Our City Women got their season off to a winning start with a strong performance away in Canberra, ending with a 1-0 result thanks to a Holly McNamara stunner.
Rado Vidosic’s squad will on Sunday play their first game at home, taking on Victory in a huge Melbourne Derby. Click here to get your tickets!
Here’s what to keep an eye out for in this clash:
A Melbourne Derby with extra feeling in it
There’s no doubt about the increased intensity and pressure of a Melbourne Derby atmosphere normally, but this upcoming meeting between the teams looks to have the perfect recipe for some added feeling when the players take to the pitch on Sunday.
With both teams winning their opening games of the new campaign, this will be a high-stakes clash in spite of the fixture’s early position in the season schedule, with both sides determined to prove they’ve got what it takes to do some damage comes Finals time.
Additionally, whilst we’ve seen many players turn out in both of Melbourne’s footballing shades of blue, there are some very recent additions to that group in Harriet Withers and Alex Chidiac, who will both feature for Victory in 2021/22 following their time with City last season. This no doubt adds an additional fiery element to the clash between players who not too long ago were sharing the same dressing room.
Throw in the fact that this will be played as a standalone fixture at AAMI Park, where we could see an even bigger Melbourne Derby crowd than usual, and we’re sure that there will be a cauldron-like atmosphere at the venue come Sunday.
The McNamara-Wilkinson connection
City’s front two from Round 1 were thoroughly impressive on their club debut and proved to be the difference as Holly McNamara netted the winner for her side with a curling effort that stunned fans back home.
Equally as important for City on the night, however, was Hannah Wilkinson, who showed her quality for the entire 90 minutes with some strong hold-up play and marked technical prowess when on the ball.
The pair fit very different striker moulds, with Wilkinson a prominent aerial presence in addition to excelling at hold-up play, whilst McNamara’s youthful tenacity and speed makes her a lively, uncontainable presence inside the final third.
Together, their complementary skill sets could continue to make for a winning combination this season and fans should keep an eye on how City’s front two fare in Sunday’s Derby.
Stott’s presence at the base of midfield
Besides fans being overjoyed to see Rebekah Stott back on the pitch and back in City blue, those watching on at home would also have marvelled at her impact on the game from defensive midfield in City’s season opener against Canberra United.
Known primarily for her central defensive work, Stott was employed instead as a defensive midfielder on Friday night and impressed both with her disruptive tackling and creative passing to release our wide players and front two into space, even setting up shooting opportunities inside the opposition penalty area.
Whilst Stott’s quality has always been known to City fans, the versatility with which she can apply that footballing prowess makes for a valuable asset for Rado Vidosic and an exciting prospect for fans watching on in the stands or at home and should again be monitored when she faces her former side this Sunday.
