Melina Ayres

Melina Ayres (born 13 April 1999) is an Australian football (soccer) player, who plays for Newcastle Jets. She has previously played for Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.

Melina Ayres
Personal information
Full name Melina Ayres
Date of birth (1999-04-13) 13 April 1999
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Newcastle Jets
Number 14
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Melbourne City 16 (2)
2016 Alamein FC 25 (23)
2017–2018 South Melbourne 55 (82)
2017–2023 Melbourne Victory 53 (16)
2022 → Breiðablik (loan) 9 (2)
2023– Newcastle Jets 0 (0)
International career‡
2016– Australia U20 6 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 October 2017

WNPL

In 2017, Ayres signed for her junior club South Melbourne FC after spending the previous WNPL Victoria season at Alamein FC.[1] Ayres went on to sign for South Melbourne the following year.[2]

Club career

Melbourne City, 2015–2017

In September 2015 at age 16, Ayres signed with Melbourne City for the 2015–16 season playing primarily in a striker position.[3][4] She scored her first goal for the club during injury time of the team's inaugural match against Sydney FC solidifying the 6–0 win.[5]

Melbourne Victory, 2017–2023

On 22 September, Ayres joined Melbourne Victory on a one-year deal. Highlights of her 2017/2018 season include a stunning goal against Melbourne City FC in round 11 when she won the ball from Alanna Kennedy and chipped Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams from close to halfway. Just one week earlier, Ayres scored another cracker of a strike against ladder leaders Brisbane Roar. With no clear options on hand, Ayres hit a right foot rocket past Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold into the top right bin, leaving the keeper with no chance.[6] In October 2020, Ayres signed a three-year extension with Melbourne Victory.[7] In August 2023, Ayres departed the club.[8]

Breiðablik, 2022

In April 2022, Ayres joined Breiðablik of the Icelandic Besta-deild kvenna on a loan from Melbourne Victory.[9]

Newcastle Jets, 2023–

In August 2023, Ayres joined Newcastle Jets.[10]

International career

Ayres played in Malaysia for the under-16 national team. Ayres was called up to the Australian under-20 squad for the 2016 AFF Women's Championship in July 2016 held in Myanmar.[11]

Personal life

Ayres is currently studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Deakin University.[12]

Honours

Individual
  • Women's National Premier League Golden Boot: (24 goals) 2016
  • Women's National Premier League Golden Boot: (40 goals) 2017

See also

References
  1. Kouroumalis, George (13 February 2017). "South sign Golden Boot Winner & U20 International Melina Ayres". South Melbourne. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  2. Fulton, Skip (12 January 2018). "Ayres re-signs for 2018 season". South Melbourne. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  3. "City Announces New Westfield W-League Signings". Melbourne City. 16 October 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  4. "Victorian contingent set to take on nation". Football Federation Victoria. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  5. "Melbourne City thumps Sydney FC 6-0 to underline W-League favouritism". ABC. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  6. "Ayres bolsters attacking options". Melbourne Victory. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  7. "Melina Ayres signs new three-year deal". Melbourne Victory. 27 October 2020.
  8. "Melina Ayres departs Melbourne Victory". Melbourne Victory. 23 August 2023.
  9. Runólfur Trausti Þórhallsson (13 April 2022). "Ástralskur framherji til liðs við Breiðablik". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  10. "Newcastle Jets sign Melina Ayres". Newcastle Jets. 24 August 2023.
  11. Turner, David (21 July 2016). "Gifted striker Melina Ayres heads to Myanmar with the Young Matildas". Progress Leader.
  12. "Elite Athlete Program Profiles". Deakin University. Retrieved 27 August 2023.


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