Above: Claudia Bunge speaks to the press. Image: Melbourne Victory.
Isabelle Campbell (1/4/2026)
Melbourne Victory head into their final regular season clash knowing everything is on the line, with a high-stakes trip west to face Perth Glory (and results of later games) set to determine whether their campaign continues into the finals.
For Claudia Bunge, the equation is simple.
“It’s a must win game.”
Victory’s preparations have been shaped by a short turnaround following a disappointing 2-1 loss away to Sydney FC, but the defender believes the timing could work in their favour.
“I think the quick turnaround suits us, especially when you’re coming off the back of a hard defeat. We’ve had a good few days on the grass, but the girls are really looking forward to hopefully righting some of those wrongs that we had against Sydney.”
“We were really disappointed with the result against Sydney. We’re looking forward to the game against Perth, it’s a must win game.”
The stakes could hardly be higher. With both sides still fighting for a place in the top six, Bunge described the match as effectively a final in itself.
“It’s definitely a high pressure game this weekend. It’s pretty much a final. Both teams need a win to get into the top six, so it’s going to be really exciting, and there’s going to be lots of pressure involved.”
“But we’re ready for it, and we’re looking forward to it. We’ve got to expect that Perth are just going to throw everything at us. So all we’re thinking about is the game, and then whatever happens after that, happens after that.”
“To us, it’s definitely a final. That’s all we’re thinking about, doing everything we can, leaving no stone unturned. And hoping that we can get the job done.”
Despite having convincingly defeated Glory 3-0 earlier in the season, Bunge is wary of the challenge they will pose this time around, noting their growth since that previous meeting.
“The girls played really well against them. I was actually away on international duty, so I was watching from afar. I think we were really strong, shut down all their threats, but I think they’ve found their form a bit more since the last game that we had against them. So it’s just going to be about being confident, being brave out there, and just getting rid of their threats again.”
“I think they’ve started gelling together more as a team. And in attack, have probably found their identity a bit more. They’re pretty good at rotating, they’ve got some threats up front. But we’ve identified that. We’re looking forward to implementing our game plan and hopefully going over there and winning the game.”
Victory’s season has been anything but straightforward, with inconsistency proving a challenge across the campaign. However, Bunge sees the broader context of the league as a whole and the compactness of the table this season.
“It’s been a turbulent season, just in terms of results. One week we’re getting three points, next week we’re losing. So that can be quite mentally tough. I think a lot of teams have had that problem this year. It’s probably down to a number of things just not good enough in some game defining moments, and then just the league in general has just been really tight this season.”
Now, with their season hanging in the balance, the focus is clear.
“It’s a big game, but it’s the games that you want to be playing as a footballer. There’s a lot on the line, and you don’t get that often, so we just need to rise to the occasion.”
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