In early April, when Melbourne City and Canberra United played out the final game of the 2022/23 A-League Women season to determine the top four, Melbourne Victory's players gathered at each other's houses to watch their own fate unfold on live television.
Sitting just one point ahead of fifth-placed Canberra, teetering on the edge of elimination, the team had done as much as they could in their rollercoaster campaign to keep their finals hopes alive: a 2-2 draw against Wellington in the final round was enough to cling to fourth spot, but other results needed to swing in their favour.
