Victory Women have opened the season with a one-nil away win over Western Sydney Wanderers. Alana Jančevski settled the match in the thirty-second minute, curling in a free kick from around thirty yards. Four off-season recruits started: Angie Beard, Sophie Harding, Anna Sutter and Alicia Woods. Courtney Newbon protected the lead with a sharp second-half save from Talia Younis. The one concern was Claudia Bunge, who was replaced after feeling discomfort in her leg. The result gives Victory three points and a clean sheet at the first attempt. They travel to Wellington Phoenix next weekend.

In the men’s game, Victory begin their A-League season away to Wellington Phoenix at one o’clock this afternoon, Melbourne time. It is their third match in nine days after the Australia Cup Final and Wednesday’s three-nil AFC Champions League Two win over FC Seoul. Louis D’Arrigo is the only unavailable Victory player. The club lists his leg injury as short-term, while the match preview says he is still working his way back.

Wellington are beginning a new chapter under Chris Greenacre, who is starting his first season as permanent head coach. Greenacre says the Phoenix accept the underdog tag, but intend to attack the game and make Hnry Stadium difficult for visiting teams. He expects Victory to arrive ready to go after their cup final and midweek win in Asia. The fixture also echoes Wellington’s first A-League match in 2007, a two-all draw with Victory, as the Phoenix begin their twentieth season.

Sources:
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Wellington Phoenix

Morning Line is an independent, AI-assisted briefing, reviewed before publication.

Victory Women begin their A-League Women season at three o’clock this afternoon against Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park. Jeff Hopkins says the short pre-season and limited testing against league opposition mean the new-look group will keep settling into its roles over the opening weeks. He still expects an organised side that will compete for everything. After last season’s scoring dropped away, his main priorities have been greater mobility and more threat in the penalty area. Hopkins believes Sophie Harding’s pace, strength and movement into the box can make a major difference.

Kayla Morrison will captain Victory again, with Claudia Bunge appointed vice-captain. Morrison has held the role since 2021/22 and last season became the first Victory Women player to reach 100 appearances. Bunge says the squad is not concerned by outside predictions and trusts its competitive training environment. The extended match squad includes all five senior recruits, with Anna Sutter named after arriving from Sweden. Nicki Flannery, Grace Maher and Poppy O’Keeffe are injured, while Leyla Hussein is on international duty.

In the development pathway, teenagers Shaylee Lane and Jasmine Millar have signed Youth Development Agreements. Lane made 25 appearances in Victory’s first NPLW season and helped the under-20s win their championship. Millar scored eight goals for the senior NPLW side and has been named in today’s A-League squad. The club says both players will continue training around the senior program.

In the men’s game, Victory open their league season away to Wellington Phoenix at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon, Melbourne time. Giovanni Savarese says the run to the Australia Cup Final and two AFC Champions League Two matches has given his squad valuable competitive rhythm. He believes Wednesday’s three-nil win over FC Seoul also showed that rotation can preserve the team’s level. Louis D’Arrigo is the only player unavailable. The club lists his leg injury as short-term, and Savarese says a return next week is possible.

Jason Davidson says the players already feel as though they are in the middle of a season after seven matches, but the job is still to return from Wellington with three points. The A-Leagues lists Fin Roa Conchie, Isaac Hughes and Jayden Smith unavailable for the Phoenix. Rafael Durán is back in Wellington’s extended squad after missing their final pre-season trip and playing for the reserves following the birth of his child.

On international duty, Sienna Calvanese and Leyla Hussein are preparing for Australia’s first Under-17 Women’s World Cup appearance. The opening group match against Chile starts at five o’clock on Tuesday morning, Melbourne time. Football Australia’s latest tournament squad still lists both Victory forwards.

Sources:
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
A-Leagues
Wellington Phoenix
Melbourne Victory
Football Australia

Morning Line is an independent, AI-assisted briefing, reviewed before publication.

Victory Women have made a late defensive addition before tomorrow’s A-League opener. The club has signed 24-year-old Anna Sutter after two seasons with Eskilstuna United in Sweden. The Sydney-born Swiss defender made 47 competitive appearances across 2025 and 2026 and helped Eskilstuna win promotion in her first season. Sutter has been named in the squad to face Western Sydney at Wanderers Football Park at three o’clock tomorrow afternoon. The club said her debut remains subject to a working visa. Grace Maher, Nicki Flannery and Poppy O’Keeffe are unavailable through injury, while Leyla Hussein is on international duty.

Western Sydney have also suffered a serious late setback. Defender Alvina Khoshaba ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during the Wanderers’ final pre-season friendly against Newcastle. The club says she faces an extended period out.

In the men’s team, Jason Davidson has been appointed captain for the new A-League season. Tom Lockyer and Philipp Ziereis are the vice-captains. Davidson could make his fiftieth A-League appearance for Victory in Sunday’s opener away to Wellington Phoenix. The 20-player Matchweek One squad has Louis D’Arrigo as the only Victory player listed unavailable.

In Asia, Persib Bandung’s one-nil win over The Cong-Viettel leaves Victory second in Group E on four points, two behind the leaders. The top two teams qualify for the round of sixteen. Victory now face Persib away on October the twenty-eighth, before the return match in Melbourne on November the fourth.

Sources:
Melbourne Victory
A-Leagues
Western Sydney Wanderers
Melbourne Victory
A-Leagues
Asian Football Confederation
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Asian Football Confederation

Morning Line is an independent, AI-assisted briefing, reviewed before publication.