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MELBOURNE Victory created history the last time these two teams met at Lakeside Stadium on February 23, 2014, sinking Brisbane Roar 2-0 to claim maiden Westfield W-League crown in front of more than 2500 fans.Fast forward nine months to today’s do-or-die blockbuster, where the situation is quite different to that historic day.

Third-placed Melbourne realises it will most likely have to win today to keep its finals hopes alive, while Brisbane, which languishes in seventh, requires maximum points from its remaining three games if it is to play finals.

Victory finally found its groove last week, snapping a club record four-game winless streak to defeat Western Sydney Wanderers 3-0.

Lisa De Vanna did the damage, scoring a goal and providing two assists on her return from a club-imposed suspension.

Brisbane also secured a much-needed win, claiming the three points for the first time since Round 3 with a 3-0 trouncing of Adelaide United.

Melbourne’s squad will be strengthened by the return of championship players Emma Checker and Beattie Goad, who were unavailable for the last two matches because of Young Matildas duties in Vietnam.

The pair will be seeking to replicate their international form after securing the Young Matildas’ qualification for the 2015 U19 AFC Championships in China next year.

Goad dazzled in green and gold, scoring four goals across three appearances, while Checker

featured twice without conceding a goal.American Lauren Barnes will also be welcomed

back into the squad after the versatile defender was granted permission by the club to leave for a family wedding in the US.

Like Checker and Goad, Brisbane’s Sunny Franco takes her place to the squad after a devastating spell in front of goal for the Young Matildas.

The 17-year-old bagged seven goals for the Young Matildas, including a double hat-trick in Australia’s 19-0 rout of Singapore.

Melbourne could only edge out a 1-1 draw the last time these teams met in Round 5.

It was Franco who denied Melbourne of a second-ever victory over Roar, cancelling out Amy Jackson’s 69th-minute opener with eight minutes to spare.

Brisbane can clearly be described as Melbourne’s bogey team, registering eight wins and just one loss in 13 matches against Victory.

But that loss was Victory’s greatest gain.Today, there could be as many 10 Victory

players take to the pitch who also featured against Roar in that famous grand final; Bri Davey, Barnes, Steph Catley, De Vanna, Ella Mastrantonio, Checker, Goad, Gulcan Koca, Cassie Dimovski and Caitlin Friend.

If you’d like to listen to live commentary for today’s blockbuster, simply search ‘FFV Radio’ within the TuneIn Radio app. Those at home can also watch this one live on ABC 1.

Sean is an intern with Melbourne Victory W-League. Follow him on Twitter: @SeanEllicott

A chance to revisit history Victory needs a win to keep its finals hopes alive, and what better place to do it

than the site of the 2013/14 W-League Championship win, Sean Ellicott writes.

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Racheal Quigley is mobbed by team mates after scoring a wonder goal against Perth Glory. PHOTO: Getty Images

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Joe Montemurro issues instructions from the touchline. PHOTO: Graeme Furlong

To check out highlights of our win over Western Sydney Wanderers, scan the QR Code using your smartphone, or type bit.ly/WSWvMVC14 into your browser.

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IT was a long month without a win for our girls, but I can well and truly say we’re on the road back.

The win against Western Sydney was important; arguably one of the most important so far this season.

It was even better from a coaching perspective because we did a thoroughly professional job on them.

Our approach tactically was a little bit different than usual, but the girls listened and carried out the instructions clinically.

Not only that, it was a significant win morally, and brought some belief back in the girls.

The next two games are even more vital.But we’re in a better place when it comes to

squad selection. The past few weeks, our squads have picked themselves from who we’ve had available.

Now, the girls are back to fighting for their spots.It’s a great position to be in as a coach.Now I’ve got a few things to consider when

picking my 15 for match day.Firstly, it’s the tactical approach to the game

and who’s going to fit into that approach.Then there’s the considerations to physical

situations and planning forward.And as always, I have to consider form, and just

who has been working the hardest on the track during the week. This also has to be balanced with stability and familiarity between the players.

I need to think about all of this, and then I need to explain to the players who haven’t been

selected about just why they’ve been omitted.This is integral to how a team functions, and

lets the girls know just what they need to do to get back into the squad.

One of the girls coming back in this week will be Cassie Dimovski.

Her performance against Perth will be one for the ages, but injury ruled her out last week against Western Sydney.

It’ll be a tough choice between Cassie and Bri Davey for starting keeper today. The pair have been magnificent this year, but there was a little known face in goals at the end of last Sunday’s game.

Erin Herd came into the squad to replace Cassie last week, who was ruled out with concussion.

She came to us via the recommendation of Mark Torcasio, and sure enough, she was class.

She came off the bench for Bri as a precaution, and she made two great saves to keep the Wanderers at bay, and our clean sheet intact.

The starting lineup this week will be tough, but what’ll be even tougher is guessing which Brisbane Roar team will show up.

Will it be the team that demolished Adelaide United 3-0 last week? Or will it be the side that has turned up throughout the year and sits second from bottom?

What we do know is they can be a very good team and there are many areas where they can hurt us.

They’ve got some special players, but we’re up for the challenge.

On the way back upA word from your coach, Joe Montemurro.

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IT took six seasons, 12 matches, five trips to Queensland and 1080 minutes of football, but on February 23 at Lakeside Stadium this year, Melbourne Victory finally defeated Brisbane Roar to claim its maiden Westfield W-League title.

Today, Brisbane returns to the same scene for the first time since that day, in what will be the 14th meeting between the two sides.

Aside from that famous grand final win, any Victory fan will admit their memories against Roar are bleak.

The pain started on November 22, 2008, when Brisbane Roar was then known as Queensland Roar and defeated Victory 2-0 at Ballymore Stadium in the two sides’ inaugural clash.

Roar followed that up with consecutive wins in Melbourne, trumping Victory 3-1 (Round 8, 2008, Lakeside Stadium) and 1-0 (Round 2, 2009, Epping Stadium).

Three meetings later, Victory recorded its first and only scoreless draw in its entire history, being held by Roar at Epping Stadium in January 2011.

A draw and a loss were to come in the clubs’ next two meetings, before one of the darkest days in Victory’s history.

Victory fans will recall with much sadness the Round 2 clash with Brisbane at the Veneto Club in October 2012, where their side lost 1-0, but more tragically, lost stars Ashley Brown and Louisa Bisby to season-ending ACL injuries.

Just four weeks later, a depleted Victory travelled to Queensland and was cruelly denied a share of the points.

With Victory having twice clawed its way back to parity, Ashley Spina struck a 95th-minute winner to hand Roar a 3-2 win.

At this point, Roar’s unbeaten streak against Victory had extended to 10 matches.

That became 11 in the final round of the 2013/2014 home-and-away season, when Katrina Gorry – a former Victory player – nursed a free kick into the bottom corner to gift Roar a 1-0 win at the Queensland Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Also featuring on that day for Roar were former Victory players Laura Alleway and Vedrana Popovic, who join Gorry in Brisbane’s line-up today.

Just one current Victory player – Caitlin Friend – had scored in Victory colours against Brisbane at that point, but she would have company two weeks later in the form of Lisa De Vanna and Lauren Barnes.

The star pair etched their named in W-League folklore at this venue earlier this year, scoring in Victory’s 2-0 win – yes, a win at last – over Roar on the biggest day in the league’s calendar.

Remarkably, Victory is still yet to beat Brisbane in a home-and-away fixture.

But regardless of whether or not that record ends today, speak to any Victory fan and they’d tell you they were to happy trade all those losses for that diamond in the rough – the club’s maiden W-League championship.

Julian is Melbourne Victory W-League’s media manager. Follow him on Twitter: @jtrantino16

The diamond in the roughJulian Trantino takes a look back at Melbourne Victory’s history with

Brisbane Roar in the Victory Vault.

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Lauren Barnes, Steph Catley and Jess Fishlock celebrate during the 2014 W-League Grand Final. PHOTO: Getty Images

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#1 Bri Davey - GOALKEE

PER

#2 H

annah Brewer - DEFE

ND

ER

#9 R

acheal Quigley - FORW

AR

D

#10 C

hristine Nairn - FO

RWA

RD

#16 Beattie Goad - FORW

AR

D

#17 G

ülcan Koca - MID

FIEL

DER

#11 Lisa De Vanna - FORW

AR

D

#5 Lauren Barnes - D

EFEN

DER

#18 Elli Reed - MIDFIEL

DER

Melbourne Victory squad *Squads may be subject to change on game day.

IN □ SUB □ OUT □ IN □ SUB □ OUT □ IN □ SUB □ OUT □

IN □ SUB □ OUT □ IN □ SUB □ OUT □

IN □ SUB □ OUT □ IN □ SUB □ OUT □

IN □ SUB □ OUT □

IN □ SUB □ OUT □

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Brisbane Roar squad

#20 C

assie Dimovski - GOALK

EEPE

R

1. Nadine Angerer (gk)

2. Laura Alleway

4. Clare Polkinghorne (c)

5. Brooke Spence

6. Hayley Raso

7. Kim Carroll

8. Elise Kellond-Knight

9. Larissa Crummer

10. Katrina Gorry

11. Vedrana Popovic

13. Tameka Butt

14. Natasha Wheeler

15. Brooke Goodrich

16. Angela Beard

17. Emily Gielnik

18. Sunny Franco

19. Ayesha Norrie

20. Kate Stewart (gk)IN □ SUB □ OUT □

#7 Stephanie Catley (c) -

DEFEN

DER #

8 Am

y Jackson - MIDFIELD

ER

IN □ SUB □ OUT □IN □ SUB □ OUT □

#15 Em

ma Checker - DEF

END

ER

IN □ SUB □ OUT □#

12 Ella M

astrantonio - MID

FIEL

DER

IN □ SUB □ OUT □#

29 Caitlin Friend - FORW

AR

D

IN □ SUB □ OUT □

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YOU could be forgiven for thinking that Beattie Goad already has a lot on her plate juggling Young Matildas and Melbourne Victory commitments.

But throw in Year 11 exams and it’s a whole new ball game.

It’s no easy task for the Lauriston Girls’ School student, who even had to revert to studying during the Young Matildas’ recent trip in Vietnam.

“I’m doing alright,” Goad said after arriving from in Melbourne from Vietnam on Tuesday night.

“You have to really organise yourself because everything will just take over, but I rearranged my exams a bit and got some study done in Vietnam so I’m surviving.”

Goad starred during her three appearances in green and gold, helping Australia secure qualification for the 2015 AFC U19 Championships.

The attacker bagged four goals, including a brace against Hong Kong, and was even awarded the captain’s armband for Australia’s 19-0 drubbing of Singapore.

“I didn’t expect it really, but when I got given the armband I just took on the responsibilities and had another job on top of my playing role. I just took it in my stride and did my best,” she said.

“It was so much fun and such a great experience. We really bonded as a team and everyone got along really well so on and off the park it was so much.

“It’s always a good feeling to qualify (for the AFC Championships).

“I was happy with how I performed.

“The goals were just the cherry on top really, but I was really happy.”

Fellow Victory young gun Emma Checker could also return to the squad to take on Brisbane Roar on Sunday, following a successful week abroad with the Young Matildas.

The central defender featured twice in Vietnam, maintaining a clean sheet across both appearances.

“I think it [qualifiers in Vietnam] was really exciting,” Checker said.

“Going into it, we hadn’t had much preparation together; it was only a few camps so it was tough to bring it together but once we got there it was amazing.

“The two times that I had been in the under-aged teams before, we hadn’t had to pre-qualify so it was something a bit different, but I think it was good to have those extra few games going into the championships now.”

With one eye on next year’s FIFA World Cup in Canada, the 18-year-old – who has made three appearances for the Matildas - expressed the importance of continually performing week-in, week-out.

“It was really important that I tried to have the best tournament over there, because obviously every game counts and there is always someone watching so I think having the extra game time definitely will help.”

Sean is an intern with Melbourne Victory W-League. Follow him on Twitter: @SeanEllicott

Youngsters star in VietnamVictory teenagers Emma Checker and Beattie Goad are back after

four goals and two clean sheets, writes Sean Ellicott.

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Emma Checker represents Australia at the Women’s Asian Cup earlier this year. PHOTO: Getty Images

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Katrina Gorry and Tameka Butt celebrate after an equaliser against Sydney FC earlier this season. PHOTO: Getty Images

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BRISBANE Roar W-League and Westfield Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry has nominated for AFC Player of the Year after a stellar two years since making her debut on the international stage.

The nomination has capped off a big year for Gorry, who has established herself as a key member of a Brisbane side that reached the Westfield W-League Grand Final last year.

The 22-year-old only made her Westfield Matildas debut in 2012 with her creativity and work rate helping her cement a place in the star-studded Australia line-up.

Gorry also won Brisbane Roar’s Player of the Year award for the Westfield W-League 2012/13 campaign and last season collected the club’s Golden Boot award with five goals.

She has been an integral part of a Roar side which has undergone a resurgence over the past fortnight, recording an integral 3-0 win over Adelaide and earning a valuable draw against Sydney FC.

Keen to add to her overseas experience, Gorry was also a part of the FC Kansas City squad that won the National Women’s Soccer League in August this year during the Westfield W-League off-season.

The diminutive midfielder, standing at just 148cm tall, went to the US with big wraps from FC Kansas City technical director Huw Williams.

“When we asked our players who they want

on the team, Katrina’s name came up several times,” Williams said.

“That speaks volumes for her and, frankly, confirmed our thoughts that she could be a great fit for our team.”

Brisbane Roar W-League Head Coach Belinda Wilson was full of praise for the Brisbane-born midfielder, naming her performances as a highlight during the club’s current run of form.

“This is a fantastic achievement for any player and it’s great for Mini in terms of personal recognition,” Wilson said.

“It’s a great reward for all the effort and determination she’s shown over the last two years with Brisbane Roar.

“Her progression into the national team came with her club success and she’s continually excelled at the highest level with the Matildas.”

She will come into this game buoyed by the nomination, and hope it can spur her on to a result, Wilson said.

Gorry, who formerly played for Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory in the Westfield W-League, is nominated alongside two-time winner Aya Miyama and Nahomi Kawasumi, both of Japan.

The winner will be announced at the AFC Annual Awards in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, 30 November in conjunction with the AFC’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

Mini nominated for big award Star midfielder Katrina Gorry nominated for AFC Player of the Year

after a stellar season with Brisbane Roar.

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HELLO again everyone and welcome back to Lakeside Stadium for today’s match against Brisbane Roar.

Our Victory girls go into today’s encounter full of confidence following the terrific 3-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers which has got our season back on track.

I wrote in my program notes for the last home match against Perth Glory that unfortunately the results weren’t matching up to the performances that our girls were giving, so we were all delighted to see them finally pick up a deserved three points away from home last week in Sydney.

They put in a solid shift and goals to Steph Catley, Racheal Quigley and Lisa De Vanna brought us home the three points.

Backtracking a fortnight to that Glory game, and it would be remiss of me to gloss over the performance the girls gave against the form side of the competition.

Rachael Quigley had her superb volley, arguably worthy of a spot in this year’s FIFA Puskas goal of the year nominations.

And we can’t forget the solo efforts of Cassie Dimovski, who put in a performance between the sticks to rival Ante Covic’s heroics for Western Sydney in the Asian

Champions League final. We didn’t get the rub of the green that day,

and had Steph Catley’s goal after the break not been incorrectly ruled offside, it could have been a very different outcome.

That game was nationally broadcast on ABC TV, as is today’s 2013/14 Grand Final rematch with Brisbane Roar, and we hope that the girls can turn on a performance similar to that against Perth.

If they can, I’m sure we’ll be celebrating back-to-back wins and a huge step towards securing ourselves a finals berth and a crack at defending our title.

I’d like to welcome all of Brisbane Roar’s players, coaching staff and supporters to Melbourne and wish them all a safe trip home again after the match – hopefully empty handed from our point of view.

Be sure to pick up your Banking on Football GOAL cards upon entry to the stadium today.

Use them to keep cool during the game, to hold up and show your support for the girls when they find the back of the net, and be sure to get them signed after the match and take them home with you as a souvenir!

Just like the logo on the jersey, Banking on Football is behind our girls all the way!

Time to bring it homeBanking on Football CEO Margot Sweeny is backing the girls to

come good after last week’s big win against the Wanderers.

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Banking on Football CEO Margot Sweeny is behind Melbourne Victory’s W-League side all the way. PHOTO: Anita Milas

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