It’s less than two months until our City Women return to the pitch as we close in on the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League.
There’s been a flurry of exciting new signings joining the club in recent weeks, alongside several stars re-signing and a few who of course had already committed to multi-year contracts.
Read on below to ensure you’re up to speed with who you’ll be seeing in City blue this season!
2024/25 SQUAD SO FAR…
Alexia APOSTALAKIS, Leah DAVIDSON, Cariel ELLIS, Bryleeh HENRY, Laura HUGHES, Leticia McKENNA, Shelby McMAHON, Holly McNAMARA, Kiera MEYERS, Malena MIERES, Emilia MURRAY, Taylor OTTO, Rhianna POLLICINA, Karly ROESTBAKKEN, Mariana SPECKMAIER, Rebekah STOTT, Sophia VARLEY.
Stay tuned for a few more exciting signing announcements as we get closer to the AFC Women’s Champions League!
GOALKEEPERS
Malena Mieres will be aiming to claim the number 1 jersey this season as the former Real Betis shot-stopper makes the move to Melbourne for her debut season down under.
Sophia Varley remains with the Club and will be hoping for a clean bill of health to allow her to push for more opportunities after an ankle injury caused an early end to her 2023/24 season.
DEFENDERS
Rebekah Stott and Taylor Otto will again be making things tough for opposition attacks with our star defensive duo locked in for another campaign.
The signing of Young Matilda, Alexia Apostolakis, bolsters the defensive stocks, while Karly Roestbakken will be looking to build on her brilliant 2023/24 season.
The Club can also confirm that Tijan McKenna and Leia Varley have both departed City following the conclusion of their one-year contracts.
MIDFIELDERS
The usual suspects of Rhianna Pollicina, Leah Davidson, Leticia McKenna and Laura Hughes will all be back in City blue, while Junior Matilda Kiera Meyers will continue to develop as she eyes more minutes.
After bursting onto the scene last season, Shelby McMahon will be looking to cement herself as a regular in the starting XI after re-signing for three years earlier this week.
There will be plenty of consistency in the middle of the park this season, with Young Matilda, Emilia Murray, the only new midfield signing to date.
FORWARDS
While it is still early days in terms of the build-up to the 2024/25 A-League Women’s season, it’s going to be hard to find a more dynamic attack around the league.
Holly McNamara will provide a huge boost when the 2021/22 Young Footballer of the Year returns from her ACL injury, but there will be no need for her to rush with a host of attacking firepower joining the Club.
Venezuelan international, Mariana Speckmaier, looks set for another huge campaign in what will be her first in City colours, but will face competition for the starting striker spot in the form of fellow new signing, Cariel Ellis.
While she may once again be used as a defender as we saw in the backend of last season, Bryleeh Henry is also a proven attacking threat as she returns for her third season in Melbourne.
With City’s strong depth in midfield, Emilia Murray also may see more opportunities on the wing, a position she is more than capable in.
