Above: Rebekah Stott (left) at the 2025/26 Melbourne season launch for the A-Leagues. Photo: Alyce Collett for Impetus.
By Alyce Collett (10/10/2025)
Season 2024/25 may have come with a double dose of heartbreak for Melbourne City, but captain Rebekah Stott and her team mates certainly are not dwelling on the past.
“The group’s feeling great” Stott explained.
“Obviously we’ve lost a few players and we’ve gained some new players. So yeah it’s a bit different, but it’s really good right now.”
Things were looking great during the regular A-League Women’s season for City – with many expecting them to win it all – but came to a screeching halt in the semi final, losing to eventual champions Central Coast in the dying minutes of extra time.
Despite the hurt, Stott says the group is using that result as fuel heading into the new year.
“We want to be successful and I think at the end of the day, getting into the grand final and being successful in that game is success” Stott said.
“That’s definitely what we’re striving for. So it sucked last year, but I think we’ll come back hungrier as well.”
If that heartbreak was not bad enough, there was even worse pain to come for City a matter of weeks later when they went on to lose the final of the Asian Champions League to Wuhan Jiangda.
“That was heartbreaking. I think anyone who watched that game would be heartbroken for us, but I think it makes us more hungry again” Stott confirmed.
That’s such a good tournament in that one. So we definitely want to do well in that one.”
This season means more double duties for City, but Stott confirmed that the club has plans in place to make sure the players can cope with the demands.
“I think the club did a great job at managing our schedule and making sure we got the best preparation for our games” Stott said.
“So I think just stay with the same kind of strategies and I think we’ll be in a good place.”
The offseason has brought plenty of new faces to City’s Football Centre.
On one end of the age and experience spectrum there is former Everton captain Dan Turner.
“She’s absolutely great” Stott said.
“Her experience, I mean she’s played in England for so long, been a captain of Everton for ages. So I think she brings her experience, her leadership, and obviously her technical ability in the pitch.”
At the younger end of the age spectrum there is Aideen Keane, who comes to the club from Canberra United and off the back of a successful offseason with the Australian Under 23.
“She’s a exciting young player” Stott said.
“I think you could see when she was playing for Canberra, she had moments where she looked unbelievable, so I think it’s just unlocking that potential, and I think she’s in a good environment to be able to do that.”
When asked who she thought in the squad was going to have a break out season this campaign, another of her young team mates came straight to mind for Stott.
“I can’t go past Shelby McMahon” Stott answered.
“I think she’s an unbelievable talent and, and I think she’ll really have a breakout year.”
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