Melbourne City are entering the new Westfield W-League season seeking to continue their dominance with a fourth successive Grand Final crown.
Ahead of the new season, we’re profiling every club in the competition.
Here’s everything you need to know about a modern juggernaut.
CAMPAIGN: Introducing ‘Where Heroes Are Made’
THREE-PEAT: Relive City’s three Westfield W-League Grand Final wins
Another big season ahead? ????❓ #WLeague pic.twitter.com/QEHsIiIJkL
— Melbourne City FC ?️ (@MelbourneCity) October 1, 2018
History
City have been a force since the moment they entered the competition for the 2015/16 Season.
An all-star roster stormed to the double that season and a further two Grand Final triumphs have followed, the latter two contested on the road.
Now defending a three-peat, City will still expect improvement following back-to-back fourth-place finishes on the ladder.
Colours and badge
The team wears a predominantly blue home kit in keeping with the City Football Group’s branding, and a striped away shirt in red and white that harks back to the club’s Melbourne Heart heritage.
The Westfield W-League shirt has always been adorned with the crest introduced by the City Football Group in 2014, which mimics elements of partner club Manchester City and includes unique iconography associated with Victoria like the southern right whale, Australian Merino sheep and Holstein breed of bull.
Home ground
Four of City’s six home games this season will be held at AAMI Park, widely considered one of the best stadiums in Australia.
Two fixtures – in Round 5 and Round 12 – will be taken to the secondary base of CB Smith Reserve in Fawkner.
Coach
Patrick Kisnorbo’s move to become an assistant to Warren Joyce has led to the appointment of Rado Vidosic as the club’s Westfield W-League head coach.
Vidosic, 57, has extensive experience within the Hyundai A-League, having had spells at Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix.
He is highly regarded as a developer of young talent.
Players
Captain and star left-back Steph Catley has been joined at the club by fellow Westfield Matildas regulars Tameka Butt and Elise Kellond-Knight.
Kyah Simon is also confirmed as returning alongside key imports Yukari Kinga and Rebekah Stott.
Best season
Though you could make a case for each season, it’s impossible to consider City’s inaugural campaign as anything less than marking a momentous shift in the Westfield W-League landscape.
Joe Montemurro assembled a galaxy of stars and guided them to a perfect regular season record of 12 victories, 38 goals scored and just eight conceded.
There was a slight hiccup with penalties required to see off Brisbane Roar in theSemi-Finall, before an utterly dominant team returned to true form in the Grand Final, crushing Sydney FC 4-1 and sealing the double.
Did you know?
Former head coach Montemurro moved on in 2017 to become manager of Arsenal Women in the FA Women’s Super League.
