Melbourne Victory centre-back Brendan Hamill ruptures anterior cruciate ligament in his knee

A Melbourne Victory defender’s worst injury fears have been realised following his side’s weekend loss to Auckland FC.

Experienced Melbourne Victory defender Brendan Hamill is facing several months on the sidelines after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in his side’s 1-0 A-League semi-final first-leg loss to Auckland FC.

Hamill was forced off the field in the 56th minute of Saturday night’s match at AAMI Park, with the Victory on Monday confirming the worst fears of the player and the club.

“Hamill will undergo reconstructive surgery in the coming days, and the club will continue to provide support to Brendan leading into next season,” a Victory statement said.

Hamill is contracted to the Victory until the end of next season, but now faces the prospect of not playing again until the latter stages of the club’s 2025-26 campaign.

The 32-year-old centre-back had been a late inclusion in the Victory’s starting team on Saturday after a hip injury sidelined captain Roderick Miranda.

Brendan Hamill winces in agony after injuring his knee in his Melbourne Victory team’s 1-0 loss to Auckland FC. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Hamill, who has made a combined total of 180 A-League appearances at four clubs, not only replaced Miranda in the Victory’s 11, but was also wearing the captain’s armband in the Portuguese import’s absence.

The Melbourne side will now be sweating on Miranda’s fitness ahead of this Saturday night’s second-leg in Auckland, where the Victory face the tough task of overcoming their first-leg defeat to reach the May 31 grand final.

Meanwhile, Perth Glory will host Italian giants AC Milan in pre-season friendly on July 31 at HBF Park.

Glory chief executive officer Anthony Radich said AC Milan was a “big drawcard” in Perth, having also last year played a match in Western Australia last year against fellow Italian top-flight outfit Roma.

“From a football point of view, we are looking forward to pitting our wits against such high-quality opponents as part of our preparations for the 2025-26 A-League campaign and I know our players will relish the challenge,” Radich said.