By Alice de Koster-Kitto & Isabelle Campbell\u00a0(22\/12\/2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n
Impetus\u2019 Alice de Koster-Kitto and Isabelle Campbell preview Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory\u2019s matchup with quotes from Michael Matricciani and Taylor Otto as well as Jeff Hopkins, Nicki Flannery<\/strong> and Taylor Ray.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Melbourne City<\/h5>\n
By Alice de Koster-Kitto<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAbove: <\/strong>Matricciani speaks to the press. Image: <\/strong>Melbourne City.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Between sporadic fixtures and travel due to AFC Women\u2019s Champions League matches, and their most recent match against Adelaide United being postponed due to an influenza outbreak, it\u2019s been a somewhat unsettled start to the season for Melbourne City, having only played four league matches, in comparison to Melbourne Victory\u2019s eight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s probably been the one thing, just the flow of league games, but it\u2019s a big match, and what we have been able to do over the last eight or nine days is put a lot of load in conditioning sessions,\u201d said head coach Michael Matricciani\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the unusual circumstances, Matricciani is confident that the squad has the capabilities to put their best foot forward and thrive on their perceived adversity during the Melbourne Derby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve worked the girls extremely hard; we\u2019re very prepared for this match,\u201d he added<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t focus on that. It\u2019s out of our control. Obviously, we had the Champions League campaign as well, which we missed a couple of games.\u201d<\/p>\n
The highly anticipated derby will be City\u2019s first time out at AAMI Park this season, and Matricciani believes that a massive home crowd, and the pressure of coming up against their most heated rival is exactly what the squad needs to get back on track, after a period of uncertainty\u00a0 \u201cI think when we play at AAMI\u00a0 Park, it\u2019s a different aura about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matricciani expressed his belief in the tactical advantage that a ground such as AAMI Park can bring to his City squad \u201cA team like us that we like to dominate the ball and move the ball around to open up gaps in the opposition, it\u2019s actually easier because it\u2019s harder for the opposition to close the spaces and cover the distance of the ground.\u201d he said, as he looks to capitalise on the teams signature dynamics.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Melbourne City defender Taylor Otto also commented on the squad\u2019s possessive tactics and their focus on perfecting their play following recent losses, and bringing their best game into the derby. \u201cI think we need to be able to close the spaces. We need to be cleaner on the ball. We need to be together more in the way that we\u2019re playing and connecting,\u201d said Otto. \u201cI think for us, really, we know the standard we want to hold. We just have to go back to the drawing board and get back to that,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a stressful thing, having an invincible season. But we\u2019ve all spoken about it like that\u2019s a very difficult thing to do, and I don\u2019t think any of us expected to do that again.\u201d said Otto, reflecting on Melbourne City\u2019s 2023\/24 \u2018invincible\u2019 season, and the expectations to bounce back, as a derby win would be the perfect opportunity to regain that confidence following recent losses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we just need to believe in ourselves a bit more, have a little bit more confidence, and know the way that we can play in the way that we have played in the past few years,\u201d added Otto<\/p>\n
There are a number of essential players who will be left out of the City squad for Tuesday\u2019s derby, with Shelby McMahon having taken a knock to the knee, and Laura Hughes recently undergoing knee surgery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Hughes and McMahon have both been instrumental in City\u2019s successes this season, the depth within the squad should be well-equipped to put on the performance they are capable of, despite notable absences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWe have depth, we have people that can play in different positions. We have all these things on our side. So I think really, we\u2019re just trying to focus on ourselves one game at a time and getting the job done,\u201d said Otto\u00a0<\/p>\n
The last time the two Melbourne sides went head to head, was in February of this year, with the battle ending in a 1-1 draw. The match was massively in favour of Victory after Rachel Lowe\u2019s 5th minute strike, but a last minute goal from former City midfielder Mariana Speckmaier evened the score. Looking back at the clashes history, and the squads current form, it might be expected that Victory will come away with the win. However given the unprecedented circumstances of irregular\u00a0 fixtures, players in and out, and an inconsistent start to the season from both sides, the derby is ultimately anyone\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it brings to the game. It\u2019s why we love this. There are these big games, and I think the league is growing. The teams are getting progressively better. These games are getting more competitive. And yeah, you never know who\u2019s gonna win. And I think it\u2019s really great for us,\u201d said Otto.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Melbourne Victory<\/h5>\n
By Isabelle Campbell<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAbove: <\/strong>Hopkins speaks to the press. Image: <\/strong>Melbourne Victory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
In contrast to Melbourne City\u2019s disrupted schedule, Melbourne Victory enter the A-League Women\u2019s Melbourne Derby with rhythm and momentum on their side, having played eight matches already this season, the most of any team in the league, and coming into the fixture off the back of consecutive wins.<\/p>\n
Amid a busy festive period and with limited preparation time between matches, head coach Jeff Hopkins said the atmosphere within the Victory camp has remained upbeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re happy. We\u2019ve had a quick turnaround. We\u2019ve had a couple of very light sessions, but very, very intense. And we had a great session this morning. Even wanted to ask to go in the gym afterwards, which just means for us, they\u2019re feeling pretty energized. And we sent them home happy after Kris Kringle.\u201d<\/p>\n
With limited time on the training pitch between matches, Hopkins believes Victory\u2019s recent form has allowed the squad to embrace the short schedule heading into the derby.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe spoke about it last week and said a lot of it depends on how you\u2019re going. We\u2019re going very, very well. The team has moved forward in a lot of areas. So we\u2019re just looking forward to playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victory\u2019s strong recent form has also been driven by their attacking unit, with forward Nicki Flannery returning from injury and opening her account for the season in the win over Newcastle. She said the momentum built over the past two matches has been key.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the short turnaround is kind of good when you have great momentum. I feel the group is very positive after the two games, especially the one against Newcastle, we felt really dominant. So hopefully we can take that in tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Flannery also highlighted the contrast in preparation between the two sides, with City having played only four matches this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think, for them, it\u2019s hard because they haven\u2019t got this momentum that we\u2019re fortunate to have this week. I think it\u2019s difficult to prepare for a derby when you\u2019ve got 10\/14 days to prepare for it. It\u2019s a lot of time to think about opposition, and how to prepare the bodies. Hopefully, if we just get in their face nice and early, they\u2019ll be a bit worried.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Victory\u2019s momentum has been evident, Hopkins remains clear on the challenge City will pose, noting their distinct style and attacking threats.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what you\u2019re going to get from City. They\u2019re a team that likes to keep possession, likes to build from the back, and play through the thirds. They\u2019ve got the ability with Holly McNamara up front, to go direct as well. So there\u2019s always that threat there. I think they play in a way that we understand. We\u2019ve played them a lot over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite City\u2019s recent league loss to Canberra, their first in 651 days, Hopkins insists Victory\u2019s focus remains inward.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest? It doesn\u2019t bother me. This is the derby, we\u2019re always up for the derby. It\u2019s always a big game for us. How they react, we can\u2019t really do anything about that. We can just react to it out on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Victory\u2019s new signings this season, Taylor Ray, said the squad is still on the hunt for consistency, particularly with players returning from injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that is the biggest thing for us. We want to build that consistency going throughout the season. I think it\u2019s been a bit of a tough one, because we\u2019ve had a lot of players coming in and out of the squad with injuries, myself included, some big names like Nicki Flannery as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ray also pointed to the importance of chemistry and communication within the group as a key focus moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the biggest thing is taking on that reflection, you know, analyzing the game and just having honest communication, owning up and taking accountability of your mistakes is the first step to getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n
With squad depth improving, Hopkins confirmed another boost ahead of the derby, with Sienna Saveska set to likely make her Victory debut.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Sienna is in the squad this week\u2026 She\u2019s probably good enough to play 45 minutes at least. So she\u2019ll be thereabouts. She\u2019s in the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Offensively, Victory\u2019s creativity has been flourishing in recent matches, with Flannery highlighting the form of her fellow forwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarly on in the year, we struggled to find the back of the net and create really clear goal scoring chances. I think in the past three games in particular, we\u2019ve had a lot of creativity up front, and that\u2019s starting to gel really nice. [Holly] Furphy has been playing out of her skin. It\u2019s really great to see that we\u2019re creating a lot of goal scoring chances and completing them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The derby, though big for all players, will be a milestone for Rhianna Pollicina, who spent four seasons at City before signing with Victory this season. Hopkins spoke about her preparation and motivation ahead of facing her former club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kind of sussed her out over the last few weeks, how much I can kind of stir the pot, but I don\u2019t think I need to at the moment. She\u2019s got her own motivations around playing City, and she\u2019s also got some really good memories of the club, so I don\u2019t want to jump in there and say too much that might go against kind of how she\u2019s preparing for the game. She\u2019s a professional. She knows how to get herself ready for the game, and I know she will perform, and she\u2019ll perform really well, even if I don\u2019t really understand that motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Victory prepare to host City, Flannery said the feeling around derby day remains unmistakable, regardless of form or fixture congestion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just the unspoken feeling of a rivalry\u2026 We just know that there\u2019s that extra bit of happiness when you do beat them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Follow\u00a0<\/em>Impetus\u00a0on social media:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/impetusfootball.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/michaelmatricciani.png?w=1024\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/impetusfootball.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/jeffhopkins-melbournevictory.png?w=1024\")