Having carved out a remarkable chapter in the Ninja A-League, Melbourne City is now gearing up to make further strides this weekend as they prepare to face Taichung Blue Whale in the AFC Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. In the lead-up to this pivotal match, aleagues.com.au had a chat with defender Karly Roestbakken.
As the final whistle blew at ctrl:cyber Pitch on Sunday afternoon, one might have anticipated jubilant celebrations from the Melbourne City players.
Not only did superstar Holly McNamara net a hat-trick to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over Premiership contenders Adelaide United, but this win also etched the squad’s name in the record books by achieving a new Ninja A-League milestone of 19 consecutive games without defeat.
While there were inevitably smiles and congratulatory hugs at the final whistle, the prevailing sentiment was one of focus; the Melbourne outfit regarded it as business as usual, reinforcing their competitive mentality.
With one more victory in their sights, they aim to build on this momentum.
“It’s quite special when you think about it; I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet,” reflected Roestbakken as she pondered Sunday’s historic achievement.
“It’s mind-blowing to realise that our team has accomplished something that few players get to experience. It’s incredible to know we’ll be remembered in the record books, inspiring other teams to aim for what we’ve achieved. This is a tough record to match.”
However, what follows reveals the mindset behind this formidable Melbourne City team.
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“Honestly, no,” Roestbakken answered when asked if the squad had been discussing the monumental opportunity to make history leading up to the Adelaide encounter.
“We were all aware of what was at stake and what we could achieve that weekend, but we didn’t dwell on it because it was just another match. Focusing too heavily on the bigger picture can lead to distractions.”
“We approached it like we would any other game, with full awareness of the stakes. We set out to perform and keep our focus as we typically do.”
A quick glance at the Ninja A-League standings reveals that, with just four matches remaining, City holds a five-point advantage as they head into Round 20, raising the question…
Could they finish the season unbeaten?
“Absolutely, that’s a goal for us! None of us wants to lose, and with the season extending, maintaining an unbeaten record is incredibly challenging.”
“We’re not one to throw around the term ‘invincible’. It’s simply not our style.”
“We’re taking it game by game, focusing on how we can improve individually and as a collective. We aim to dominate in every matchup.”
“Yet, given the unpredictable nature of the league, anything can transpire.”
“Our squad is a diligent group, and we refrain from calling ourselves invincible because we understand that anything can happen in football.”
“As long as we remain prepared and continue to put in hard work, we’ll do our utmost to position ourselves for success.”
For Melbourne City, winning has become part of their ethos. With a legacy of securing Premierships and Championships, the club culture has evolved to make victories feel inevitable.
Much like other successful sports institutions, they analyse both triumphs and setbacks to maintain their prominence as consistent winners.
Following a crushing 1-0 defeat to Sydney FC in the 2023-24 Ninja A-League Grand Final, which denied them a Premiership/Championship double, Roestbakken and her teammates quickly determined to avoid the same fate this season.
“Losing leaves a lingering memory, perhaps even more than victory. The sting of defeat, especially in the Grand Final, is something you want to avoid.”
“Securing the minor Premiership last season was a fantastic achievement, but heading into the grand final, we were all eager for that winner’s medal, which made falling short incredibly disheartening.”
“So, as soon as the match concluded, the focus was clear: ‘Next season, we’re coming back for it.’”
“We regrouped and asked ourselves what we could do to become better individually and as a team, to work even harder and turn that desire into reality.”
“While we still have several games to go, achieving this goal remains significant for us and serves as motivation, especially after last season’s disappointment.”
Roestbakken, in particular, has viewed the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season as a barometer for her development, both physically and mentally.
Despite her breakthrough moment in 2019 with a surprising call-up to the Matildas for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, Roestbakken has largely remained under the radar due to injuries.
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Having endured a complex ankle injury that restricted her to just four appearances in the 2022-23 season, City demonstrated their faith in Roestbakken, believing she would evolve into a key contributor for achieving ambitious objectives.
Fast forward two years and she has already surpassed last season’s playing time, racking up 1003 minutes in the 2023-24 season compared to 1147 this season. She has cemented her place as an integral member of a squad competing both in the domestic Ninja A-League and the AFC Champions League.
Given her prior experience in Norway with LSK Kvinner FK, is the seasoned Matilda now considering a return to Europe, especially since she has re-entered the national team setup?
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“Absolutely,” said the defender while making her way home from another training session at the state-of-the-art City Football Academy.
“It’s really been only the past month where I’ve started feeling that itch and desire to go back overseas.”
“I feel ready now. There was a time when I wasn’t entirely sure if that was in the cards for me.”
“Now, I have that hunger back. I’m feeling physically and mentally ready to seize that opportunity if it arises.”
She added, “The journey has been long, with injuries causing mental uncertainty about my readiness.”
“But recently, I’ve felt confident. If the right opportunity comes along, it’d be hard to turn down. I would absolutely love to pursue it.”
Nevertheless, before any discussions of potential transfers or securing any Premierships, Roestbakken and her City teammates are laser-focused on their upcoming Champions League quarter-final.
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Having qualified for the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League by winning the Premiership last season, City has made quite an impression in the competition.
Three consecutive victories against Bam Khatoon of Iran, Thai side BGC Asian Scholars and Kaya FC Iloilo of the Philippines propelled Michael Matricciani’s side to the top of their group with style, leading them into Sunday’s quarter-final match against Taiwanese team Taichung Blue Whale as clear favourites.
“For most of us girls, unless we’ve been involved with national teams and traveled or played abroad, this experience is fairly new,” Roestbakken shared, reflecting on City’s Champions League journey this season.
“We’ve previously played in Thailand, but having this match in Australia at the first women’s AFC Championship is significant. Growing up, we all watched the Champions League, so it feels truly special to participate and compete against some esteemed teams.”
“It’s incredible to see what we’re up against and to gauge our position against other teams. Being able to host it in Australia, especially in Melbourne at AAMI Park, is just fantastic.”
“We hope to attract a substantial crowd, particularly for our families and friends—having their support will mean the world to us.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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