How would Melbourne City’s all-conquering women’s side fare against some of the world’s best teams?

How would Melbourne City’s all-conquering W-League side fare against some of the world’s best teams?

Melbourne City's Jodie Taylor.

THEY boast 653 international caps.

In their midst is a Women’s World Cup champion, four Asian Cup champions, a W-League most valuable player winner and three W-League golden boot winners.

Together they’ve shared in 25 W-League titles and have players who have also won titles in the USA, England, Japan, the Netherlands and Denmark.

Melbourne City’s W-League side, on the quest for three-straight titles in tomorrow’s grand final against Sydney, boasts outrageous quality in every position.

Yukari Kinga has won a FIFA Women’s World Cup with Japan. Picture: AAP

But how would it stack up against other great club teams around the world?

Quite well, some of its star players insist.

Defender Alanna Kennedy is the only City player to have won a US national league title and said this City line-up would have stacked up well against her 2016 NWSL championship-winning Western New York Flash side.

“I think we would match it anywhere around the world,” Kennedy said.

“There are a lot of individual accolades on this team.

“At the start of the season, when you put all of those players together it took a bit of time, but now that we have started to jel, the style of play and the way we play together is great.”

Kyah Simon has 76 Matildas caps to her name and was a part of Australia’s Asian Cup-winning side in 2010. Picture: Getty Images)

Lydia Williams, who Kennedy said is “one of the best goalkeepers in the world”, nominated Lyon in France as the world’s best.

“It’d be a tough ask to play against them, they’ve got a lot of money behind them,” Williams said.

“But I definitely think it would be a really good game.

Melbourne City’s Welsh star Jess Fishlock.

“It’d be interesting if there was a championship for all the women’s clubs, it’d be a great drawcard.”

With the question now posed, fullback Steph Catley also said she’d be curious to see how this City side stacks up.

“I think if we had more time together and were able to keep the squad the way it is, I think we’d do really well against some of the other great club teams around the world,” Catley said.

“We’ve got internationals with a wealth of experience. It would be interesting to see.”

English star Jodie Taylor was the leading goalscorer at last year’s European championships. Picture: Michael Klein

English striker Jodie Taylor was playing for Arsenal a few months ago and, having played for clubs in England, Sweden, America and Australia, is well placed to make an assessment on where City sits.

“Certainly with the players we have, we’d give any team a run for their money,” Taylor said.

But while “hard to say exactly” where the team would rate, there is one thing Taylor has no doubt about — Welsh star Jess Fishlock is one of the best players in the world.

“I know she’s been quality here, she’s been quality in the US too,” Taylor said.

“She’s been great for this club, great for this league.”

CITY v WORLD

Internationals

MATILDAS

Melissa Hudson (86 caps), Kyah Simon (76), Lydia Williams (64), Steph Catley (63), Alanna Kennedy (59), Larissa Crummer (15), Aivi Luik (6), Rhali Dobson (1)

WALES

Jess Fishlock (101)

JAPAN

Yukari Kinga (94)

NEW ZEALAND

Rebekah Stott (57)

ENGLAND

Jodie Taylor (30)

USA

Ashley Hatch (1)

Titles

COUNTRY

Women’s World Cup: 1 (Kinga)

Olympic silver medal: 1 (Kinga)

Women’s Asian Cup: 4 (Hudson, Luik, Simon, Williams)

Women’s Oceania Nations Cup: 2 (Hudson, Stott)

CLUB

W-League: 25 (Catley, Crummer, Fishlock, Luik 3; Barnes, Jackson, Simon, Stott, Vlajnic, Williams 2; Kennedy)

Japan L. League: 8 (Kinga)

Netherlands Eredivisie: 2 (Fishlock)

USA National Women’s Soccer League: 1 (Kennedy)

Denmark Elitedivisionen: 1 (Luik)

England FA Women’s Cup: 2 (Kinga, Taylor)

Originally published as How would Melbourne City’s all-conquering women’s side fare against some of the world’s best teams?