Melbourne City FC will open the 2022/23 A-League Men’s season on Friday night when it hosts Western United in a Grand Final re-match.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s men will be eager to put what was a disappointing 2021/22 decider behind them and begin the new season on the right note in what will be a battle between the reigning Premiers and Champions.
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Friday night is shaping up as a huge one not just in terms of another season getting underway – but a much-loved member of the City family, our skipper Scott Jamieson, is set to make his 300th A-Leagues appearance.
He’ll become just the sixth player in league history to do so, adding another remarkable achievement to what has been an outstanding career.
With a long pre-season in their legs, expect to see a revitalised City line-up at AAMI Park on Friday, with several new faces on track to make their first competitive appearances for the club.
A pair of internationals for their respective nations, Thomas Lam (Finland) and Valon Berisha (Kosovo) both saw plenty of game-time in the team’s last two pre-season friendlies.
Fellow new foreigner Richard van der Venne also got his first match minutes with his new teammates in the team’s final pre-season friendly, so there’s a good chance all three make their competitive City debuts.
Perhaps an almost forgotten new signing given the announcement came during last season’s Finals Series, Callum Talbot is another who will be eyeing a City debut.
Kisnorbo is set to be faced with a tough call throughout the season in regard to the right-back spot, with Talbot and Scott Galloway both staking good claims to be starters.
All of the usual suspects have been tracking along well, so expect to see the likes of Jamie Maclaren, Mathew Leckie, Andrew Nabbout and Marco Tilio heavily involved in the final third come Friday night.
Although City enjoyed a period of dominance over Western from the third Victorian sides inception into the league, the script has flipped with Kisnorbo’s men now eyeing a first win in five meetings.
Match Details
Izuzu UTE A-League: Round 1
Melbourne City FC v Western United
Friday 7 October, 7:45pm kick-off
AAMI Park
