Above: Kayla Morrison talks to the media. Image: Melbourne Victory.
By Isabelle Campbell (6/02/26).
Melbourne Victory are set to face Newcastle Jets on Saturday in Shepparton, with the fixture standing as a pivotal moment in a challenging stretch of the season.
Speaking to the media this week, captain Kayla Morrison outlined how the group has narrowed its focus as the campaign has progressed.
“I think, at the start of the year, we were always looking ahead and we’ve kind of got to a point in the season when it’s one day at a time, one training at a time, and one game at a time. So it is definitely a big game and a must win.”
Victory’s previous meeting with the Jets marked one of their most complete performances this season, offering a glimpse of the consistency the side has been working to reproduce.
“It was probably one of our best performances for the year. and then we played city after, and it felt like that was a really hard defeat for us, going up 1-0, and then we had an own goal, and then they scored right at the end to take it 2-1, and that kind of killed the momentum for us a bit, and it just seems like we’ve been fighting back ever since.”
The run has been made harder by moments that swung games in an instant, most notably the red card shown to Claudia Bunge in the 30th minute of their last match away to Canberra United. Though the card was later expunged, making Bunge available for this weekend’s game, the impact of being reduced to 10 players in that contest can’t be undone.
“It was definitely disappointing, and in the moment, we knew it wasn’t gonna be a red card. The ref didn’t want to hear too much about that, but we knew that looking back, she would be disappointed in her call, and that there was a chance it was gonna get overturned.”
“It’s great that they’re letting her play this game, but it doesn’t mean that they can give us back three points or one point or however many points we would have lost to Canberra with 11 people on the field.”
With the past behind them, Victory’s attention this week has been turned inward as they focus on what they can control.
“We’re at the point where we need to focus on ourselves, less so on the opposition. What are things that we’ve been doing well, what things we need to have? It’s a little bit better. So I think a lot of the focus is just on us for this week.”
That self-assessment has highlighted foundations to build on and areas still demanding sharper execution.
“There’s things that we’ve been confident about throughout the season like playing out from the back. Things we haven’t been as confident in, which may be our set pieces, things like that, and we’re just gonna put a lot of focus on us with the ball and scoring goals.”
Though Saturday’s fixture is technically a home game for Victory, it is being played in Shepparton, serving as an opportunity to take elite football to a regional community outside of Melbourne.
“It seems like a lot of the Shepparton people are gonna get out, and they’re really excited for it, and they’re hungry to have some soccer where they live, so I think there will be a lot of fans, and I think it will be a great atmosphere, and they’ll make it feel like a home game.”
The squad knows what they’re capable of, and a great amount of frustration has come from producing less than that at times this season.
“I think all the pressure is internal. It’s not, can we get in the top six, which is what it’s had to change into, but before that, it was “why aren’t we doing what we should be doing better than this?”
“We have a great team. We have a great lineup every time we go out. It’s more the pressure of fulfilling our own standards.”
Through the winless run, belief has remained a central theme within the group, driven by competitiveness and trust in the squad.
“I’m definitely super competitive, and I know that, at times, I lead very harshly but it does still feel in a weird way, optimistic.”
“It’s hard not to be optimistic when you look around, and you see the girls that you’re with. I do truly believe if we can get one win, then we’ll be fine. Everything feels better when you’re winning. So I still am optimistic, and it does feel like the girls still believe.”
Melbourne Victory meet Newcastle Jets on Saturday in Shepparton, with belief, preparation and urgency converging at a crucial point of the season.
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