Melbourne City Captain Stott Thrilled for “Unique” Champions League Clash at Home

The 31-year-old New Zealander is gearing up to make history as the AFC Women’s Champions League arrives in Australia for the very first time later this month, coinciding with Melbourne City’s home quarter-final.

Melbourne City’s inaugural campaign in the Asian Women’s Champions League has somewhat flown under the radar, primarily because the entire group stage unfolded over just a fortnight last October. The City squad impressively secured victories in all three of their Group B matches, albeit in front of relatively small crowds at BG Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand.

Having topped their group, the three-time A-League Women champions have been drawn against Taichung Blue Whale FC from Chinese Taipei for a single-leg quarter-final to be held at AAMI Park on March 23.

This marks the first instance in which either Melbourne City’s men’s or women’s sides have advanced beyond the group stage of the AFC Champions League, and captain Rebekah Stott is particularly thrilled about the potential impact this landmark occasion could have on inspiring future generations.

“Bringing international club football to Australia, especially in Melbourne, is something we’ve never seen before, so it’s incredibly exciting,” Stott shared with reporters outside AAMI Park this week.

“Everyone’s been rallying around the Matildas, and I believe this offers supporters a unique brand of football.

“I grew up watching the UEFA Champions League, and at the time, there was no women’s competition. Having our very own continental Champions League is something truly special, something I never imagined would happen.

For little girls to have the chance to watch us compete in our own tournament is really fantastic and gives them a pathway to aspire to.

The AFC Women’s Champions League also provides City’s squad with a rare opportunity for financial gain, with reports suggesting that tournament winners could receive individual bonuses around $50,000. Given that the average salary for A-League Women players is approximately $30,000, many players find themselves balancing football alongside other midweek jobs.

Striker Holly McNamara, who has netted seven goals since returning from an extended ACL injury, insists that financial rewards are not her main focus.

“I don’t really think about the money. If I were solely focused on making money, I wouldn’t be playing football. Any prizemoney is a nice bonus.

“It’s going to be exciting to see how many people come out to support us, and playing in one of the best stadiums in Australia is just unreal.

Her captain, however, holds a different perspective: “This is significant, particularly for women’s football, and it’s a massive step forward. It feels like a goal that’s just within reach, and it’s a tremendous boost for women’s sport.

“I’ve been playing professionally for over 12 years now. In those early days, the financial rewards were scarce, so it’s a huge leap to finally witness such rewards, reflecting how much the women’s game has developed.

Additionally, the winners of the 2025 AFC Women’s Champions League will qualify for the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, revealed this week, which will showcase all six continental champions in a Confederations Cup-style format.