EXCLUSIVE by Ben Gilby (28/10/26)
Above: Tom Glavovic with the NPLW WA champions trophy that he won back-to-back with Perth Azzurri in 2026. Photo via Tom Glavovic.
Tom Glavovic has guided Perth Azzurri to two consecutive NPLW WA championships, but as the dust settled on another successful season at Dorrien Gardens, he announced that the time is right for a new challenge at UWA-Nedlands.
Looking back on his achievements with the Azzurri, the head coach reflected: “I feel incredibly proud and grateful to have been part of such an amazing club and community. My time at Perth Azzurri was extremely rewarding, both professionally and personally, and I’m proud of what we achieved together.
“Winning the first women’s championship in the club’s 77-year history (in 2025) was a special moment. There had been many people before us who had worked hard to achieve that goal, so to be the group that finally delivered it was something we will always be proud of. To then back it up with a second consecutive championship made it even more special.
“Those achievements were never about one individual. They were the result of the players, coaching staff, club, families and everyone behind the scenes working towards the same objective. The club was incredibly supportive throughout my time there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity and the trust they placed in me.
“I leave with some fantastic memories, great relationships and enormous pride in what we accomplished together. Perth Azzurri will always be an important part of my coaching journey.”
The club had achieved State Cup and Night Series silverware prior to Glavovic’s arrival, and had been a constant qualifier for the season-ending Top Four Cup in the NPLW era, but they had been unable to make the leap to secure league honours. He believes that it all boiled down to a desire to take a fresh look at how things operated in the women’s program.
“It came down to hard work, commitment, culture and a willingness to make the changes needed to move the team forward. We took a fresh approach to how we wanted to play, established clear expectations and worked hard to create an environment where everyone understood their role and what was required to be successful.
“There was an enormous amount of work behind the scenes. The players committed themselves to the process, the coaching staff worked tirelessly, and everyone contributed to building a strong team environment. We wanted to play with intensity, move the ball quickly, make good decisions and compete in every moment of the game, but just as importantly, we wanted a group that trusted and supported one another.
“Winning one championship is difficult enough. Repeating that success the following season requires another level of consistency, resilience and commitment because you become the team everyone wants to beat. I’m incredibly proud that we were able to achieve that.
“What makes the achievement even more satisfying is that we reached the final of every other major competition we entered across those two seasons, including the pre-season competition, the State Cup and the end-of-season Top Four Cup. That level of consistency says a lot about the group’s mentality and standards.
“Ultimately, the success belonged to everyone involved. We created something special together, and the players and staff deserve enormous credit for the work they put in.”
The season just finished saw the Azzurri make a powerful start, going unbeaten across the first 17 rounds of the 21 week regular league campaign. To make that run even more impressive, this was the most strongly contested NPLW WA season in the competition’s history.
Glavovic believes that the breakthrough success of the previous campaign helped initially, but it still would not have been achieved without a strong desire for hard work.
“I think the confidence gained from the first championship played a significant role, but confidence alone doesn’t win football matches. It gives you belief in what you’re doing, but you still have to turn up every week, work hard and deliver the performances.
“Winning the championship in the first season gave the players real belief in our approach and in each other. They understood the standards required, knew what we were capable of achieving and had experienced what it took to win. We were able to build on that foundation rather than start again.
“We also knew that defending the title would bring a different challenge. Teams would be targeting us, the competition was getting stronger, and we couldn’t afford to stand still. We continued to push ourselves in training, maintain our standards and look for ways to improve.
“To go 17 games unbeaten at the start of the season was an outstanding achievement, particularly in such a competitive league. It reflected the players’ consistency, the work they put in every week and the strength of the environment we had built.
“The previous season gave us belief, but the players deserve enormous credit for backing it up with their performances. They understood that past success didn’t guarantee anything and that we had to earn the right to win again.”
That right to win got increasingly challenging, as the Azzurri‘s record over the last six games of the season saw them experience five defeats and a draw, as the club suffered mixed emotions from sealing a second straight NPLW WA championship, but being bounced out of the Top Four Cup with back-to-back losses to Balcatta Etna and Fremantle City.
Reflecting on the climax of the campaign, Glavovic said: “Primarily, it came down to injuries, player availability and the demands of a long season.
“We had a number of injuries towards the final third, including to some very experienced and important players, and that inevitably affected our ability to maintain the same level of consistency.
“We had also played in the finals of every competition we entered, which placed considerable physical and mental demands on the group. When you combine that workload with injuries and limited opportunities to replace certain players, it becomes a challenge for any squad.
“The positive side was that it created opportunities for younger players to step into the team, experience senior football and test themselves against strong opposition. That experience is valuable for their development, even though it can take time for younger players to adjust to the demands of that level.
“Naturally, the results towards the end weren’t quite how we wanted to finish, and we always want to perform at our best. However, we had made an exceptional start, going 17 games unbeaten and putting ourselves in a strong position to secure the championship.
“We had done the hard work early in the season, and that ultimately allowed us to achieve our primary objective. Injuries are part of football, and while you can prepare for different scenarios, you cannot always predict or fully compensate for them. Overall, I’m extremely proud of what the group achieved across the season.”
The season just completed in the NPLW WA has been arguably the most competitive in it’s history with Fremantle City taking out a first Top Four Cup win, Balcatta Etna continuing to push strongly, Subiaco enjoyed their highest ever finish, and newly promoted Sorrento were competitive, attracted Young Matildas and Perth Glory gun Georgia Cassidy, and avoided bottom spot to boot.
That growth makes Glavovic all the more proud of his side’s achievements in 2026.
“I think the competition has improved significantly and is moving in the right direction. The overall quality, depth and competitiveness of the league have increased, which is encouraging for the future of women’s football in Western Australia.
“We’re seeing more players with professional and A-League experience coming into the NPLW, including players returning from the professional environment. That brings quality, experience and higher standards to the competition, while also providing younger players with the opportunity to learn from footballers who have competed at a higher level.
“I think it’s important that we continue to attract and retain those players. Their presence can help strengthen the league, raise standards across clubs and make the competition more attractive for emerging talent.
“At the same time, the long-term future of the NPLW depends on developing our own players. Clubs need to invest in junior pathways, coaching and player development so that young girls can see a genuine opportunity to progress into senior football and potentially beyond.
“There has been clear progress over the past two years, and I believe there is still enormous potential. If clubs, coaches and Football West continue working together to improve the environment and create better opportunities for players, the competition can become even stronger.”
With the dust settling on a second straight NPLW WA championship at the Azzurri, the Glavovic took stock and made the decision to accept a new challenge by taking the position of head coach at UWA-Nedlands.
Since coming into the NPLW WA in 2024 as the first newly promoted club in place of Curtin University, UWA-Nedlands have been bouncing around the bottom two, but have had women’s and girls’ teams since the merger created the club in 2010. They were serious about strengthening the pathway between their junior program and the NPLW squad, and that was something that caught Glavovic’s attention.
“During the off-season, I had several clubs from both the men’s and women’s competitions approach me, and I had a number of conversations about different opportunities.
“After two extremely successful seasons and back-to-back championships, I felt the time was right to challenge myself in a different environment. I wanted something that would push me in new ways, both as a coach and in terms of what I could contribute to a club over the longer term.
“Football is always about continuing to learn, develop and challenge yourself. As much as I enjoyed my time at Perth Azzurri, the opportunity to take on a new project and help build something with a different vision was very appealing.
“I also saw it as an opportunity to bring that challenge to the people around me: the coaching staff, the playing group and the wider club. We want to test ourselves, establish clear objectives and see how far we can take the program together.
“Leaving Perth Azzurri was not an easy decision because of the relationships and memories we built there. However, I felt UWA-Nedlands offered the right challenge at the right time in my coaching journey, and I’m excited about what we can work towards together.
“Once I sat down with the people at UWA-Nedlands and heard their vision for the women’s program, it became a very straightforward decision for me.
“What impressed me most was that their ambitions extended well beyond the First Team. They have a strong group of people who genuinely want to develop the women’s program, create a sustainable future for the club and establish a genuine pathway from junior football into senior NPLW football.
“That really aligned with my own philosophy. Having previously worked with Football West’s NTC program, player development has always been a major part of my coaching journey. I love working with young players, helping them improve, challenging them to reach their potential and giving them the confidence and opportunity to progress.
“UWA-Nedlands has the foundations to build something meaningful. The U18s and U21s have already shown encouraging signs, and the opportunity now is to strengthen the connection between those teams and the First Team so that talented young players can see a clear pathway ahead of them.
“For me, it’s about developing good footballers and great people, creating the right environment and building something that can continue to grow for years to come.
“The challenge is significant, but that’s part of the attraction. I want to help establish an identity, improve standards across the program and leave the club in a stronger position for the future. Once I understood the vision and met the people involved, I was excited by the opportunity to be part of that journey.”
With Glavovic at the helm, and a long term plan being put together, there is a real sense of optimism that another side could be coming together to build player pathway foundation that in the future can see a large number of quality players coming through the age groups, which can eventually see the First Team pushing further up the ladder, and that is something that can only benefit the league as a whole.
It will take time, but the former Azzurri boss believes it is something that can happen as part of a club wide project.
“Our priority is to improve, both as a First Team and as a wider women’s program. We want to develop our own identity, establish how we want to play and build an environment where players are motivated to improve and understand what is expected of them.
“The U18s and U21s have had encouraging seasons, and an important objective is to strengthen the pathway into senior football. We want talented young players to have genuine opportunities to train with the First Team, challenge themselves and progress when they are ready. That takes planning, communication and a shared philosophy across the program.
“On the pitch, we want to improve our performances, become more consistent and develop a clear style of football that reflects our identity and the strengths of our players. I’m a firm believer that if you consistently produce good performances, the results will ultimately begin to follow.
“Of course, we want to be competitive and achieve the best results possible, but I don’t believe you build a successful program by focusing only on winning and losing. You build it through standards, player development, strong relationships and a clear direction that everyone believes in.
“There will be plenty of work ahead of us, and we know it won’t happen overnight. We need to assess the squad, understand where we can improve, develop the players we have and build the right foundations for the future.
“Ultimately, I want UWA-Nedlands to be a club where players want to be, where young girls can see a genuine future in football and where the First Team represents the hard work being done throughout the program. If we can improve our performances, strengthen the pathway and build a sustainable women’s program, we’ll be moving in the right direction.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge. We have a lot of work to do, but we also have a great opportunity, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together in 2027.”
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