The 2024–25 season is Melbourne City Football Club's tenth season in the A-League Women. They are also participating in the AFC Women's Champions League for the first time. Before the beginning of the season, head coach Dario Vidošić left the club, having been appointed as coach of English Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
Review
Background
The 2023–24 season saw Melbourne City win their fourth Premiership hence securing qualification for the 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League and lost the Grand Final for the first time in their history going down 1–0 to Sydney FC.
Pre-season On 13 June, Melbourne City confirmed that their top goalscorer and New Zealand attacker Hannah Wilkinson would depart following the conclusion of her contract. The day after, American centre-back Taylor Otto re-signed for the season. Four further players departed on 27 June; Naomi Chinnama, Julia Grosso, Emina Ekic, and Bárbara. After winning the A-League Women Young Footballer of the Year, Daniela Galic confirmed her departure on 1 July in pursueing an overseas opportunity.
The first new signing was confirmed also on 1 July, where Western Sydney Wanderers defender Alexia Apostolakis signed for two years. Then two days later, Wellington Phoenix attacker and Venezuelan international Mariana Speckmaier signed for two years as well. During the week, Rebekah Stott was selected for New Zealand at the 2024 Summer Olympics football tournament in Paris, France. The week after, it was announced that head coach Dario Vidošić was appointed as new manager for Brighton & Hove Albion. Laura Hughes, Karly Roestbakken, and Bryleeh Henry then all signed two-year contract extensions on 17 July.
First A-League Women fixture details were confirmed on 18 July, revealing the start date as early as Friday, 1 November; after the group stage run in the AFC Women's Champions League in October. It was also confirmed that City's Unite Round match would be a Grand Final rematch against Sydney FC on 24 November. That same day, Melbourne City's group stage opponents for the AFC Women's Champions League were confirmed; Thai club College of Asian Scholars, Filipino club Kaya–Iloilo and the winner of the preliminary stage Group D which would end up being Iranian club Bam Khatoon.
On 25 July, City signed Spanish goalkeeper Malena Mieres for the season from Liga F club Real Betis. Six days after on 31 July, Adelaide United attacker Emilia Murray signed for City for two years. The week after on 7 August, Shelby McMahon who signed for the club during last season as an injury repalacement signed on for a further three years. On 9 August, Apostolakis and Murray were selected for the Young Matildas' squad for 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup to run through August–September. That same day, American attacker Cariel Ellis signed for City on a one-year deal.
New head coach Michael Matricciani was confirmed on 21 August. On 3 September, Mexican-American midfielder Lourdes Bosch signed on a two-year contract. On 11 September, Cariel Ellis who had only signed for City in the last month had agreed to a mutual termination of her contract and returning to the United States due to personal reasons. The same day saw the return of Serbian defender and four-time championship winner Tyla-Jay Vlajnic on a one-year deal.
The full fixture draw for the 2024–25 A-League Women season was announced on 12 September confirming five home matches at AAMI Park as doubleheaders and six home matches at City Football Academy (later known commercially as ctrl:cyber Pitch). On 24 September, Melissa Barbieri re-signed for the season entering a 28th year in her professional career. Two days later, Isabella Accardo and Caitlin Karic both re-signed on one year deals.
October On 3 October, Matricciani named a 21-player squad for the upcoming group stage of the AFC Women's Champions League AFC Women's Champions League in Thailand; with all recruits in line to make their debuts with Holly McNamara and Sophia Varley out of the squad due to injuries. Two days later, Rebekah Stott was confirmed as captain for City in the 2024–25 season.
City started their inaugural AFC Women's Champions League run with the first group match against Bam Khatoon on 6 October. City won 2–1 thanks to first half goals from Rhianna Pollicina and Mariana Speckmaier.
Players
First-team squad
Transfers
Transfers in No.PositionPlayerTransferred fromType/feeContract lengthDateRef. 8 Western Sydney Wanderers Free transfer 2 years 1 July 2024 17 Wellington Phoenix 2 years 3 July 2024 24 1 year 25 July 2024 11 Adelaide United 2 years 31 July 2024 — Unattached 1 year 9 August 2024 19 Unattached 2 years 3 September 2024 27 Unattached 1 year 11 September 2024 7 1 year 29 October 2024
Transfers out No.PositionPlayerTransferred toType/feeDateRef. 30 End of loan 11 May 2024 17 Unattached End of contract 13 June 2024 3 Unattached End of contract 27 June 2024 7 Mutual contract termination 11 Mutual contract termination 88 Unattached End of contract 24 End of contract 1 July 2024 2 Unattached End of contract 9 August 2024 19 Unattached End of contract 9 August 2024 — Unattached Mutual contract termination 11 September 2024
Contract extensions No.PlayerPositionDurationDateRef. 5 Centre-back 1 year 14 June 2024 14 Midfielder 2 years 17 July 2024 16 Centre-back 2 years 17 July 2024 22 Forward 2 years 17 July 2024 12 Midfielder 3 years 7 August 2024 23 Goalkeeper 1 year 24 September 2024 20 Forward 1 year 26 September 2024 21 Midfielder 1 year 26 September 2024
Pre-season and friendlies
Competitions
Overall record
A-League Women
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches The league fixtures were released on 12 September 2024.
Finals series
AFC Women's Champions League
Group stage
Knockout stage
Statistics
Appearances and goals Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.
Disciplinary record Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.
Clean sheets Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.
Rank Goalkeeper A-League Women A-League WomenFinals AFC Women'sChampions League Total 1 24 7 0 3 10 2 23 0 0 1 1 Total 7 0 4 11
See also 2024–25 Melbourne City FC season
Notes
References
External links Melbourne City official website