The Melbourne Victory W-League team is not only looking to earn a valuable three points against Brisbane Roar this weekend, they are also hoping to break the record for highest crowd attendance ever at a Westfield W-League match.
The Melbourne Victory W-League team is not only looking to earn a valuable three points against Brisbane Roar this weekend, they are also hoping to break the record for highest crowd attendance ever at a Westfield W-League match.
The record is currently held by Canberra United, who had 1600 fans at one of their home games in the inaugural season of the competition.
Melbourne Victory W-League-s shorts sponsor, Associated Storage, instigated the crowd challenge, and has struck a deal to see all young fans (16 years and under) admitted into AAMI Park for the game free of charge. Adults will pay just $5, making it an affordable and enjoyable day of football for everyone at Australia-s premier football venue. Fellow Melbourne Victory W-League partners, Clear Solar and Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, are also supporting the promotion.
The challenge to all football fans out there is simple – turn up to AAMI Park at 3pm this Saturday and help Associated Storage and Melbourne Victory make history and secure bragging rights as having the biggest crowd at a stand-alone match over the league-s three-year history.
Victory-s coach, Vicki Linton, said the team is excited about playing at AAMI Park, and they-re looking forward to seeing all Victorian football fans supporting them this weekend.
“Having a big crowd at the game would mean a lot to the team, particularly because it-s our first game of the season at AAMI Park,” Linton said.
“The support that we-ve had going into the game has been fantastic, and to see a record crowd on Saturday would give us a real boost.”
The team will bring an enormous amount of confidence into this game, following their impressive 4-0 win against Adelaide United in Adelaide last weekend.
“It was a good game last week and it enabled us to get some confidence into the team; we had a few players get on the scoresheet, which was fantastic to see,” Linton said.
“We-ll have to adjust slightly for this game, Brisbane Roar has a very experienced team and they do have some strike power, with the likes of (Lisa) De Vanna. We-ll be aware but still very much play our own game.”
Stephanie Catley returns from a week off with an injured foot, whilst Marlies Oostdam will be missing from this week-s line up.
Melbourne Victory captain, Melissa Barbieri has not been named for the big game against Brisbane Roar, but Linton said she is still a chance to play.
“Obviously Melissa is keen to play, but her long term health is the number one priority so she will undergo a fitness test tonight and we-ll assess from there whether she-ll be included in this week-s team,” Linton said.
