Melbourne City captain Rebekah Stott is confident her side is ready for another big season as the reigning Ninja A-League Women’s Champions prepare to kick off their 2026/27 campaign.
City will begin its title defence away to Wellington Phoenix on Sunday 18 October, in a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Grand Final.
Following a memorable Premiership-Championship double in 2025/26, City enters the new campaign with a refreshed squad after a busy off-season that saw several players depart and a host of exciting new faces arrive.
Despite the changes, Stott believes the team is coming together well ahead of Round 1.
“Yeah, we’re excited,” she said. “It’s definitely going to be different. We’ve lost a lot of players, but we’ve also gained some really talented young players and more experienced players as well. So it’s exciting and I think we’re looking pretty good.”
Among the new arrivals are Matildas star Cortnee Vine, experienced attacker Melina Ayres and fellow Australian internationals Taylor Ray and Jessika Nash, as well as versatile midfielder Momo Hayashi, adding plenty of quality to City’s squad.
Stott has been impressed by how quickly the new recruits have settled into the group, with the squad continuing to build connections throughout pre-season.
“Yeah really good [on how they’ve settled]. I think every player that’s come in is really taken to what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to achieve this year and it’s been really good.”
Vine’s arrival has been one of the biggest talking points of City’s off-season, with the World Cup hero set to add another attacking threat to the reigning Champions.
Having previously faced Vine as an opponent, Stott is looking forward to having the dynamic winger on her side this season.
“I think she can bring her experience, and obviously on the field, her speed down the wing is going to be great for us. Her hitting crosses to Mel [Ayres] is going to be unreal for us.”
While City will enter the new season with a target on its back following last season’s success, Stott says the Club’s ambitions remain unchanged.
After securing a third consecutive Premiership and completing the double last season, the captain is determined to see her side competing for silverware once again, with eyes also firmly on AFC Women’s Champions League success.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s the same for us at the start of the season, we set out [our goals],” she said. “We want to win three trophies and you know that’s our goal. But we don’t talk about it every week. We just focus on what we can control. And week in, week out every game that comes at us. So that’s the focus once again.”
“I think we’ve built a lot of cohesion in the team already, and I think we’re in a good place.”
City will face an immediate test in Round 1, travelling to New Zealand to take on Wellington Phoenix in a rematch of the 2026 Grand Final, where City claimed a 3-1 win at AAMI Park to secure the Championship.
The clash will kick off at 10:15am AEDT on Sunday 18 October at HNRY Stadium, as City looks to begin its title defence on a winning note.
