The official elimination of the Glory from the finals race didn’t stop them putting on a show in a fine performance against Macarthur.
In the absence of Adam Taggart, unsung heroes emerged in the form of Gabriel Popovic and Arion Sulemani, who scored their maiden A-League goals late in the second half to seal a 3-1 win at HBF Park.
The positive brand of football Adam Griffiths has preached about and been trying to implement is showing signs of coming to fruition, but it has come far too late.
How the next two games pan out could determine his future, with upper management under immense pressure to deliver next season, in what will be the club’s 30th year anniversary.
For now, the focus is firmly on tonight versus Sydney, a top four aspirant in an adjustment period under new manager Patrick Kisnorbo.
The Sky Blues could finish as high as second or potentially drop to sixth, with the likes of Adelaide and Melbourne City breathing down their neck.
Every game has possible finals ramifications. After spoiling Mile’s party in the Bulls win, the Glory will be out to spoil PK’s party at Allianz Stadium.
Will there be any rotation?
If there is any positive to not having anything at stake in the final games of a season, it would be the chance to give fringe players an opportunity to shine.
Gabriel Popovic is the embodiment of that, granted it came through an injury to Adam Taggart.
Looking back at past lineups, Adam Griffiths isn’t one to make wholesale changes. More often than not, they have come out of necessity rather than by choice.
There should be some sort of attention put on next season, and part of that includes who remains in the squad and which players are moved on.
Decisions may have been made already, but if not, these games can give the manager and the football director an indication of what they want moving forward.
Popovic, Sulemani, Andriano Lebib, and Luca Tevere to an extent, are the kind of players who should get good minutes off the bench or even starting in the final two outings.
The squad makeup for next season is vital. Tough decisions and turnover is expected; tonight and next week can aid the process.
Can Pennington win the Golden Boot outright?
On three occasions in the Glory’s A-League history has the Golden Boot been shared by two players. Only once, in 2016/17, it was shared by three. In 2025/26, it’s on course to happen again.
Back then, the three way tie was between Diego Castro, Andy Keogh and Adam Taggart with twelve goals each.
The number is much lower this season. Thanks to his third goal against Macarthur this season, Nicholas Pennington moved level with Taggart and Tom Lawrence with five in total for the campaign.
With Lawrence out injured and Taggart carrying an injury which kept him out of the side for the Macarthur win, the door is open for Glory’s chosen left midfielder to become one of the most surprising Golden Boot winners in the club’s history.
An even crazier scenario is possible if more players were to get in the mix. Jaiden Kucharski and Stef Colakovski are two goals behind, meaning we could get a first ever four way tie for the top scorer.
Individual accolades aren’t the be all end all in the grand scheme of things. It just makes for a unique situation and something to watch out for as the season nears its end.
Predicted lineup
Despotovski – Popovic
Pennington – Freney – De Abreu – Kucharski
Sutton – Wootton – Kaltak – Shamoon
Sutton
All images courtesy of Tom McCarthy.
