The penultimate chapter of the Glory’s season will finish tonight at HBF Park. It’s the last game for the men’s side at home and in Australia, with two clashes in New Zealand coming up to put an end to what can only be described as a woeful campaign.
Plenty of unwanted records are still on the cards. The chances of avoiding them are closing by the second. Their opponents this week are in dire form and just announced the departure of their coach at season’s end.
Adelaide are winless in seven. In four of their last five games, five or more goals have been scored. In three of them, there has been at least eight.
These two teams aren’t strangers to high scoring affairs. Based on Glory’s form, this won’t live up to the hype. Based on history and Adelaide’s form, there is a possibility that HBF Park’s send off for 2024/25 will be a banger.
And so, the talking points as Glory say goodbye to the home faithful.
What reception will Zdrilic receive?
Following the 3-1 loss to Brisbane, the boos rang out at full-time and most fans let it be known they were done with David Zdrilic.
Since then there have been two 3-1 losses where the stats pointed to slight improvement but the scorecard told a different story, at least in the coach’s words.
It’s done nothing to sway the opinions of the majority. Zdrilic has given reasons for why it hasn’t panned out well; fans are tired of it and have seen nothing to suggest next season will be any different.
How tonight goes will be fascinating to see. If the team puts in a strong performance with a result to show for it, the outlook is brighter.
On the flip side, the noise if it goes bad might be too big to ignore for the owners and board who have remained silent on the future of the coach.
Once the supporters lose faith in the man leading the charge, it makes the role even more challenging. For Zdrilic, tonight is his last chance to give the fans a reason to back him.
One last goal for The Shed and The Bay?
Home ground advantage has always been important for the Glory. In most years, HBF Park has been a tough place to come for opposition teams. Not this season.
11 games for one win and two draws. Only six goals scored. The active supporter groups have seen three Glory goals at The Shed End.
The heartbeat of the club have sat through some tough displays. At least they got to celebrate a superb strike from Luke Amos three weeks ago.
They deserve to see one more. Adelaide have been shaky in defence and if Zdrilic’s talk means something, then they will take their chances and get some reward for effort.
Predicted lineup
Pearman – Taggart
Bugarija
Freney – Amos – Pennington
Misao – Majekodunmi – Mrcela – Risdon
Cook
And for the women…
Can they win away?
Today is the Glory girls’ last chance to grab an away win. Allianz Stadium against the Sky Blues, sitting on the same number of points clinging onto the hope of making the finals.
Sydney have won three on the trot but remain the lowest scorers in the ALW this season, bagging three or more goals in a game only once.
Mackenzie Hawkesby has been in good form and will look to take advantage against a Glory defence who have often struggled to keep the ball out of the net.
The battle of the weakest attack against one of the worst defences will most likely determine the outcome of this one.
Even if the Glory get the chocolates, they need Canberra and Brisbane to lose to remain mathematically possible of a top six spot going into the final round.
All images courtesy of Tom McCarthy.
