The countdown to our Ninja A-League season is getting shorter by the minute, and there’s plenty happening as we get closer to launching our Premiership and Championship defence this weekend.
Along with some fresh looks in the squad list, we’ve also added a handful of exciting young talents to the first-team group ahead of the new campaign.
New faces join the squad
Five City Academy products have earned opportunities with the first team for the 2026/27 season after impressing across our NPLW program.
Defender Chelsea Biggs has signed a scholarship contract for the upcoming campaign, while midfielder Layla Habib, goalkeepers Dali Gorr Burchmore and Gemma Radipitse, and defender Keira Sarris join the squad on youth development agreements.
It’s another exciting step in the pathway for the group, with Gorr Burchmore and Sarris already having been part of the first-team squad last season.
Sarris made her professional debut in the AFC Women’s Champions League in November last year, while Gorr Burchmore will be looking to build further experience in the first-team environment.
New numbers, familiar faces
Our newest Matildas have wasted no time locking in some prominent numbers.
Cortnee Vine will take over the famous number nine shirt, following Holly McNamara’s move to Everton in the Women’s Super League, while Jessika Nash will wear number four.
Momo Hayashi has selected number eight for her first season in City blue, with fellow new midfielder Avaani Prakash taking number 10.
And then there’s Melina Ayres.
Returning to the Club where she first made her professional debut, Ayres will once again wear number 14 – the same shirt she wore during her first stint in Melbourne.
It’s a nice full-circle moment for our newest returning City star, who now gets the chance to create a whole new chapter in the same number.
A new season awaits
With the squad now close to complete, the focus turns firmly towards the new campaign.
Our Premiership and Championship defence begins across the ditch this Sunday, when we travel to face Wellington Phoenix.
Check out the full 2026/27 squad numbers below and get ready to see plenty of familiar faces – and a few new ones – in City blue!
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2026/27 Women’s Squad Numbers
| # | PLAYER |
| 3 | Danielle Turner |
| 4 | Jessika Nash |
| 5 | Aimee Medwin |
| 8 | Momo Hayashi |
| 9 | Cortnee Vine |
| 10 | Avaani Prakash |
| 11 | Deven Jackson |
| 12 | Shelby McMahon |
| 13 | Rebekah Stott |
| 14 | Melina Ayres |
| 15 | Tully Heatley |
| 16 | Karly Roestbakken |
| 17 | Kaya Jugovic |
| 19 | Keira Sarris |
| 20 | Kelli McGroarty |
| 21 | Aideen Keane |
| 22 | Taylor Ray |
| 23 | Melissa Barbieri |
| 24 | Malena Mieres |
| 25 | Dali Gorr Burchmore |
| 26 | Izabella Rako |
| 27 | Chelsea Biggs |
| 28 | Gemma Radipitse |
| 29 | Layla Habib |
