Melbourne Victory’s Westfield W-League team will play Canberra United before the Hyundai A-League derby against Melbourne City as part of a blockbuster double header at Etihad Stadium in October.
The Westfield W-League title holders can hope for a significant turnout when they stage a curtain-raising clash against the 2011-12 champions from the ACT.
A season-best crowd of 45,202 attended the Round 1 Melbourne derby last season.
That eagerly anticipated game has been pushed back to Round 3 in the 2014-15 fixture, meaning the Westfield W-League match is sure to benefit from what will be huge interest in the first encounter between a new-look City side with David Villa, Damien Duff and Robert Koren in their ranks and a Victory team boasting new recruits Besart Berisha and Carl Valeri.
“To play a double header in front of the men is awesome and hopefully it will help the league grow and help women’s football grow,” Victory Women’s goalkeeper Brianna Davey told reporters on Wednesday.
Victory stalwart Adrian Leijer echoed the sentiments of his club colleague and believes the fixture could provide an important boost to women’s football in Australia.
“It’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s before a massive Melbourne derby so it’s fantastic for the girls to get the opportunity to play before the men.
“Women’s football in this country’s come a long way…
“The more this happens; it’s going to continue to grow.”
Melbourne Victory memberships for the upcoming Hyundai A-League season are now on sale! Click here for more information and to sign up today.
