A huge milestone is coming up this weekend for a fan favourite not just at Melbourne City, but across the whole A-League Women competition.
Rebekah Stott will this Sunday make her 100th A-League Women appearance in a do-or-die Preliminary Final against her former side, Melbourne Victory.
Stott is already City’s all-time A-League Women appearance leader, and is now set to join an illustrious club when she runs out onto AAMI Park this Sunday.
The 28-year-old’s journey in the competition began in Brisbane, where she first got her start in the league as a train-on player with the Roar.
Stott, along with a team featuring plenty of Matildas, was coached by Jeff Hopkins in what was her first taste of the then W-League. In an interesting twist, Hopkins, now coaching at Victory, will be leading the charge to spoil her 100 game party on Sunday afternoon.
Following her time in the sunshine state, a move to Melbourne to join Sunday’s opponents came, with Stott making 25 appearances in her time at City’s crosstown rivals.
“Making the move to Melbourne and getting more game time and really being able to show what I could do in the league was really cool,” Stott said.
“It was just great for my development and growth, and I really enjoyed the whole journey.”
Stott then joined City for the 2015/16 season and that move immediately proved to be a successful one.
“I think the first season, the invincible season, that was just really special,” she said.
“I was actually just talking to Aivi Luik about how good that was and how much we miss those times.”
With 74 appearances, four Championships and two Premierships across her time at the Club, Stott has seen plenty of great moments – but still it’s playing with her friends that are among the best memories she has.
“Playing with Steph (Catley) for a good couple of years was a really big highlight,” Stott said.
“She’s one of my best friends and it was so fun with her, we’d always have a great time on the field and in training.
“I’ve had the chance to play with a lot of my really good friends which has been great.
“Now to have the opportunity a few years later to have some success with a new team is just pretty special.”
Reaching 100 games in the A-League Women is no mean feat, but Stott, of course, has overcome so much than your average player would. She successfuly beat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last year and has been a key part of City’s line-up in her return to professional football this season.
Her minutes steadily built up over the course of the season and her impact on the line-up has been huge, providing plenty of experience and a steady head in the middle of the park.
“It’s been tough physically,” she said.
“My body has changed so much, so I’m still trying to get back to where I was.
“I’m stoked that I’ve been able to run out the 90 minutes but it’s still a work in progress.”
Looking ahead to a huge Preliminary Final on Sunday, Stott and her teammates are eager to get out onto AAMI Park after a disappointing result last weekend.
“I’m really excited, it should be a good game and there’s just so much on the line,” she said.
“We’ll do everything we can to win our way into the Grand Final and hopefully we can get another crack at Sydney.”
You won’t want to miss Stott’s 100th appearance and a huge Preliminary Final this Sunday at AAMI Park. Click here to get your tickets!
