2018–19 Melbourne Victory FC (W-League) season

The 2018–19 Melbourne Victory W-League season was the club's eleventh season in the W-League, the premier competition for women's football in Australia. The team played home games at Epping Stadium, Lakeside Stadium and AAMI Park. The club's head coach for the season was Jeff Hopkins.

Melbourne Victory W-League
2018–19 season
Head coachJeff Hopkins
W-League1st
Top goalscorerNatasha Dowie (6 goals)

Background

The Victory entered the season having missed out on the final series in the previous three years. In 2017–18, while they had improved defensively, they only finished a point off last place. Media predictions had them finishing in the top four in 2018–19, with former player Gülcan Koca suggesting they could win the premiership/championship double.[1][2][3][4]

W-League
Main article: 2018–19 W-League

Regular season

The Victory opened their campaign with a match against Adelaide United at AAMI Park. Despite having 60 percent of possession, they were not able to convert any of their 21 shots at goal.[5]

Playing Newcastle Jets on 1 November at Lakeside Stadium, the Victory took an early lead with Melina Ayres scoring a long-range goal after seven minutes. Natasha Dowie made the score 2–0 in the 11th minute before Cortnee Vine pulled a goal back for the Jets a minute later.[6][7]

The Victory match against Canberra United on 17 January at Seiffert Oval in Queanbeyan was abandoned after 16 minutes due to lightning. A rematch was scheduled for 5 February at McKellar Park in Canberra.[8][9]

A 2–1 victory over Perth Glory at Dorrien Gardens secured the club's first W-League premiership. The Victory entered the match needing a point to win the trophy after Brisbane Roar were unexpectedly defeated.[10][11]

The makeup game against Canberra United at McKellar Park on 5 January was delayed for 35 minutes due to lightning. Victory rested several first-choice players in preparation for the semi-final five days later. The match ended 0–0 and the Victory were awarded the Premier's Plate after the match.[12]

DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendanceRefereeRefs
28 October 2018Adelaide UnitedHome0–02,714Isabella Blaess[5][13][14]
1 November 2018Newcastle JetsHome2–1Ayres, Dowie713Rachel Mitchenson[7][15][16]
16 November 2018Melbourne CityAway2–0Nairn, Gielnik1,619Kate Jacewicz[17][18][19]
24 November 2018Sydney FCAway3–2Dowie (3)5,540Rachel Mitchenson[20][21][22]
2 December 2018Western Sydney WanderersHome2–1Dowie, Nairn593Isabella Blaess[23][24][25]
16 December 2018Brisbane RoarAway3–4Nairn, Dowie, Gielnik1,045Katie Patterson[26][27][28]
21 December 2018Adelaide UnitedAway2–3Mastrantonio, Alleway902Katie Patterson[29][30][31]
28 December 2018Perth GloryHome2–1Dowie (2)7,163Rachel Mitchenson[32][33][34]
5 January 2019Melbourne CityHome1–0Nairn1,265Lara Lee[35][36][37]
27 January 2019Sydney FCHome2–2Gielnik, Dowie784Katie Patterson[38][39][40]
1 February 2019Perth GloryAway2–1Nairn, Gielnik1,110Georgia Ghirardello[10][11][41]
5 February 2019Canberra UnitedAway0–01,546Isabella Blaess[9][42][43][44]

Finals
DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendanceRefereeRefs
10 February 2019Perth GloryHome2–4 (a.e.t)Nairn, Maher8,599Rachel Mitchenson[45][46][47]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Melbourne Victory 12 7 3 2 21 15 +6 24 Qualification to Finals series and 2019 AFC Women's Club Championship
2 Brisbane Roar 12 6 2 4 18 17 +1 20 Qualification to Finals series
3 Sydney FC (C) 12 6 1 5 28 19 +9 19
4 Perth Glory 12 5 4 3 28 20 +8 19
5 Melbourne City 12 6 1 5 20 15 +5 19
6 Adelaide United 12 5 3 4 17 19 −2 18
7 Newcastle Jets 12 5 1 6 18 21 −3 16
8 Canberra United 12 3 4 5 13 18 −5 13
9 Western Sydney Wanderers 12 1 1 10 11 30 −19 4
Source: W-League Ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
12 7 3 2 21 15  +6 24 4 2 0 9 5  +4 3 1 2 12 10  +2

Last updated: 5 February 2019.
Source: Competitive Matches

Results by round
Round1234567891011121314
GroundHHAAHBAAHHBAHA
ResultDWWWW✖LLWW✖DDW
Position63111112111111
Updated to match(es) played on 5 February 2019. Source: Competitive Matches
A = Away; H = Home; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Players

Squad information

Updated 27 October 2018.[48] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Australia AUS Casey Dumont
3 DF Australia AUS Teigen Allen
4 DF Australia AUS Alexandra Gummer
5 DF Australia AUS Laura Alleway
6 DF Australia AUS Annabelle Martin
7 MF United States USA Christine Nairn
8 DF Australia AUS Angie Beard
9 FW England ENG Natasha Dowie (captain)
10 FW Australia AUS Kyra Cooney-Cross
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 MF Australia AUS MelindaJ Barbieri
14 FW Australia AUS Melina Ayres
15 MF Australia AUS Emily Gielnik
16 DF United States USA Samantha Johnson
17 MF United States USA Dani Weatherholt
18 MF Australia AUS Grace Maher
19 MF Australia AUS Lia Privitelli
20 GK Australia AUS Bethany Mason-Jones
21 MF Australia AUS Ella Mastrantonio

Transfers in
No.
 Pos.
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 Moving from
 Type
 Transfer
window		 Ends
 Transfer
fee		 Source
15 FW Australia Emily Gielnik 26 Brisbane Roar Transfer Pre-season [49]
18 MF Australia Grace Maher 19 Canberra United Transfer Pre-season [50]
21 MF Australia Ella Mastrantonio 26 unattached Signed Pre-season [51]
17 FW United States Dani Weatherholt 24 United States Orlando Pride Loan Pre-season [52]
7 MF United States Christine Nairn 28 United States Orlando Pride Loan Pre-season [52]
16 DF United States Samantha Johnson 27 United States Utah Royals FC Loan Pre-season [53]
3 DF Australia Teigen Allen 24 Sydney FC Transfer Pre-season [54]

Transfers out
N
 Pos.
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 Moving to
 Type
 Transfer
window		 Transfer
fee		 Source
19 DF United States Kristen McNabb 24 United States Seattle Reign Loan return Pre-season [55]
31 DF United States Christina Gibbons 22 United States Sky Blue FC Loan return Pre-season [55]
17 MF Turkey Gülcan Koca 28 Retired Pre-season [56]
7 FW South Korea Jeon Ga-eul 30 South Korea Hwacheon KSPO WFC Transfer Pre-season [57]

References
  1. Bacic, Angela; Appleton, Molly (1 December 2018). "Watch this space". Inside Sport. pp. 74–77.
  2. Harrington, Anna (25 October 2018). "W-League teams, 2018/19 season, squads, fixture, players to watch, Matildas, TV, live stream". Fox Sports. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. Comito, Matthew (13 November 2019). "Melbourne Victory Westfield W-League season preview: Defending Premiers aim to 'bring everything home'". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  4. Christian-Wilkes, Angela (22 October 2018). "Season 11 preview: Melbourne Victory". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  5. Clement, Tim (6 September 2018). "Adelaide end clean sheet wait as Victory rue missed chances". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. "Melbourne Victory Women vs Newcastle Jets Women, Westfield W-League, Round 2, 1st Nov 2018". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  7. "Ayres screamer helps Victory ground Jets". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  8. Writer, Winona (17 January 2019). "Seiffert storm delays start to round 12". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  9. Flynn, Allyson (6 February 2019). "Canberra finish W-League season with a draw". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  10. "A hurdle cleared but for Victory bigger prize awaits". The Sunday Age. Fairfax Media. 3 February 2019.
  11. Unwin, Dominic (6 September 2018). "History-making Victory seal Premiership after fiery win over Glory". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  12. Tiernan, Eamonn (5 February 2019). "Canberra United hold premiers to finish season unbeaten at home". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  13. Davutovic, David (29 October 2018). "Slow start for Melbourne W-League sides". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. p. 46.
  14. Briggs, Daniel (29 October 2018). "Victory fail to convert chances". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. p. 44.
  15. Lordanic, Marissa (1 November 2018). "Victory Secure First Win". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  16. Unwin, Dominic (1 November 2018). "Ayres screamer earns Victory first win of the season". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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  23. Lordanic, Marissa (2 December 2018). "Wanderers score but fall to Victory". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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  25. Seroukas, John (6 September 2018). "Melbourne Victory Women vs Western Sydney Wanderers FC Women, Westfield W-League, Round 5, 2nd Dec 2018". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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  27. Bacic, Angela (16 December 2018). "Wet and windy match ends Victory's streak". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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  29. Lau, Chloe (21 December 2018). "A more eventful encounter! Adelaide shock Victory". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  30. Migliaccio, Val (21 December 2018). "United score nervy win over Victory". The Advertiser. Adelaide: News Corp Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  31. Unwin, Dominic (6 September 2018). "Adelaide United Women vs Melbourne Victory Women, Westfield W-League, Round 8, 21st Dec 2018". W-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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  34. Christian-Wilkes, Angela (28 December 2018). "Victory tighten grip on first". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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