What is left to say about Melbourne City? With a 100% winning record to date, most superlatives become cliches.
Teams that try sit back and defend get punished, those who dare try to attack the runaway leaders get done on the break.
It was the same case last week, where despite Victory holding off for the best part of the first half, City overran them to claim the derby 4-0.
Thanks for all who have turned out for our games (home and away) with @MelbCityWFC this season. means the world to us! #keepcoming!
— Lisa De Vanna (@lisadevanna11) December 8, 2015
This week, City head to Newcastle to play against the Jets in a curtain-raiser for the W-League/A-League double header.
Judging by the form of both sides – the women have won their last two games by a combined margin of 8-0 and the men 10-2 – City could be in for an exciting weekend.
However, while Newcastle come off a bye, their last game was a 0-4 thumping of Brisbane away, so with some confidence they may take the game to City early.
Selection News
It’s business as usual for City on the selection front, with essentially a clean bill of health.
Larissa Crummer is running away with the Golden Boot with 10 goals from six games – including four braces – and is on track to easily surpass Michelle Heyman’s record haul of 15 in the 2011/12 campaign.
In fact, only two clubs have scored more team goals than what Crummer has ammassed all season.
Two of the chasing pack – on four goals each – are also her teammates: Kim Little and Marianna Tabain.
At the back, Trudy Burke has deputised with aplomb for Bri Davey and essentially made the starting spot her own, with the latter featuring on the bench in recent times.
Key Players
Laura Alleway
While Crummer and the forward line have stolen the limelight for most of the season, credit must be paid to the backline as well, which has conceded only three goals all season, allowing the strikers the confidence to attack in numbers.
Alleway has been at the heart of the back four, playing her part in the competition’s most miserly defence.
“It’s coming along now, I think [it took] a few weeks to get used to each other,” she said.
“But now, we have Jen Beattie, who’s world class next to me, and then obviously Rebekah Stott’s been pushed out to right back but she’s brilliant anywhere along the backline, and the likes of Steph Catley is always going to be brilliant.
“Finally we’re finding our little niche and getting on the same page and it’s been solid.”
Rebekah Stott
Continuing the theme of singling out defenders, the New Zealand international has flown under the radar but has also had a stellar season to date.
Technically proficient, she’s been able to get forward with conviction to assist the forward line, adding that extra dimension to City’s attack.
At the other end of the pitch, she’s also been solid as expected at the back, rarely losing out against her direct opponents.
Subsequently, Victory had very few sniffs at goal last week – and they weren’t the first to suffer such a fate against City.
Predicted line-up
Bench: Davey (GK), Goad, Jackson, Chidiac
Predicted score
Anything but a win is almost out of the equation, with the real question being by what scoreline? We’ll go with 2-0 to City.