Above: Taylor Ray speaks to the media. Image: Melbourne Victory.
By Isabelle Campbell (20/2/26)
Melbourne Victory move from a meeting with the league leaders to a clash with the side directly beneath them. After holding first-placed Melbourne City to a draw last weekend, Victory now turn their attention to Wellington Phoenix, who sit second on the ladder and remain firmly in the title conversation.
For assistant coach Johno Clemente, the stalemate with City provided reassurance in key areas, particularly defensively. Keeping the league’s top side scoreless was significant, but the internal focus has quickly shifted toward sharpening the team’s edge in front of goal.
“We showed a good account of ourselves against Melbourne City, a clean sheet is something we’ve definitely been looking for in recent weeks,” Clemente said. “We wanted to get the three points and we probably didn’t create enough in the final third. So that’s definitely been the review this week of how we can get more chances in the final third to get three points against Wellington.”
Wellington’s consistency this season has not gone unnoticed, particularly their strong sense of footballing identity amidst what has been a difficult season on the injury front.
“Wellington are a good side. Credit to Bev [Priestman] and her coaching staff,” Clemente said. “They’ve had a couple of injuries, but they’ve replaced them quite well. Their playing style is quite clear and tactically they’re quite sound.”
Encouragingly for Victory, the competitive dynamic within the squad continues to drive performance standards.
“Everyone who was available for the city game is available,” Clemente said. “We’re fit, firing and ready to go. We’ve actually had a good week on the track. Everyone’s been understanding of the situation, how competitive it is to get into our squad.”
“If you have a look at our bench, there are some big names on our bench, and they’re all itching to get into starting 11. So it’s been good for the competition in the group.”
That depth presents tactical options, particularly with Chelsea Blissett now fully fit and providing the ability to move Alana Jančevski further up the pitch, a position she’s more than competent in.
“Alana is such a talented player, and I think she can play anywhere,” Clemente said. “Obviously, she played left back for us last season, and no one would have pictured how well she’s done at left back. But also, sometimes we do a disservice playing her so deep, because she can play as a ten, play as a winger.”
“Speaking to some of the fans around the ground, they want to see her a little bit more attacking. And as I mentioned before, we want to create a little bit more in the final third, and with someone like Alana, she’s got a little bit of X Factor, so we could definitely look to see her a little bit higher up, but I wouldn’t rule her out playing left back as well. I think she’s dangerous, no matter where she is.”
Clemente also reflected on Laura Pickett’s progression, having had a front row seat to her journey through the club’s pathway programs to now watching her become an indispensable part of the squad.
“Some great development from her, as a person and as a player. I’ve coached Laura since she was about 15 years old at the club in our Pathways programs, to see what she’s come through, and all of her success in recent years, and how she’s kind of cemented the starting spot. It’s due to her character and all her hard work.”
“There’s not many people who actually work harder than her. Especially in the gym, and she’s gonna be pretty happy, I’m saying this, but she’s a machine in the gym, and she’s continuing to work on herself, and her football’s come a long way. So I’m super excited and proud to see how far she’s come.”
With the Asian Cup fast approaching, and with it a short A-League hiatus, the timing of this fixture adds another layer of importance.
“We’re hoping to get a few more players back in the Asian Cup break, but at the moment, we’re just looking day by day and week by week,” Clemente said. “So ideally, come two, three weeks away and we can get some players back, we’ll be buzzing with that, but it is a little bit of an interesting break. So I think once we get the win tomorrow night, everyone will be in a pretty good mood and happy to have a couple weeks to take the edge off.”
For Taylor Ray, the draw with the competition leaders felt like a performance that aligned more closely with the group’s expectations of themselves. While the finishing touch remains an area for refinement, the overall cohesion and control signalled progress.
“Honestly, I think that’s one of our better team performances throughout the season,” Ray said. “City is obviously a very dominant team, their playing style, possession and defending, and obviously they have some top players that can score goals.”
“For us, I think it’s the best we’ve done in playing out, building up. We’re just lacking that attacking side and creating chances, but we’ve been working on that throughout the week, and I think with time, which it is our time, we can come through for tomorrow.”
Navigating a tightly contested ladder position has created pressure, but Ray views that environment as something capable of elevating standards rather than hindering them.
“This season Victory has been in a very uncomfortable position. However, I think sometimes being uncomfortable can make us step up and bring that intensity more for tomorrow. It’s a hard one, but we take that on board as a positive. Now we just need to get the three points tomorrow, which is really crucial for the rest of our season.”
Throughout the season thus far, there has been a lot of talk about the finer details that just hadn’t yet clicked for Victory, but Ray believes it may have happened now.
“In all honesty, I think it kind of clicked last weekend. City is number one for a reason, and we have such great depth on our team, the substitutes, they all should be starting as well. We have some great youngsters coming through and a lot of experience.”
“I think it’s just finding the chemistry and that clicking moment to come all together,” Ray said. “We’ve gotten a lot closer off the field, and I think it showed on the field last week.”
Wellington’s adaptability presents a different tactical test, requiring focus on Victory’s own identity while remaining aware of the threats posed.
“Wellington, have a very different kind of formation,” Ray said. “They like to switch it up based on the other team they’re versing. It means they’re very versatile at how they want to play. That’s something we kind of can’t focus too much on and just focus on our own game. They have some great assets, like [Pia] Vlok the youngster coming through, Brook Nunn, she’s a very fiery, competitive person from previous experience.”
Ray also spoke about Kayla Morrison’s recent history making, 100-game milestone and the influence the captain continues to have across the group.
“She’s a fantastic friend. She made me feel so welcome personally when I came to Victory, and she deserves it more than anyone I know. I think she’s a great leader, role model, and a very big inspiration. That’s kind of something we can also draw from to keep continuing to try and work hard and be there for each other. So much respect for Kay. I think she’s someone who can really bring this team to finals and we can build off her kind of inspiration.”
From first to second in consecutive weeks, Victory’s schedule offers little margin for complacency but plenty of opportunity to turn their season around.
Follow Impetus on social media:
@ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram and TikTok.
impetusfootball.org 