As we move just past the halfway point of the season, it’s time to evaluate Perth Glory’s journey under new coach Stephen Peters.
Going into the 2024/25 campaign it’s no exaggeration to say that Glory were in a shambolic state. They had finished 10th in season 2023/24, having failed to register a win in the last 12 games of that campaign and losing their last four. During the pre-season, they lost their coach and 17 players from the squad including their Captain, Goalkeeper and leading goalscorer. With only eight players retained, Peters faced a daunting rebuild, further complicated by pre-season injuries to Susan Phonsongkham and Isabella Wallhead.
Building the Squad
The need for players who could perform in the A-League was essential and some key signings included:
- Defence: Naomi Chinnama, Onyinyechi Zogg (Nigeria), and Natalie Tathem.
- Attack: Megan Wynne (Wales), Kelli Brown (New Zealand), and Gabby Hollar (USA).
Local talent has also bolstered the team, with A-league players Miranda Templeman, Tijan McKenna, and Ischia Brooking being joined by NPLW WA stars Ella Lincoln and Charli Wainwright, adding to the six WA players already in the squad.
The most important signing though was that of goalkeeper Casey Dumont who joined the side in round three after her AFLW season had finished.
The Campaign So Far
The season opened with a 5-2 loss to Melbourne City, extending the team’s losing streak to 13 games. However, a spirited 3-2 win over Newcastle Jets in their home opener provided a much-needed morale boost, showcasing fighting spirit despite defensive lapses. However, they have failed to show any signs of consistency during the season, with just one more win to their name when they beat Adelaide United 3-1. The win was built on aggressive defending and rapid counterattacks and has been the best of the season by far.
The counter to that win were defeats against Brisbane (3-0) and Western United (4-1) which demonstrated how far away they are from the teams in the top six of the league.
Key Players and Challenges
As mentioned, Dumont’s arrival has been by far the biggest influence on the team as she has not only stabilised the defence but also shown strong leadership qualities, while Chinnama and Zogg have formed a strong centre-back pairing. Georgia Cassidy has grown into a pivotal role shielding the defence, and the counterattack has been a weapon. However, injuries to key players like Brown, Isobel Dalton, and Sara O’Donoghue have hindered progress. With a league-high of 24 players used already and three injury replacements, there must be some questions asked about the training and recruitment regime for there to have been so many players out with injury.
Looking Ahead
Glory currently sit in 11th spot on the ladder with just two wins from 12 games, and are now nine points from the top six, so their finals hopes are very slim. Scoring remains a major issue, with only 12 goals all season and no clean sheets. Yet, the emergence of local talent is promising, with good contributions from Cassidy, McKenna, Grace Johnston, and others.
There is now an opportunity for Peters to build on his base of promising local talent. With several eastern state imports failing to impress, he has nothing to lose by giving more game time to these local players, to have them more competitive for season 2025/26.
Whether the club will agree to this is another matter, but their policy over the last 4-5 years of using eastern State NPLW and visa players has not brought them finals football, so perhaps it’s time for a change in direction.
