An injury to first-choice Melbourne City goalkeeper Bárbara in the build-up to Saturday’s Liberty A-League title decider has paved the way for Matildas legend Melissa Barbieri to make history as the oldest Grand Finalist in the competition’s history.
It’s incredible to think that the 44-year-old goalkeeper had never played in a Liberty A-League Grand Final across a career that has spanned more than a quarter of a century but finally, that streak is over.
Barbieri was selected to start against Sydney FC by City coach Dario Vidosic in Saturday’s Liberty A-League Grand Final, replacing Bárbara who succumbed to a quad injury in the build-up to the showpiece event at AAMI Park.
Barbieri is now officially the oldest player to have featured in a Liberty A-League Grand Final, eclipsing the previous record by eight years. Matildas great Lisa De Vanna held the record after featuring for Melbourne Victory’s 2021 Grand Final triumph at 36 years years of age.
CHAMPIONS! Sydney FC make history with Liberty A-League Grand Final triumph
Barbieri’s very first Grand Final appearance was not the only special story in the City squad on Saturday afternoon. With Bárbara ruled out, City announced Emily Shields had signed for the club on an injury replacement contract, coming out of retirement to take a place in City’s Grand Final squad after calling time on her professional career in September, 2022.
