Melina Ayres

Melina Ayres (born 13 April 1999) is an Australian football (soccer) player, who plays for Newcastle Jets. She has previously played for Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.

WNPL
In 2017, Ayres signed for her junior club South Melbourne FC after spending the previous WNPL Victoria season at Alamein FC. Ayres went on to sign for South Melbourne the following year.

Melbourne City, 2015–2017
In September 2015 at age 16, Ayres signed with Melbourne City for the 2015–16 season playing primarily in a striker position. She scored her first goal for the club during injury time of the team's inaugural match against Sydney FC solidifying the 6–0 win.

Melbourne Victory, 2017–2023
On 22 September, Ayres joined Melbourne Victory on a one-year deal. Highlights of her 2017/2018 season include a stunning goal against Melbourne City FC in round 11 when she won the ball from Alanna Kennedy and chipped Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams from close to halfway. Just one week earlier, Ayres scored another cracker of a strike against ladder leaders Brisbane Roar. With no clear options on hand, Ayres hit a right foot rocket past Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold into the top right bin, leaving the keeper with no chance. In October 2020, Ayres signed a three-year extension with Melbourne Victory. In August 2023, Ayres departed the club.

Breiðablik, 2022
In April 2022, Ayres joined Breiðablik of the Icelandic Besta-deild kvenna on a loan from Melbourne Victory.

Newcastle Jets, 2023–
In August 2023, Ayres joined Newcastle Jets.

International career
Ayres played in Malaysia for the under-16 national team. Ayres was called up to the Australian under-20 squad for the 2016 AFF Women's Championship in July 2016 held in Myanmar.

Personal life
Ayres is currently studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Deakin University.

Individual

 * Women's National Premier League Golden Boot: (24 goals) 2016
 * Women's National Premier League Golden Boot: (40 goals) 2017