Finals football is firmly back on Perth Glory’s agenda for the first time since the 2018-19 season! We’ll be taking a closer look at Glory’s season so far.
Home Form: A Growing Fortress
Last Friday night saw Perth Glory continue their impressive home form with a 3–1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, their fourth consecutive victory at Sam Kerr Football Centre. The result lifted Glory into the top six, just four points behind league leaders Melbourne City, although they have played two games more.
Glory’s home form has been the standout feature of their campaign. Only Melbourne City boast a better home record this season.
The five home games played so far have led to four wins and one loss, a Round 2 defeat to Brisbane Roar at HBF Park, rather than their usual base at Sam Kerr Football Centre. Since returning to their regular venue, Glory have been perfect: four wins from four games, six goals scored, and just one conceded.
Compared to the same point last season, the improvement is clear, and maintaining this form will be crucial if Glory are to remain genuine finals contenders.
Comparison – first five home games of the season
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2024/25: P5 W2 D1 L2 | GF 7 GA 6 | Points 7
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2025/26: P5 W4 D0 L1 | GF 8 GA 4 | Points 12
Away Form: A Familiar Problem
If Glory’s home performances have been impressive, their away form continues to hold them back.
From five matches on the road, they have managed just one win, a 3–1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers in the opening round, the same scoreline as last Friday’s home win. The other four away matches have all ended in defeat, conceding 12 goals and scoring just one in the process.
The number of away goals conceded is the worst in the league and is in stark contrast to their solidity at Sam Kerr Football Centre. While marginally improved on last season, their away form remains well below the standard required of a top-six side.
Comparison – first five away games of the season
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2024/25: P5 W0 D1 L4 | GF 3 GA 12 | Points 1
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2025/26: P5 W1 D0 L4 | GF 4 GA 12 | Points 3
Defensive Resilience
One of the most striking aspects of Glory’s home success has been their ability to win without dominating the ball.
The 1–0 victories over Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United highlighted just how disciplined and organised the side has become defensively. Against Wellington, Glory had just 41% possession and six shots, while against Adelaide, those numbers dropped to 37% possession and nine shots. Despite this, they kept both opponents scoreless.
Even in the win over Newcastle, where Glory enjoyed slightly more of the ball (46%) and took 14 shots, the numbers still underlined how much of the work was done without possession. The collective defensive effort across the team has been a major factor in their home success.
Teresa Morrissey: A Crucial Signing
Signed as Glory’s first-choice goalkeeper to replace Casey Dumont, Teresa Morrissey was forced to wait until Round 6 to make her debut, due to a back injury. Her absence prompted Glory to bring in Alyssa Dall’Oste from Western United as short-term cover.
Morrissey’s impact was immediate. She delivered an outstanding performance against a dangerous Wellington attack, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win and playing a decisive role in securing the points. She has maintained that level since, except in Round 9 against Melbourne City, where Holly McNamara produced a clinical finishing display in a 3–0 defeat.
Tactical Shift Pays Off
Stephen Peters began the season determined to implement a 3–5–2 system, using Grace Johnston and Tijan McKenna as attacking wing-backs to create midfield overloads. However, the opening five games exposed flaws in the approach, with Glory losing four matches, conceding 12 goals and scoring just five.
Injuries to centre backs Naomi Chinnama and Onyinyechi Zogg ahead of the Wellington match forced a rethink. Peters switched to a more familiar 4–3–3, with McKenna moving into central defence alongside Mischa Anderson, who made her first A-League start. Johnston and Julia Sardo shifted into conventional full-back roles, and the side immediately looked more settled.
Peters has stuck with this system ever since, and the results have followed: four wins and just one loss since the change.
Looking Ahead
Given their struggles last season, plus a tough opening run of away fixtures against Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, Canberra United, and Melbourne City, Glory can be satisfied with their progress so far.
Their home form suggests they can be confident in the return fixtures later in the season, although taking points from Victory, Canberra, and City will require near-perfect performances.
Away from home, however, the challenges remain significant. Trips to Adelaide, Brisbane, Central Coast, Newcastle, and Wellington will be key tests of Glory’s finals credentials.
To sustain their push, Glory must evolve beyond being a defensively strong, counter-attacking side and add more firepower. Compared to the other teams currently in the top six, they have scored the fewest goals and conceded the most, and these numbers will need to improve if finals football is to become a reality.
