A-League Women Showdown: Perth Glory Women Host League Leaders Melbourne City in Crucial Top Six Battle

Match Background & Qualification Scenarios

The A-League Women, also known as the Ninja A-League for sponsorship reasons, commenced its 2025-26 season on October 31, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on May 17, 2026. In this fixture, Perth Glory Women will host Melbourne City Women at the Sam Kerr Football Centre. Melbourne City Women are currently leading the league standings with 20 points from 10 games, boasting a record of 6 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses. They are also the defending premiers from the 2024-25 season.

For the home side, Perth Glory Women, a lot is at stake. They currently sit 7th in the league with 16 points from 11 games (5 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses), actively striving to break into the top six playoff spots. A victory against the league leaders on home turf would be a significant boost to their aspirations. Perth Glory Women have been particularly strong at home recently and will be looking for their fifth successive home win. Conversely, Melbourne City Women will aim to solidify their commanding position at the top of the table and further enhance their advantage heading into the finals series.

Recent Form

Perth Glory Women have displayed solid form in their last five official matches. They recently secured a 1-1 draw against Central Coast Mariners Women on January 18. Prior to that, they recorded a 3-1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers Women and a 1-0 win against Newcastle Jets Women. Although they suffered a 1-3 defeat to Melbourne City Women on December 27, 2025, they bounced back with a 1-0 win over Adelaide United Women. Overall, Perth Glory's recent run stands at 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, indicating strong competitiveness.

Melbourne City Women have also shown impressive form, mirroring Perth Glory's record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their last five outings. Their most recent match was a 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar Women on January 20. Before that, they fell 1-3 to Newcastle Women on January 15, but secured a 2-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix Women and a 1-0 win against Sydney Women. Notably, they defeated Perth Glory Women 3-1 on December 27, 2025. This demonstrates Melbourne City's overall strength despite an occasional stumble.

Key Players & Injury News

Perth Glory Women boast several key players to watch. Goalkeeper Teresa Morrissey has been a standout, noted for her high save percentage and goals prevented. Upfront, Gabby Hollar's xG (expected goals) per 90 minutes is impressive, while Tijan McKenna and Julia Sardo are crucial in defense with high tackle and interception rates, respectively. Midfielder Georgia Cassidy's accurate long balls are also a tactical asset for the team. As of now, there are no specific reports of new injuries for Perth Glory Women.

For Melbourne City Women, star forward Holly McNamara is a central figure in their attack, having scored 9 goals this season and ranking high in goals + assists, while also creating numerous big chances and earning a high FotMob rating. Defender and captain Rebekah Stott is a passing maestro, excelling in accurate long balls. Goalkeeper Malena Mieres is another vital player. Regarding injuries, earlier reports indicated that Shelby McMahon, Laura Hughes, and Caitlin Karic were sidelined with knee injuries. Their current status will be a point of focus before the match. The league also faces a general concern with ACL injuries across teams, representing a broader challenge.