Mega bucks are up for grabs as Melbourne City’s A-League women’s team seeks to create history

Lucrative prizemoney awaits if City can translate their unbeaten form in the women’s A-League to the Asian Champions League. Midfielder Mariana Speckmaier speaks about the prospect.

They are seemingly invincible, sitting on a 22 game unbeaten streak- with the an almost $2 million prize on the line in the Asian Women’s Champions League Melbourne City don’t plan on ending their record run anytime soon.

Like their A-League’s Women’s season, City skated through the group stage of the competition, held prior to the season kicking off, without dropping a point and conceded just one goal.

They will line up against Taiwanese club Taichung Blue Whale at AAMI Park on Sunday in the quarterfinal. It will be the first time an Asian Women’s Champions League match has been played on home soil.

Tyla Jay Vlajnic celebrates a goal during the AFC Women's Champions League match against College of Asian Scholars in Thailand. Picture: Apinya Rittipo/Getty Images

If they stick to form and go on to win the tournament the club could pocket $1.95 million and each player could earn up to $50,000 – almost double the average wage of an ALW player.

City attacker Mariana Speckmaier said it was incredible to be part of history and play in the first Asian Women’s Champions League.

Mariana Speckmaier in action for Melbourne City during March. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“It’s a massive step to be able to have prize money like that and it shows how much the game has grown on the women’s side,” Speckmaier said.

“It just shows what we have been able to do, we deserve prize money just like the men get.”

Speckmaier, who made the move from Wellington Phoenix to City this season, scored in each of City’s group stage games – adding to her six ALW goals for the season.

City haven’t lost a game in the ALW this season – when added to their Champions League games they are on a 22 game unbeaten streak.

MELBOURNE CITY TAKE THE LEAD JUST 26 SECONDS IN! 🤯⚡️

Mariana Speckmaier scores her fourth goal of the season in blistering speed. What a start 🔥

📺 Watch #ADLvMCY live on Paramount+ & 10 Play pic.twitter.com/fn6QX8O0Rg

— Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) December 20, 2024

“The mentality that everyone has when we step on the pitch is amazing,” Speckmaier said.

“We go into every game expecting nothing less than a win and even if we go behind in a game we know that we are more than capable of coming back and getting the win.

“This is the first team I’ve been on when we haven’t lost a game, it’s been incredible to be a part of that.”

Melbourne City celebrate one of many goals this season. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Blue Whale had a bumpier ride in their Champions League group, recording just one win, They progressed as one of the top third placed teams.

Despite the result Speckmaier knows they can’t count them out.

“It’s a team we don’t know much about and haven’t seen many games from them but whatever they throw at us we are ready to adapt,” she said.

“It is a different way of playing than the A-Leagues. Whether it is the low block or killing the game with fouls and time wasting, it’s a different challenge.”

Speckmaier hopes a big crowd will turn out to watch the match at AAMI Park at 4pm on Sunday.

Originally published as Mega bucks are up for grabs as Melbourne City’s A-League women’s team seeks to create history