Melbourne City's A-League Women's representatives will welcome Adelaide United for the first match of Saturday's A-League double-header in their bid to bounce back from a disappointing defeat last round at the hands of Melbourne Victory.
Despite City not getting their preferred result last time out, there were positives to take out of the game: Hannah Wilkinson is adapting to being City's main cog in the attack; Rebekah Stott continued to look confident in central midfield; Rhianna Pollicina is quickly getting used to a focal point role in attacking midfield, with her agility and dribbling being areas of promise last time out.
By contrast, Adelaide United head into this one off the back of their first win of the season, as they inflicted a second defeat in a row on Canberra United courtesy of a late winner from Emily Condon. Condon is undoubtedly one of the key players that head coach Rado Vidosic will have to put time into stopping, along with Chelsie Dawber. The very recent re-signing of Dylan Holmes, a star for the Reds last season, also looms as a danger standing in City's way of obtaining three points this week.
Adelaide has conceded six goals this season - five in one game - which suggests their defence is a bit on the leaky side. Now, how do you expose a supposed leaky defence? Let them try and contend with the power and movement of Hannah Wilkinson. This game is looming as the one in which Wilkinson will open her City account, which she hasn't been far off doing, with finishing and pace on the ball being her Achilles heel to this point.
Wilkinson, of course, cannot do it all on her own. She will need the service, which is where Rhianna Pollicina comes in. Having shown continued growth so far this season, she'll see Adelaide as perfect opposition to break a duck of her own in the goal assist department.
With no injuries or suspensions to worry about from a City perspective, There should be no excuses for not taking the three points at our home ground. By extension, it could boost the club as a whole, riling up our fans and spurring on Jamo and the boys in the subsequent A-League Men's Melbourne Derby.
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