In the history books, Melina Ayres only made four appearances last Liberty A-League season.
But those four times she stepped on the pitch will be remembered fondly in the minds of Melbourne Victory and A-League Women’s supporters everywhere as the 23-year-old striker helped spark an unlikely run from fourth to back-to-back Championships.
The reason, however, there were only four appearances and not more was due to a series of constant hamstring setbacks that delayed her season debut until the final game of the season against Canberra United.
Before the joy of winning a Championship, there were the days of constant frustration.
“It was pretty frustrating because I did at the start of pre-season and then I did it two more times,” Ayres told KEEPUP as she reflected on last season.
“So like the reoccurring, doing it more than once is frustrating because you know what you’ve been through and have to do it again… and then it’s sort of hard to trust your body when you are coming back and when you do that first sprint back it is pretty scary because you just don’t want to do it again.”
Ayres watched on from the sidelines as Victory endured a difficult season riddled by Covid delays, more injuries to key players including captain Kayla Morrison, and a slew of games in February that saw Jeff Hopkins’ side play eight games in a month.
The cards were stacked firmly against the reigning champions, who were hanging on to a place in the top four by the time Ayres returned for all-important clash with the side from the capital.
But some perspective helped Ayres through the difficult time, understanding that she had the chance to return while Morrison – who suffered a season-ending ACL tear – was unable to return in time for the finals.
“It was tough watching the girls last year especially because it was just such a tough slog for them and they put in so much,” Ayres said.
“They got results out of a few games that we probably shouldn’t have and they just dug so deep. Me and Kayla (Morrison) were watching on and I was thinking: ‘it could be worse’.
“Kayla is out for the whole season and I could get back for finals so it was a bit of positives and negatives, pros and cons I guess. I’m injured and watching but it’s not the end of the world sort of thing.”
And when Ayres came back, her impact was nothing short of memorable.
Ayres’ return game for Victory ended in a goalless draw against Canberra, which secured the fourth and final finals berth by literally the width of the post ahead of Perth Glory.
It was a week earlier than Ayres anticipated, but in those 15 or so minutes on the pitch, she reminded everyone of her quality with one deft move.
A nice couple touches at halfway, some brilliant use of the body to shield the ball from her defender then a well-weighted pass to play through Harriet Withers which almost yielded a goal.
But it was in the weeks that followed that saw Ayres do what she does best. Score goals.
A season prior, Ayres stamped herself as a player for the big occasion when she fired home a hat-trick in the 6-2 Semi-Final win against Brisbane Roar and again, she saved her best football for the biggest stage.
Victory were given little chance in the Elimination Final away to Adelaide, a side who thumped them 3-0 only weeks prior. Not this time. With the scores level after half-time, Ayres fired home the winner with a neatly-taken volley that sent the champions to the Semi-Final.
A week later, she did it again, scoring the opener against rivals Melbourne City and then setting up Lia Privitelli for the sealer. Her impact was telling as Victory booked their spot in the Grand Final against Sydney FC, and the rest was history.
“It was good to be back. I didn’t expect to play as much as I did in the finals so it was awesome to come back,” she said.
I said to Jeff maybe ill try and just play the last four games every year… Play a couple of semi-finals, and a final, that’ll be alright!
Shortly after the season ended, Ayres jetted off to Iceland, joining Breidablik on loan, where she had the opportunity to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Ayres only made the 12 appearances in all competitions and scoring two goals, throughout a stint which she described as “tough”. But she’s taken a lot of lessons out of her experiences in Scandinavia, believing she’s in a better place now physically for this Liberty A-League season with Victory.
“I didn’t get to play as much I would have liked so I probably got a lot of extra training and a lot more gym sessions in than the previous years so obviously I’m getting match fit again now,” Ayres said.
“But yeah, I’m definitely in a better place now. I have all my hamstrings intact so hopefully it can stay that way.
“They have a very different style of football to what we play. It’s more sort of, American style so I had to adapt my game, I guess to try and do that but in the end I didn’t get an opportunity to do that.
“I probably learned more off the field in terms of just keeping myself ready in case he (coach Þorsteinn Halldórsson) did change his mind and pick me and I got a lot of extra work in the gym, and swimming.
“It’s a different sort of world, European football, so it was like a really cool experience. I got to play in the Champions League and got ten minutes in that. It was really cool to experience European football and you see why European teams are so good. They are so professional.”
But now for Ayres, the focus turns to going for the trifecta and putting together a “complete season” for the first time as she looks to finally put her injury history behind her.
And although continuing goalscoring form may help her case as a potential bolter for the Matildas squad at the FIFA Women’s World Cup or a return to Europe, the 23-year-old is putting that to the back of her mind for the time being.
“Right now, I just want to have a good season,” Ayres said.
I still feel like I haven’t put together a complete season and I want to do that then see what happens after. It’s kind of cliche but just see what happens but I’m not putting any pressure on going overseas again but yeah, just have a good season and go from there.
“It’s not really in my mind at all (Matildas selection), obviously it’s a World Cup, but I think I’ve still got a bit of work to do before I thought about. Just putting together a few good games but yeah, I’m not really thinking about that.
“I’m just trying to get the three-peat honestly and what comes of that, if we were to win again and me have a good season then, maybe. But yeah, I’ve got a bit of work to do before then.”
