2020–21 Melbourne City FC (W-League) season

The 2019–20 season saw Melbourne City play through an undefeated season; 11 wins and 1 draw in the regular season to win their second W-League Premiership and a successful Finals series; winning the Grand Final 1–0 against Sydney FC to win their record fourth Championship. The Grand Final won by Melbourne City 1–0 against Sydney FC was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, forcing the match to be played behind closed doors.

On 22 June 2020, Kyah Simon departed Melbourne City through a mutual contract termination in pursuing overseas opportunities. On 2 July 2020, captain Steph Catley had departed the club for Women's Super League side Arsenal. It was only six days later, that former and fellow teammate Lydia Williams had joined Arsenal on 8 July 2020 along with Steph Catley. Following the end of August, another departure for Rebekah Stott occurred 28 August 2020 also for pursuing overseas opportunities.

Teagan Micah with the UCLA Bruins

The A-League and W-League calendar for the 2020–21 season was officially announced on 15 October 2020.[1] The first signing of the season occurred on 24 November 2020, with Teagan Micah joining from Norwegian club Arna-Bjørnar. Two further signings were made the day after, with Hollie Palmer and re-signed Rhali Dobson on 25 November 2020. Another double signing the day after had Leah Davidson and Julia Sardo sign with Melbourne City. The final two signings for the week had Samantha Johnson on the 27th and the return of Teigan Allen on the 28th. This full week included five new players joining the squad and one further re-signing. The full draw for the 2020–21 W-League was released on 30 November 2020;[2] the first match to be kicked off exactly a month later on 30 December away to Sydney FC in a double-header at ANZ Stadium. A further signing on that day was Tori Tumeth; former Junior Matildas player and captain.

Emma Checker with Adelaide United in 2018.

On 1 December 2020, City re-signed Chelsea Blissett for the upcoming season. The launch week of the season concluded after numerous signings for the season; the squad so far including one goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders and an attacker.[3] with further singings expected. Two days later, goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri returned to City as a playing assistant coach. Winger Tyla-Jay Vlajnic re-signed for City ahead of the season on 7 December 2020 and the signing of defender Jenna McCormick on 9 December 2020. Melbourne City announced a relocation of the club to the City of Casey and City of Greater Dandenong for a brand-new elite sporting facility of a new City Football Academy on 14 December 2020.[4]

Blissett was confirmed with a knee injury ruling her out the entire season on 17 December 2020.[5] A friendly against the Melbourne Victory was played on 19 December 2020 in preperations for the upcoming W-League campaign, resulting in a 3–3 draw via goals by Franny Iermano, Tori Tumeth and Rhali Dobson.[6] On 20 December 2020, City signed Japanese international attacker Chinatsu Kira from Urawa Reds, and re-signed defender Emma Checker the next day. A fixture update was confirmed due to COVID-19 outbreaks on 22 December 2020, forcing the opening match against Sydney FC away to ANZ Stadium to be scrapped and replaced by Brisbane Roar away at Dolphin Stadium on 29 December.[7] A further four rounds were confirmed two days later; involving back-to-back home fixtures at Frank Holohan Reserve against Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United in the space of four days.[8] The final pre-season signing occurred on 27 December 2020 with Alex Chidiac becoming the third Matildas player returning from Europe to sign for City this season.

Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park; 31 January 2021

City began their W-League campaign on 29 December against the Brisbane Roar away to Dolphin Stadium; nine of City's new signings in the starting line-up, resulting in a 0–0 draw to start off the campaign.[9] Four players were unavailable for Round 2's clash against Canberra United; Chelsea Blissett and Sofia Sakalis with torn ACLs, Alex Chidiac quarantined and Emma Checker in stress fracture.[10] City would then play their first loss of the season on 3 January, going down 2–1 to Canberra through a late winner, dropping from third to sixth place spot.[11] Due to considerable damages at Frank Holohan Reserve; the venue that was to play City's home Melbourne Derby on 10 January was moved to play at CB Smith Reserve and the away derby brought forward to play a week later on 17 January at Epping Stadium.[12] Chidiac had completed quarantine and Thomas-Chinnama promoted for City's squad against Victory on 10 January.[13] Rhali Dobson was also set to play her 100th W-League match in this home derby.[14] The home derby resulted in a 6–0 defeat, ultimately making it City's worst defeat in club history and dropping down to seventh place.[15] The next day saw the signing of Norwegian midfielder Noor Eckhoff for the remainder of the season. With the chance for redemption against the Victory the next week after the heavy defeat, City won the away derby 3–2 to record their first win of the season and move them back up a spot to sixth place.[16]

On 19 January, a double-header was announced with the women's side to play Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on 31 January.[17] Lia Muldeary and Julia Sardo were both promoted in City's squad to take on Adelaide United away on 21 January.[18] City lost to Adelaide 2–1; with a consolation goal for Checker but still falling short and dropping again to seventh place.[19] In ten days time until City's clash with Brisbane at AAMI Park, McCormick returned from injury and Eckhoff completed quarantine coming into the squad to face Brisbane, but Muldeary unavaiable due to hamstring injury.[20] The match despite City coming back to draw from 2–0 down, had Brisbane win 3–2 for another loss for City.[21] City finished their first two months of the campaign with just one win, one draw and four losses; four points total in the first six matches.

Another fixture change had City's home match against the Perth Glory, changed to play Sydney FC instead due to Perth's five-day COVID-19 lockdown.[22] Margot Robbine was another new promotion and Samantha Johnson out due to injury for City's squad to face Sydney on 4 February.[23] On the day before the match against Sydney, the match was to again not be played at Frank Holohan Reserve due to playing surface concerns and was moved to play at AAMI Park behind closed doors.[24] City lost 2–0 to Sydney with the deadlock still at half-time, but Sydney more clinical in the second half.[25] On 10 February, a venue change of City's home match against the Newcastle Jets was to move from Frank Holohan Reserve to CB Smith Reserve and to be played on 13 February.[26]

Palmer and Cain both returned from injury as well as Johnson returning from suspension, but Vlajnic out due to suspension for City's squad to face Newcastle that would have been on 13 February.[27] The match against Newcastle was postponed due to Victoria's five-day COVID-19 lockdown until 17 February.[28][29] The remaining fixtures for the campaign were released on 17 February; none of which were to be postponed.[30] After two byes since City's last match against Sydney and dropping down to eighth place, their squad to face Western Sydney Wanderers on 25 February had Muldeary return from injury and Sardo not selected.[31] City's losing streak continued with a 1–0 loss to Western Sydney keeping City at eighth place spot.[32]

With four matches remaining for City, after a bye in Round 11, proved City out of reach to the Finals series. After works from ground staff of Frank Holohan Reserve, the venue was confirmed to host two of City's home matches against the Western Sydney Wanderers on 11 March and Perth Glory on 25 March, and Kingston Heath Soccer Complex to host City's other home match on 14 March.[33] Allen returned from injury and Vlajnic returned from suspension, and Withers out due to ankle injury for City's squad to face Western Sydney on 11 March.[34] Micah prior to the match was out due to knee injury, meaning Barbieri was to start and play her first game for City since 2017. City lost again to Western Sydney; this time 0–4 at home in what would be their last loss of the season.[35]

With just three days time until City's next match at home against Newcastle, the club signed Sophia Varley on 13 March following Micah's knee injury.[36] and finally win to end their five match losing streak; 1–0 against Newcastle thanks to Kira.[37] With just Palmer promoted to City's squad to face Perth away at Dorrien Gardens on 19 March,[38] City won back-to-back matches; defeating Perth 1–0 via Dobson to move City back up to seventh place in what was also Checker's 100th W-League game.[39] For City's final match of the season this time at home to Perth, Withers returned from injury and Allen unavailable due to foot injury.[40] The day after the squad announcement, Dobson officially retired from her W-League career.[41] City won 2–1 against Perth to finish the season with three consecutive wins after five consecutive losses,[42] as well as it being Dobson's final match also involved her partner with an engagement proposal and said yes.[43]

This season resulted in City's worst season finishing seventh out of nine, with four wins, one draw and seven losses and missing out on the Finals series for just the second time in club history.

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  AUS Teagan Micah 2 DF  AUS Teigen Allen 5 DF  AUS Tori Tumeth 6 MF  NOR Noor Eckhoff 7 DF  AUS Julia Sardo 8 MF  AUS Hollie Palmer 9 MF  AUS Alex Chidiac 10 FW  JPN Chinatsu Kira 11 FW  AUS Rhali Dobson 12 FW  AUS Harriet Withers

No. Pos. Nation Player 13 MF  AUS Sarah Cain 14 MF  FRA Margot Robinne 15 DF  AUS Emma Checker 17 DF  USA Samantha Johnson 18 MF  AUS Leah Davidson 19 DF  SRB Tyla-Jay Vlajnic 20 MF  AUS Lia Muldeary 21 DF  AUS Jenna McCormick 22 DF  AUS Naomi Thomas-Chinnama 23 GK  AUS Melissa Barbieri

The league fixtures were announced on 30 November 2020.[2]

  Win   Draw   Loss

Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	W-League		Total
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Teagan Micah	8	0	8	0
2	DF		Teigen Allen	4+2	0	6	0
5	DF		Tori Tumeth	11+1	0	12	0
6	MF		Noor Eckhoff	7	0	7	0
7	DF		Julia Sardo	0+2	0	2	0
8	MF		Hollie Palmer	8	0	8	0
9	MF		Alex Chidiac	9+1	3	10	3
10	FW		Chinatsu Kira	10+1	1	11	1
11	FW		Rhali Dobson	8+4	2	12	2
12	FW		Harriet Withers	4+4	1	8	1
13	MF		Sarah Cain	3+3	0	6	0
14	MF		Margot Robinne	2+3	0	5	0
15	DF		Emma Checker	8+1	1	9	1
17	DF		Samantha Johnson	8+3	1	11	1
18	MF		Leah Davidson	12	0	12	0
19	DF		Tyla-Jay Vlajnic	11	0	11	0
20	MF		Lia Muldeary	0+4	0	4	0
21	DF		Jenna McCormick	10	1	10	1
22	DF		Naomi Thomas-Chinnama	5+1	0	6	0
23	GK		Melissa Barbieri	4	0	4	0

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.

Rank	No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	W-League			Total
1	19	DF		Tyla-Jay Vlajnic	1	0	1	1	0	1
2	17	DF		Samantha Johnson	5	0	0	5	0	0
3	5	DF		Tori Tumeth	2	0	0	2	0	0
	21	DF		Jenna McCormick	2	0	0	2	0	0
5	1	GK		Teagan Micah	1	0	0	1	0	0
	2	DF		Teigen Allen	1	0	0	1	0	0
	6	MF		Noor Eckhoff	1	0	0	1	0	0
	9	MF		Alex Chidiac	1	0	0	1	0	0
	10	FW		Chinatsu Kira	1	0	0	1	0	0
	11	FW		Rhali Dobson	1	0	0	1	0	0
	12	FW		Harriet Withers	1	0	0	1	0	0
	15	DF		Emma Checker	1	0	0	1	0	0
	18	MF		Leah Davidson	1	0	0	1	0	0
	20	MF		Lia Muldeary	1	0	0	1	0	0
	22	DF		Naomi Thomas-Chinnama	1	0	0	1	0	0
Total					21	0	1	21	0	1

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.

Rank	No.	Nat.	Goalkeeper	W-League	Total
1	23		Melissa Barbieri	2	2
2	1		Teagan Micah	1	1
Total				3	3