This weekend’s key matchups & predictions

AUSTRALIA SPORTS

This weekend’s key matchups & predictions

Story By #RiseCelestialStudios

Melbourne Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins says star recruit Taylor Ray is closing in on her first appearance of the season, having missed the first four rounds of 2025-26 through injury.

Victory take on Perth Glory in the only Ninja A-League game of the weekend, with the remaining four fixtures postponed due to the FIFA international break.

CommBank Matildas midfielder Ray joined Victory in the off-season after winning the Ninja A-League Championship with Central Coast Mariners but has yet to feature for her new club; Hopkins conceded this weekend’s fixture at the Home of the Matildas may come too soon for Ray but the combative midfielder could make an appearance off the bench when Glory come to town.

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“Taylor will be in the squad this weekend,” Hopkins said.

“Is it a week too early for her? Maybe, maybe not. But we’ll see how she goes for the rest of the week.

“She’s in full training now; we’ve just got to see what her fitness is like.”

“There (are) a number of different scenarios,” he added. “She’s not going to start, but it’s something to think about and maybe look at the context of the game, how the game is running out and make a decision – if she’s in the squad – make a decision as the game goes on.”

Hopkins also revealed Nicki Flannery is back in full training and on the cusp of making a return from injury while providing further updates on the fitness of both Chelsea Blissett and Sienna Saveska.

“Chelsea (Blissett)’s in a position where she’s starting to build up her training load,” he said. “If it was down to her, she’d be putting her hand up to play this weekend – that’s the kind of commitment she’s got.

“Sienna (Saveska) has still got three to four weeks before she’s ready to jump in, but she’s basically training fully.”

For Glory, meanwhile, Sunday’s Round 5 clash could set the stage for Australia U23 international Georgia Cassidy to make her first appearance of the season.

Cassidy was deemed fit to play by head coach Stephen Peters last weekend but didn’t feature in Glory’s 3-0 loss to Canberra United; the young midfielder has been named in Peters’ extended squad for the road trip to face Victory.

Read on for the Ins & Outs, key stats and more ahead of Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory in the Ninja A-League.

Ins & Outs

Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Courtney NEWBON, 5. Sofia SAKALIS, 6. Taylor RAY 7. Ella O’GRADY, 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 14. Fiorina, IARIA, 16. Kennedy WHITE, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 19. Zoe McMEEKEN, 20. Leyla, HUSSEIN, 23. Rachel LOWE, 24. Laura PICKETT, 27. Rosie CURTIS, 30. Payton WOODWARD, 41. Jessica YOUNG, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI, 88. Grace MAHER

(One to be omitted)

Ins: 6. Taylor RAY

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Chelsea BLISSETT (back), 8. Sienna SAVESKA (medical), 11. Nickoletta FLANNERY (leg), 3.Claudia BUNGE (national team), 17. Poppy O’KEEFFE (national team)

Perth Glory squad: 3.Emma TOVAR, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 8.Georgia CASSIDY, 9.Gabby HOLLAR, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 12.Bronte TREW, 13.Naomi CHINNAMA, 16.Olivia WOOD, 17.Rola BADAWIYA, 22.Ischia BROOKING, 24.Julia SARDO, 25.Ella LINCOLN, 26.Tanika LALA, 27.Charli WAINWRIGHT, 28.Clancy WESTAWAY, 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG, 30.Jessica SKINNER, 33.Alyssa DALL’OSTE

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 8.Georgia CASSIDY, 28.Clancy WESTAWAY

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 1.Teresa MORRISSEY injured), 7.Megan WYNNE (injured), 11.Natalie TATHEM (injured), 20.Ella ABDUL MASSIH (injured), 23.Isobel DALTON (injured)