‘Still the hunters’: City star Scott Galloway’s rallying call ahead of new season

Despite winning both trophies on offer in the A-League Men’s last season, Melbourne City defender Scott Galloway believes they aren’t just the ‘hunted’.

Scott Galloway insists the side are still the ‘hunters’ despite winning the A-League double last season. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

Despite Melbourne City coach Patrick Kisnorbo declaring his side would become the “hunted” after claiming its first A-League Men’s championship, City defender Scott Galloway believes they are “still the hunters”.

City had been a dominant force throughout the 2020-21 season, finishing top of the ladder and adding its maiden Premiership to the trophy cabinet.

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That achievement leaves them with a huge target on their backs – there since the full-time whistle blew in last year’s grand final after goals from Galloway, Nathaniel Atkinson and Scott Jamieson sealed a famous 3-1 victory over Sydney FC.

Even though they went into last season as the beaten grand finalists, Galloway believes clubs still had City firmly in their crosshairs due to the attractive way they play.

“I think everyone was coming for us last year as well,” Galloway said.

“They’ve seen the football we played in the season before where we fell just short.

Scott Galloway scored in City’s recent FFA Cup win over South Melbourne. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

“PK (Patrick Kisnorbo) said at the end of last year we’ll be the hunted this year, but we changed it so that we’re still the hunters.

“We want more silverware. We want to keep pushing. We want to win it all, and you want to go back-to-back as well.”

One factor driving the Victorian club is the fact a number of their stars did not play a part in their grand final triumph.

Jamie Maclaren, Curtis Good and Connor Metcalfe missed out on the occasion, as they were called up to the Socceroos.

In a warning to their rivals, Galloway insists they don’t want to be absent from such an achievement again.

“They (Maclaren, Good and Metcalfe) want to do it themselves,” Galloway said.

“The boys that won it last year and were here and part of it, you felt how good the feeling was at the end of it and you want the feeling again.”

City could be without a trio of stars as Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout and marquee signing Mat Leckie return from the UAE just days ahead of the season opener against Brisbane Roar, having been with the Socceroos.

But with or without their blistering strike force, Galloway insists the side is prepared for whatever scenario ensues.

“They should be perfectly fine coming in,” Galloway said.

“They wanted to get back and be ready to play, but we’ve also been preparing without them as well.

“If they’re back it’s an added boost for us, but then we’ve also been preparing ourselves for this game.”

Originally published as ‘Still the hunters’: City star Scott Galloway’s rallying call ahead of new season