Hopkins wants Victory players to step up in absence of side's Matildas

His side to be without Matildas Emily Gielnik and Alex Chidiac against Perth, Melbourne Victory coach Jeff Hopkins has challenged their replacements to show the quality of the side’s depth.

Going without Emily Gielnik and Alex Chidiac for any game is hardly the ideal scenario for any A-League Women's side. But with Matildads duty rendering the pair unavailable for a trip to face Perth Glory on Sunday, Melbourne Victory coach Jeff Hopkins has challenged their replacements to show the quality of the side’s depth.

Sitting out last week as the league observed a split round over the international window, Victory makes the trek across the Nullabor this weekend knowing that a win will move them back into third position on the table and that if Brisbane falls to Wellington, up into second.

Any three points, however, will need to be claimed without the services of spearhead Gielnik – who leads the A-League Women with six goals scored in 2023-24 – and midfield general Chidiac, who are both likely to feature for Tom Sermanni when the Matildas face Taiwan in Geelong on Saturday evening.

Hopkins indicated that Ella O'Grady would likely come into the XI as a straight swap for Gielnik, the 19-year-old to this point having made four appearances off the bench this season and netting once in a 4-1 win over Western United. Sara D'Appolonia, Sofia Sakalis, and Rosie Curtis, he said, could all come in for Chidiac, or Alana Murphy could take up a higher position in the midfield.

"Whatever we do, we've got a top quality player to come in and have an opportunity to show me, show the rest of the team, and show everyone watching that they deserve to be starting in the team,” said Hopkins.

“Ella, strength-wise, she probably doesn't compare with Emily, but in terms of speed and ability to hurt teams in behind, Ella will do that. That's how she plays, she's a massive threat with her pace, and she's been working hard on holding the ball up as well.

“She'll give us something very similar to what Emily can give us. That threat that she causes in behind often gives her a little bit more time and space to come and receive the ball as defenders can't afford to get really tight with her.”

Under the tutelage of new coach Stephen Peters, Glory sit tenth heading into Sunday’s contest but, notably, their one win of the season came in their lone game in Perth: downing the Newcastle Jets 3-2 at Perth Oval in round two, a fixture probably best remembered by most for Jets keeper Danielle Krzyzaniak’s bizarre red card.

Victory’s visit will mark their first game at the newly constructed Sam Kerr Football Centre in Queens Park and will also mark the 150th A-League Women appearance for Casey Dumont, becoming the first keeper in league history to reach that mark when she takes the field.

Dumont, of course, is both a former champion with Victory and, after a tense exit, responsible for dumping them out of the finals whilst a member of the Central Coast Mariners last year – producing a trademark penalty shootout performance to send her one-time employers packing.

Natalie Tathem is another former Vuck representative who now calls Perth home, with Peters also able to call on the likes of Isobel Dalton, Tijan McKenna, and Kelli Brown – the latter described as someone who knows where the goals are by the Victory coach.

“They're a strong side,” said Hopkins. “We know a few of their players as well; Casey [Dumont] and Nat Tathem over there. They're a team that you definitely don't want to underestimate. And we've been lucky enough to have a bit of time to do a little bit of work, to have a good look at their side.

“They've got dangerous players in a lot of positions and if you give them time and space, they can, they can definitely hurt you.

“It's going to be hot over there as well. So we've been able to work on one or two things in terms of our structure as well, just in case it gets a little bit hot so we might have to do things a little bit differently. But we're well prepared.

“As usual, we're going over there to win, we're not going over there to draw; we're going over there to impose our game on them, and that's what we're all about.”

Hopkins also confirmed that goalkeeper Lydia Williams was awaiting surgery and that the club would have a better idea of any timelines for the Matilda legend’s return to their squad once that was completed.

Header Image: Melbourne Victory