Melbourne City midfielder Shelby McMahon says she still finds it surreal that Cortnee Vine, whose penalty she watched from the stands at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, is now one of her teammates, as the club prepares to defend its Premiership and Championship titles.
McMahon, 18, was 15 when she saw Vine convert a penalty against France at Suncorp Stadium during that tournament. "I was in the stands for that one. It was unbelievable," she said.
Vine is one of six new signings at Melbourne City this off-season, along with Momo Hayashi, Melina Ayres, Avaani Prakash, Taylor Ray and Aimee Medwin. "To see [Vine] coming along, it's awesome. It's great to have her a part of the team," McMahon said. "For us as at City, but then I also think for the league, she'll have a massive impact on the quality."
McMahon joined Melbourne City from the Gold Coast in January 2024 as an injury replacement player. Her first stint produced seven games and two goals, enough to earn her a permanent squad spot. She has since made 41 appearances for the club, winning three premierships and a championship, and scored six A-League goals, including two in finals.
She also scored in both the semi-final and final of the 2025 AFC Women's Champions League.
One of the new arrivals, Hayashi, played six seasons of NPLW for Gold Coast United before joining Brisbane Roar for the 2024-25 season. McMahon played for rival club Gold Coast Knights during that time. "We have talked about Gold Coast United because I played for Gold Coast Knights," she said. "So there's a big rivalry there." She added that the pair mostly stick to safer territory now. "We always just talk about the weather and the beach."
McMahon said the volume of new faces at training had taken some adjusting to. "A lot of the signings were very surprising. Good surprises, of course, but [Hayashi] was such a big part of Brisbane, so it's been awesome to see her in training and see what she's like day to day," she said. "Everyone's always a bit different on and off the field. So it's really nice to meet everybody and get to know them personally."
One new teammate has a more pointed history with the club. McMahon recalled an on-field clash last season between Medwin and City's Aideen Keane, in which Medwin conceded a penalty for a foul on Keane and Keane was booked for a foul on Medwin. "I think in our last Brisbane game, Aimee Medwin and Aideen Keane, you know, they had a bit of a biff," McMahon said. "But Aimee's lovely and they're getting along really well. So yeah it's so funny to see."
Ayres arrives from Newcastle, Prakash from Central Coast, Ray from Melbourne Victory and Medwin from Brisbane Roar.
McMahon was part of the Young Matildas squad at the AFC U20 Asian Cup in April, a campaign that ended in the quarter-finals with a loss to North Korea. She said a senior Matildas call-up remained a goal. "It's a big dream," she said. "There's no reason why I and anybody else in the 20s and anybody else around the league can't think that they can make it."
Melbourne City finished last season as double champions, beating Wellington Phoenix 3-1 in the Grand Final at AAMI Park on May 16, with Holly McNamara scoring twice and named Player of the Match.
The club opens its title defence against the same opponent, Wellington Phoenix, in New Zealand on Sunday, October 18.