Melbourne City continues a busy period of Ninja A-League action on Tuesday night with a trip north to face Brisbane Roar, marking the first of a two-game road stretch in the space of four days.
The short turnaround comes as something of a blessing for City, who will be eager to quickly move on from a disappointing result last time out and refocus on securing an important three points against the Roar. With matches coming thick and fast and the ladder beginning to tighten, Tuesday’s clash shapes as a valuable opportunity to respond in the best possible way.
Here are a few of the key storylines heading into Tuesday night.
Moving on quickly
After enjoying a blistering run of four consecutive wins across late December and early January, our momentum was halted last Friday with a frustrating home defeat to Newcastle Jets.
After the visitors opened the scoring, Holly McNamara levelled things up from the penalty spot to give us a lifeline, but it ultimately wasn’t enough as the Jets struck twice in quick succession to seal the points.
It marked the first time in 10 months that we’d conceded three goals in a single match, underlining just how uncharacteristic the defensive performance was.
Now with that result firmly in the rear-view mirror, we’ll be determined to show a response when we return to the pitch on Tuesday night. Head Coach Michael Matricciani will be looking for a return to our trademark defensive resilience, while also demanding greater composure in key moments as we aim to reassert ourselves against a Brisbane side always tough to face at home.
A young gun returns to the squad
There’s a timely boost on the selection front with Shelby McMahon set to return to the matchday squad for the first time in 2026. The 17-year-old began the season in fine form, scoring four goals across seven appearances in all competitions before a knee injury in mid-December sidelined her for several weeks.
While McMahon is unlikely to be rushed straight back into the starting XI, her availability provides a valuable attacking option off the bench as we manage minutes carefully across a congested run of fixtures.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news for City on the injury front, with Danella Butrus ruled out of the extended away trip after suffering a concussion. Her absence will force at least one change to the XI, and Bryleeh Henry looms as a likely replacement after making three consecutive substitute appearances since returning from a back injury.
A week on the road
It’s a significant week ahead for City, with two away games packed into the space of just four days. Following Tuesday night’s clash in Brisbane, the squad will travel straight to Perth to begin preparations for Saturday night’s meeting with the Glory.
While the schedule is demanding, it also offers a valuable opportunity for the group to spend extended time together away from home, building cohesion during a crucial stretch of the season. The aim is simple: take maximum points from a challenging road trip and return to Melbourne with renewed momentum.
Still holding games in hand over every team in the competition except Tuesday’s opponents, City remains well placed as we begin to play our catch-up fixtures over the coming weeks. With the ladder gradually reaching parity, every result now carries extra weight, and we’ll be looking to continue banking positive outcomes as we push to stay firmly in the Premiership conversation.
Fixture Details
Ninja A-League: Round 8
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City FC
Tuesday 20 January, 8:00pm (AEDT)
Spencer Park
Watch live via 10 streaming or Paramount+
