| Melina Ayres | |
| Fullname: | Melina Ayres |
| Birth Date: | 1999 4, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Position: | Striker |
| Years1: | 2015–2017 |
| Clubs1: | Melbourne City |
| Caps1: | 16 |
| Goals1: | 2 |
| Years2: | 2016 |
| Clubs2: | Alamein FC |
| Caps2: | 25 |
| Goals2: | 23 |
| Years3: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs3: | South Melbourne |
| Caps3: | 55 |
| Goals3: | 82 |
| Years4: | 2017–2023 |
| Clubs4: | Melbourne Victory |
| Caps4: | 53 |
| Goals4: | 16 |
| Years5: | 2022 |
| Clubs5: | → Breiðablik (loan) |
| Caps5: | 9 |
| Goals5: | 2 |
| Years6: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs6: | Newcastle Jets |
| Caps6: | 14 |
| Goals6: | 6 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2016– |
| Nationalteam1: | Australia U20 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 3 |
| Pcupdate: | 28 May 2024 |
| Ntupdate: | 25 October 2017 |
Melina Ayres (born 13 April 1999) is an unattached Australian football (soccer) player. She has previously played for Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, and Newcastle Jets.
In 2017, Ayres signed for her junior club South Melbourne FC after spending the previous WNPL Victoria season at Alamein FC.[1] Ayres went on to sign for South Melbourne the following year.[2]
In September 2015 at age 16, Ayres signed with Melbourne City for the 2015–16 season playing primarily in a striker position.[3] [4] 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.[5]
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.[6] In October 2020, Ayres signed a three-year extension with Melbourne Victory.[7] In August 2023, Ayres departed the club.[8]
In April 2022, Ayres joined Breiðablik of the Icelandic Besta-deild kvenna on a loan from Melbourne Victory.[9]
In August 2023, Ayres joined Newcastle Jets.[10] In October 2024, Ayres announced that after nine consecutive seasons, she's taking a break from football.[11]
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.[12]
Ayres is currently studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Deakin University.[13]