Head coach Chris Greenacre wants to continue improving as Wellington Phoenix battle to keep their Men’s A-League final hopes alive.
The Phoenix are unbeaten in their last three games with Greenacre, with back-to-back wins before the international break, to move atop the top six with four rounds remaining.
They face their toughest test in the last month against an in-form Victory at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
Victory are unbeaten in their last seven matches, with four wins and three draws, to cement themselves in the top four, while Nix have not won an A-League match in Melbourne since 2017.
Main photo: Chris Greenacre (right)… “We’re starting to go in the right direction with how I want to play.”
Wellington also visit Melbourne City next week and Greenacre is under no illusions about the challenge his team will face if they are to remain in finals contention.
“It hasn’t changed from the moment I took on the role,” he says.
“You don’t want to hear it, but I haven’t looked too far ahead.
“If we win all of our games, we may not make it to six yet. My philosophy for this minimum time has been literally day by day, and that’s what we will continue to do.
“We will treat each team with the respect they deserve. Again, we have seen the league this year, the lack of consistency of the teams.
“Hopefully, with a bit of consistency on our part, we can take it all in and put together two positive performances against two tough Melbourne teams.”
Despite that mentality, Greenacre acknowledges that the finals are starting to become a more realistic prospect.
“We aspire to be there. That’s where we want to be season after season.
“If we are the dark horse or the quiet team that makes it to the last day, if it takes that long, then great.
“We are certainly going to aim to achieve that and while it is mathematically possible, we will do everything we can to make that happen.”
“Momentum is fantastic in football, or sport in general. We want to build on the momentum we’ve built in a short period of time and we want to bring it to every game we can, and if we can continue to build on that, that would be amazing.”
He has declared himself happy with the team’s performance in the four games since he took over.
“We’re starting to go in the right direction with how I want to play and we’re seeing elements of that.
“Can it improve? 100% it is possible and there are many elements we can improve, but we are working very hard to try to do it.”
“It doesn’t happen overnight but we’re starting to see little glimpses of it and hopefully we can again take a step in the right direction against Melbourne Victory.”
Greenacre invited club legend Paul Ifill to help at Thursday’s training and plans to visit other Phoenix alumni.
“I just think it’s very important to maintain that connection with the people who have been involved in the club, whether they are staff or players.
“It’s great to have those kinds of people in Wellington and you want to draw on everyone’s experience.
“It’s been in play for quite a while to take him down. Ben Sigmund has been in and around this as well.”
“I haven’t seen him (Ifill) for a while, so it was good to reminisce a bit, but I’m delighted to have him around.
“Those guys want to give something back to the club. It’s their club too.
“There are a lot of other players I would put in that mold as well and I hope to try to do a bit with them as well.”
The club’s most capped player and friend of Greenacre will be on the opposition bench on Sunday afternoon and Andrew Durante is now part of Victory’s coaching staff.
“There will be no dynamics while the game is going on.
“It will be great to see him again… but for those 90 minutes he won’t be my friend.”
Past meetings
Most recent match: February 6, 2026 – Wellington Phoenix 2 Melbourne Victory 3
A-League all-time head-to-head: Phoenix 13W, Victory 29W and 14E.
how to watch
The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Recognition
We thank the Wellington Phoenix for providing information for this story.
Fixed items
Match to be played on Sunday, April 5, 2026
Melbourne victory against Wellington Phoenix
AAMI Park, Melbourne, 5pm (NZT)
Men’s A League
| Club | P | W. | d | l | bride | Georgia | God | points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Jets | 23 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 48 | 36 | 12 | 43 |
| FC Auckland | 23 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 24 | 14 | 40 |
| Adelaide United | 23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 40 | 33 | 7 | 36 |
| Melbourne Victory | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 38 | 28 | 10 | 35 |
| Sydney | 23 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 34 |
| macarthur | 23 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 31 | 38 | -7 | 31 |
| city of melbourne | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 28 | -3 | 29 |
| Central Coast Sailors | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 31 | 34 | -3 | 28 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 33 | 41 | -8 | 27 |
| Brisbane Roar | 23 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 29 | -7 | 25 |
| Perth Glory | 23 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 37 | -10 | 24 |
| Western Sydney Tramps | 23 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 37 | -11 | 21 |
Table at 6am (NZT) on Sunday 5 April 2026.
Squads
Melbourne Victory (two will be omitted)
2. Jason Davidson, 4. Lachlan Jackson, 5. Brendan Hamill, 7. Reno Piscopo, 8. Jordi Valadon, 9. Nikolaos Vergos, 10. Denis Genreau, 11. Clerismario Santos Rodrigues, 14. Matthew Grimaldi, 15. Sebastian Esposito, 17. Nishan Velupillay, 18. Franco Lino, 21. Roderick Miranda, 22. Joshua Rawlins, 23. Keegan Jelacic, 25. Jack Duncan, 27. Louis D’Arrigo, 40. Jack Warshawsky, 44. Charles Nduka, 64. Juan Mata.
In: 27. Louis D’Arrigo (return from injury).
Casualties: 16. Joshua Inserra (injured).
Not available: 16. Joshua Inserra (injured), 19. Jing Reec (injured).
Wellington Phoenix (two will be omitted)
1. Josh Oluwayemi (Greek), 3. Corban Piper, 4. Manjrekar James, 6. Tim Payne, 7. Ifeanyi Eze, 8. Paulo Retre, 10. Nikola Mileusnic, 11. Carlo Armiento, 12. Dan Edwards, 14. Alex Rufer (captain), 15. Isaac Hughes, 16. Sander Kartum, 18. Lukas Kelly-Heald, 20. Ramy Najjarine, 23. Luke Supyk, 25. Kazuki Nagasawa, 27. Matt Sheridan, 28. Bill Tuiloma, 29. Luke Brooke-Smith, 30. Alby Kelly-Heald (Greek).
In: Null.
Out: Null.
Not available: 9. Sarpreet Singh (injured), Nathan Walker (injured).
Official
Referee: Nathan Shakespeare.
This story was first published on April 5, 2026.
