The WA government’s tough stance on border restrictions has once again thrown Perth Glory’s season into turmoil.
The decision to postpone this Saturday’s home game against Canberra was inevitable given the WA Government has determined that the ACT is a medium risk jurisdiction and travellers from there would be required to enter self-quarantine for 14 days. As every State and Territory in Australia (with the exception of Tasmania) has been deemed as low risk or higher, travel into the State for short term stays is impossible.
The WA government will not relax these ratings for sporting teams and with the State not fully opening its borders until February 5th, every sporting code in WA is now facing a re-scheduling challenge to try and complete their various competitions.
For the Perth Glory A-League Women team, this means no games at all between now and Christmas and then a move interstate, probably for the whole of January.
Given the promising start Glory’s A-League Women side have made to their campaign this is particularly frustrating, but coach Alex Epakis has chosen to focus on the positives this mini-break may bring, and he had this to say when he spoke to Glory’s media manager Gareth Morgan earlier this week.
“It’s a mixed blessing because although we’re on a fantastic run with really good momentum and I know the players and staff just want to be playing week in, week out, we have picked up a few niggles in the last two matches and it just gives us time to overcome those and iron out any kinks in what we’re doing.
“So come our next match in early January, we’ll be in a better place.”
The short break will also allow American import Cyera Hintzen a chance to work on her fitness and get to know her teammates a little better, as she has just started training with the team after coming out of quarantine.
The impact that a significant run of away games will have on the team will be difficult to judge, especially given the young age of the squad, but Epakis is again focussing on the potential positives this could bring.
“That togetherness and time away may prove to be even more powerful for this group than it would be if it was a normal schedule,” he said.
“We all know we have a job to do this year and to be all together in the same place really focussing on that might be even more beneficial for us all.”
