W-League debutant Annable Martin receives the ball deep in her own half at ABD Stadium, using her raking right foot to find Hayley Raso down the line as the relief option.
The speedster – on her Victory debut – takes a touch inboard and fires a low pass to the team’s cornerstone figure Christine Nairn, who in turn strikes a low effort from 25-yards.
The shot proves too hot to handle for Perth Glory’s Mackenzie Arnold, who spills the effort straight into the grateful path of Laura Spiranovic.
1-0 Victory and despite a tumultuous lead up to the contest, the season may prove to be a decent one after all.
But the tired legs of a team that was announced deep into the pre-season proved a major factor as Perth hit back twice through Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr, to fall 2-1 losers on the opening round of the W-League season.
The Victory have since failed to take the lead in their subsequent four games, let alone grab a point in the barren run.
On their mind tonight will be revenge, and a halt to their winless streak that begun against the very same side.
Selection News
Victory will be relieved to see both Foord and Kerr both missing from the starting line-up, such was the trouble the pair caused in their opening round fixture.
Foord joins Mackenzie Arnold in South Korea for Matildas duty; Hayley Raso missing out on selection for Alen Stajcic’s 20-player squad meaning she’s available for tonight’s game.
In more unfortunate circumstances, Kerr misses through a ruptured foot ligament injury sustained a fortnight ago against Brisbane Roar.
For the Victory, English international Natasha Dowie goes straight into the squad for her likely debut, with the suspended Melissa Barbieri also a welcome return for the away side.
In also comes youngster Adriana Taranto to bolster the midfield stocks, in place of Enza Barilla and Briar Palmer, who both miss out through small injuries sustained during their bye week.
With sister Melissa also in the squad, the pair face what is potentially their best opportunity of beginning a game on the same pitch so far this season.
Expect it to be a straight shoot-out between a midfield of Cindy Lay and MelindaJ Barbieri or the Taranto’s sat around Christine Nairn in the holding role.
The final name to make way is train-on keeper Teresa Morrissey, who warmed the bench last week in the absence of Barbieri.
The absences and inclusions suggest a reshuffle for the Victory, with Laura Spiranovic potentially moving to the left wing with Dowie taking up a central role.
The coach may even be tempted in a change of structure, which could see the Victory play with two out and out strikers for the first time this season.
In defence, the squad once again looks threadbare without Gulcan Koca available, Jamie Pollock the likely candidate for a spot in the back four having impressed in her earlier stint at centre-back.
Key Players
Natasha Dowie
It’ll be interesting to see how Edmondson incorporates his new signing into the team’s structure, and what that means for Laura Spiranovic, who has been in decent form this campaign. She comes with a decent pedigree behind her and a strong scoring record in the English top-flight, but how she’ll fare in the warmer climate of Perth is a different story all together.
Melissa Barbieri
The skipper has been immensely important for the Victory this season, coming up with a number of important saves at crucial times, as well as providing a commanding and vocal presence for a largely inexperienced back four. Let’s not forget her immense penalty saving record this season also, thwarting 2/3 spot kick’s this season so far. She’ll be pretty happy not having to face another one against Perth, where she denied Kerr from 12-yards.
Predicted line-up
Bench: Dimovski (GK), M. Taranto, A. Taranto, Knight
Predicted score
There are big absences for both sides this weekend, but expect it to hit Perth just a little bit more. The hosts have been inconsistent this season, so the potential for an upset is there for the Victory. 1-1 draw