The tendency to underperform whenever a 10,000+ crowd packs into HBF Park to watch them is becoming a difficult habit to break for the Perth Glory.
Off the back of a convincing 3-0 win over the Mariners and a positive back page spread in The West, a golden opportunity was presented to continue the momentum gathered both on and off the pitch.
Unfortunately, Adam Griffiths’ side failed to bring their bestagainst a dogged Brisbane side. They were second best for the majority of the night, taking 13 less shots overall and having just one for the entirety of the first half Glory sit tenth at the halfway mark, with eight of their remaining thirteen on the road. The first of which comes on Sunday, battling a Wanderers side with a new coach and a big signing up front who has caused Glory issues in the past.
They’ll have to do it on a scorching afternoon in Parramatta. Griff’s road warriors are in for a real test to stop the Wanderers with their new manager bounce.
Does Colakovski come straight in?
Wednesday morning saw the confirmation of a new signingfor the Glory until the end of the season, one which can’t be described as discreet.
Stefan Colakovski has been in Perth for the last six months, continuing rehab on the ACL injury he suffered whilst at the Phoenix in December of 2024.
No guarantees were given of a place in the squad, but the 25-year-old has clearly done enough to warrant a short term dealand be honoured with the no.67 shirt.
Colakovski has been named in the matchday squad and is available for selection, joining Jaiden Kucharski and Will Freney as potential returns for this weekend.
A premiership player with an eye for goal and who had good chemistry with Adam Taggart when they played together under Alen Stajcic, the addition of Colakovski adds more excitement to the Glory attack.
Given the nature of the injury he’s coming back from, a starting debut to begin his second Glory stint is unlikely. Expect him to be eased back into action, where his contributions as a super sub could be extremely useful for Adam Griffiths.
Will Ibusuki strike again?
The concept of the new manager bounce is enough to strike fear in the minds of any football fan. Glory fans are staring it down the barrel right now, but there is someone else to be more concerned with than Gary Van Egmond.
The man I speak of is Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki. Now at his third A-League club, the 34-year-old looks at the Glory the same way Luis Suarez looked at Norwich City.
In nine previous matches vs Perth, Ibusuki has scored seven times and has been on the winning side in eight of them. The Glory are the only team he has never tasted defeat against in the A-League.
As far as potential goalscoring threats, they don’t get any bigger (literally and figuratively) than Wanderers new man up top. Add in the likes of Brandon Borrello, Alou Kuol and Kosta Barbarouses into the mix and the Wanderers have a strong frontline on paper.
The Glory’s twin towers Scott Wootton and Brian Kaltak are a formidable duo. Their matchups with the Western Sydney strikers are the battles to watch out for in this clash. Stopping Ibusuki, particularly in aerial duels, is a requirement to keep the ball out of the Glory net.
And for the Glory girls…
Can Morrissey be the hero between the sticks?
The A-League Women’s clash between the Mariners and the Glory last week was excellent viewing for the neutral fan.
Both sides engaged in attractive football, taking turns to find a winner late in the contest. In the end, the points were shared on the Central Coast.
Stephen Peters and his squad are improving with each game; the results are beginning to reflect that.
Part of the success has to be put down to the performances in goal from Teresa Morrissey, who has made the biggest difference of any individual in the squad.
In six appearances, FOTMOB has awarded her player of the game four times and only once has her match rating been lower than an eight.
The only match where it was lower was the previous meeting with this weekend’s opponent, Melbourne City. The game where Holly McNamara put the Glory to the sword with a hattrick.
City are usually dominant with the ball and will create multiple clear cut opportunities. Regardless of how good the back four is, Morrissey will have to be on her A-game to give the girls a chance at pulling off a major upset.
Predicted lineup
Lawrence – Taggart
Pennington – Bozinovski – De Abreu – Despotovski
Sutton – Kaltak – Wootton – Shamoon
Sutton
All images courtesy of Tom McCarthy.
