Butrus Returns as Melbourne City Named for A League Finals
Squads were named for a league finals first legs, with Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix both making changes ahead of the weekend’s matches. The selections shape availability for the two semifinals at AAMI Park and Spencer Park, where returns from international duty, injury and suspension alter each bench and starting option.
Melbourne City at AAMI Park
Melbourne City included Danella Butrus after she returned from international duty, alongside Alexia Apostolakis, Shelby McMahon and Holly McNamara, who came back from injury. Caitlin Karic also returned from injury, and Ayana Aoyagi was promoted into the squad.
That gave City a deeper group for the semi-final first leg against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Saturday, May 2 at 5:00pm AEST. The immediate gain came from players arriving back at different stages of fitness and availability, which widened the options for a side trying to handle the first leg without wasting changes on players who were still out.
The absences were just as important. Izabella Rako, Kaya Jugovic and Keira Sarris were unavailable because of international duty, while Chinaza Uchendu was out through suspension. City had three unavailable players listed for the match, and the squad shape made clear how much the first leg depended on returns arriving in time.
Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix
Brisbane Roar also named its squad for the other semi-final first leg, a meeting with Wellington Phoenix at Spencer Park on Sunday, May 3 at 5:00pm AEST. Three Roar players were unavailable: Grace Kuilamu, Sharn Freier and Isabela Hoyos, all out with knee injuries.
Wellington’s list moved in the other direction. Lara Wall returned from injury, and Mikaela Bangalan was promoted into the squad, giving the Phoenix another option before the first leg. That mattered because Wellington carried five unavailable players into the match.
CJ Bott was out because she was pregnant, while Tessel Middag, Sabitra Bhandari, Alyssa Whinham and Emma Main were unavailable because of injury. The squad list left the Phoenix with a trimmed pool for Spencer Park, while Wall’s return offered one piece of relief on a stripped-down availability sheet.
Across both matches, the same pattern defined the weekend: clubs were not just naming teams, they were managing who could actually take the field after international duty, injuries, suspension and pregnancy had already cut into their options. For readers tracking the semi-final first legs, the key takeaway is simple — the names on the squad lists set the shape of the tie before either ball is kicked.
