice came from behind before storming home 4-2 to book their place in the decider.
U15s
Up next will be the U15s, who face Melbourne Victory at 11:30am in a highly anticipated Derby Grand Final.
Like the U14s, they also finished the regular season in fourth before rising to the occasion in finals. A strong first half proved enough to edge out Malvern City 3-2 in the Elimination Final, before a late strike from Karol Styczen sealed a 1-0 win over Bulleen Lions in last week’s Preliminary Final.
U16s
Our U16s were dominant across the season, finishing top of the table before showcasing their attacking firepower in a 5-2 Preliminary Final win over Malvern City after extra time.
A Thomas Nasso hat-trick led the way in that match, ensuring City earned the right to face Bulleen Lions in Sunday’s Grand Final at 1:45pm.
U17s
The U17s have also enjoyed a standout campaign, finishing top of the table before cruising to a 3-0 Preliminary Final victory over Bulleen Lions. Three first-half goals did the damage, underlining their attacking quality and defensive stability.
They now meet Melbourne Victory in a huge Grand Final at 4:15pm to close out the day.
A special day ahead
With all four Junior Academy teams reaching the Grand Final, Sunday promises to be a celebration of the entire Academy program.
It’s a reflection of the strength of City’s youth development pathway, with players and coaches continuing to deliver consistent results while embodying the Club’s football philosophy.
Fans are encouraged to get down to the Home of the Matildas on Sunday to cheer on the boys in what will be a memorable day for everyone involved!
Fixture Details
Sunday 24 August – Home of the Matildas, Bundoora
- U14 Grand Final: Essendon Royals v Melbourne City – 9:30am
- U15 Grand Final: Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City – 11:30am
- U16 Grand Final: Melbourne City v Bulleen Lions – 1:45pm
- U17 Grand Final: Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City – 4:15pm
