Latest news with #JeffHopkins'
The Advertiser
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Victory to rally, go again after ALW heartbreak
Devastated by a heartbreaking grand final loss, Melbourne Victory will pick themselves up and attempt to keep their star-studded squad together for another crack at silverware. Jeff Hopkins' charges lost 5-4 to Central Coast on penalties in Sunday's grand final at AAMI Park, after scores were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time. Victory also fell just two points short of the premiership to Melbourne City, leaving this season empty-handed. "There's a lot of upset players out there," Hopkins said. "But I'm sure, knowing the character of this group, it won't be something to dishearten them. "It will be something that will annoy them and drive them on to do better next year." Hopkins plans on sticking around for next season and hopes most of his squad will join him, contracted skipper Kayla Morrison and star midfielder Alex Chidiac. Centre-back Claudia Bunge also has an option for another year. "We've been working hard to keep as many of these players here as we can," he said. "And we'll be doing doing the same over the next week or so to lock in as many as we can. "Each season you refresh a little bit but I don't think there's much refreshing that needs done in this squad." Victory will hope star striker Emily Gielnik, who scored 12 goals this season, stays on - but she is unsure yet where her future lies. "No matter what anyone says, I'm just ready to keep on going and where that is, I don't know yet," Gielnik said. "Everyone knows I have a soft spot for Jeff and I love this club. "I really wish I could give everyone an answer, but my gut feeling hasn't told me where I need to be next year yet. "So nothing's off the cards, but I definitely don't have an answer around that yet." The 33-year-old is determined to return to the Matildas fray. "I came to Melbourne Victory to hold some more silverware and win and hopefully get myself back in that green and gold," she said. "And I'll just go back to the drawing board and do it all again." Victory's players have wrapped their arms around young gun Alana Jancevski, who missed the first penalty of the shootout and was distraught post-match. "I had a good cuddle with her and I said 'you're going to get in this situation again and all you need to do is take another penalty and you'll forget about this one'," Gielnik said. "I told her I missed one at the World Cup against Norway, nothing hurts more than missing a penalty." Hopkins said: "I've got no problem with anyone that misses a penalty. "She was brave enough to stand up and take it and I know the whole team feel the same way." Devastated by a heartbreaking grand final loss, Melbourne Victory will pick themselves up and attempt to keep their star-studded squad together for another crack at silverware. Jeff Hopkins' charges lost 5-4 to Central Coast on penalties in Sunday's grand final at AAMI Park, after scores were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time. Victory also fell just two points short of the premiership to Melbourne City, leaving this season empty-handed. "There's a lot of upset players out there," Hopkins said. "But I'm sure, knowing the character of this group, it won't be something to dishearten them. "It will be something that will annoy them and drive them on to do better next year." Hopkins plans on sticking around for next season and hopes most of his squad will join him, contracted skipper Kayla Morrison and star midfielder Alex Chidiac. Centre-back Claudia Bunge also has an option for another year. "We've been working hard to keep as many of these players here as we can," he said. "And we'll be doing doing the same over the next week or so to lock in as many as we can. "Each season you refresh a little bit but I don't think there's much refreshing that needs done in this squad." Victory will hope star striker Emily Gielnik, who scored 12 goals this season, stays on - but she is unsure yet where her future lies. "No matter what anyone says, I'm just ready to keep on going and where that is, I don't know yet," Gielnik said. "Everyone knows I have a soft spot for Jeff and I love this club. "I really wish I could give everyone an answer, but my gut feeling hasn't told me where I need to be next year yet. "So nothing's off the cards, but I definitely don't have an answer around that yet." The 33-year-old is determined to return to the Matildas fray. "I came to Melbourne Victory to hold some more silverware and win and hopefully get myself back in that green and gold," she said. "And I'll just go back to the drawing board and do it all again." Victory's players have wrapped their arms around young gun Alana Jancevski, who missed the first penalty of the shootout and was distraught post-match. "I had a good cuddle with her and I said 'you're going to get in this situation again and all you need to do is take another penalty and you'll forget about this one'," Gielnik said. "I told her I missed one at the World Cup against Norway, nothing hurts more than missing a penalty." Hopkins said: "I've got no problem with anyone that misses a penalty. "She was brave enough to stand up and take it and I know the whole team feel the same way." Devastated by a heartbreaking grand final loss, Melbourne Victory will pick themselves up and attempt to keep their star-studded squad together for another crack at silverware. Jeff Hopkins' charges lost 5-4 to Central Coast on penalties in Sunday's grand final at AAMI Park, after scores were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time. Victory also fell just two points short of the premiership to Melbourne City, leaving this season empty-handed. "There's a lot of upset players out there," Hopkins said. "But I'm sure, knowing the character of this group, it won't be something to dishearten them. "It will be something that will annoy them and drive them on to do better next year." Hopkins plans on sticking around for next season and hopes most of his squad will join him, contracted skipper Kayla Morrison and star midfielder Alex Chidiac. Centre-back Claudia Bunge also has an option for another year. "We've been working hard to keep as many of these players here as we can," he said. "And we'll be doing doing the same over the next week or so to lock in as many as we can. "Each season you refresh a little bit but I don't think there's much refreshing that needs done in this squad." Victory will hope star striker Emily Gielnik, who scored 12 goals this season, stays on - but she is unsure yet where her future lies. "No matter what anyone says, I'm just ready to keep on going and where that is, I don't know yet," Gielnik said. "Everyone knows I have a soft spot for Jeff and I love this club. "I really wish I could give everyone an answer, but my gut feeling hasn't told me where I need to be next year yet. "So nothing's off the cards, but I definitely don't have an answer around that yet." The 33-year-old is determined to return to the Matildas fray. "I came to Melbourne Victory to hold some more silverware and win and hopefully get myself back in that green and gold," she said. "And I'll just go back to the drawing board and do it all again." Victory's players have wrapped their arms around young gun Alana Jancevski, who missed the first penalty of the shootout and was distraught post-match. "I had a good cuddle with her and I said 'you're going to get in this situation again and all you need to do is take another penalty and you'll forget about this one'," Gielnik said. "I told her I missed one at the World Cup against Norway, nothing hurts more than missing a penalty." Hopkins said: "I've got no problem with anyone that misses a penalty. "She was brave enough to stand up and take it and I know the whole team feel the same way."
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Victory grind past WSW to stay in ALW premiership race
Melbourne Victory remain in the hunt for the A-League Women premiership after beating Western Sydney 1-0 to draw within two points of leaders Melbourne City. Jeff Hopkins' Victory, now 11 games unbeaten, locked in a top-two berth ahead of Adelaide United with two games to go thanks to Wanderers defender Danika Matos' own goal in the 18th minute at Wanderers Football Park. With two games to go, City (49 points) lead Victory (47) and Adelaide (39). The game was a catch-up fixture after it was originally postponed due to excessive heat. Star striker Emily Gielnik glanced a header off the near post in the sixth minute and Nicki Flannery had a shot saved in the 14th. Gielnik had a fresh air swing at a cross in the 18th minute and the ball bounced off Matos' face and into her own goal for the opener. Own goals don't get much more unlucky than that 😭You have to feel for Danika Matos here. @gomvfc take an early #WSWvMVC live now on 10 Play & Paramount+. — Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) April 6, 2025 Gielnik flicked a Holly Furphy cross wide with a towering header in the 19th minute. Cushla Rue dragged a shot wide in the 22nd minute and shortly after, Wanderers goalkeeper Shamiran Khamis made an excellent save to deny Gielnik at the near post. Less than a minute later, Gielnik had a goal chalked off for offside. Gielnik dragged a shot wide in the 26th minute and was again denied by Khamis on the half-hour mark. Western Sydney grew into the game, recording 17 shots to Victory's 13, without reward. Bronte Trew thought she had equalised in the 74th minute but it too was cancelled out for offside. Star Victory midfielder Alex Chidiac suffered a right shoulder/collarbone injury late in the clash when she landed awkwardly after an Amy Chessari tackle, but played out the game. Wanderers striker Sophie Harding unsuccessfully appealed for a late penalty, believing she had been fouled by Ellie Wilson. The Victory play Central Coast away on Friday while the last-placed Wanderers travel to face Brisbane on Sunday.
