by Ben Gilby (22/11/23)
Above: Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis speaking to the media today. Image: Perth Glory.
A-League Women leaders Perth Glory are about to make one of the longest journeys in any of the world’s leagues to fulfil a domestic club fixture as they prepare to face Wellington Phoenix at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium this Saturday.
Perth to Auckland is a distance of over 5,300kms (over 3,300 miles). The flight takes at least six and a half hours. If those numbers are not big enough by themselves, throw in a five-hour time difference between the two locations as well.
However, if one team are used to making long journeys for away games, it’s Perth Glory, and head coach Alex Epakis believes his team thrives on it.
“I think as a group we become a lot stronger and more unified when we spend that time together. We travel every second week, for the other teams they come to us once a season. We utilise that time together, to prepare and focus on the match.
“We’re focused on our business in terms of making sure we’re going there to win the points and come back home. If we focus on the journey, the travelling, and the time difference, then we’re thinking on things we don’t need to.”
Glory go into the game having come back from 2-1 down in the fifth minute of stoppage time to keep their unbeaten start to the season alive thanks to Hana Lowry’s equalising goal against Melbourne Victory. Whilst it was the first game this campaign that the Western Australians haven’t won, Epakis took a lot out of the outcome.
“We took a lot away from it – whilst we didn’t walk away with three points, we walked away with a lot of positives that will hold us in good stead for the rest of the season.
“We dominated a large period of the game and had certain opportunities to go two up and we didn’t nail them, but the intent to get more goals after already going ahead is something that, as a group that I’ve really challenged them (to do). Then to have the sucker punch of going behind was going to be a different test.
“Did we have enough in us in the last 10 minutes to find a goal? We did. I had real belief that we would do that…it was a really good learning moment for us and we learned a lot about us as a group in that last 10 minutes. The players believed that they were going to do it. They have that belief that they were not going to lose.”
Saturday’s encounter sees leaders Perth travelling to third place Wellington Phoenix – two teams that don’t traditionally find themselves so close to the leading positions.
“It might not look how it normally looks in the table at the moment, but everyone right now is based on merit and on consistent performances. We want to make sure that where we are now is where we will be at the end of the season,” Epakis enthused.
In terms of availability, the Glory are, overall in good shape, with Epakis reporting just one player, goalkeeper Sally James having a question mark over her, saying “Sally picked up a head knock in the warm-up for the last match and is touch and go.”
In terms of what he expects from the game, Perth’s head coach predicted: “It will be a really structured game. Phoenix have a very clear style of play, they like to build up and there will be a certain focus on keeping the ball and trying to play through the lines.
“For us, we’re quite similar in that regard and we need to manage the transition moments. We need to minimise what they do in those situations and take advantage of what we can do in transition. We know the conditions over there, there’s going to be wind, it’s going to be cold, so we build into that.”
Grace Jale is one of Perth Glory’s shining lights this season, and the striker spoke of her excitement to return to her home city of Auckland to play for her new club this weekend.
Reflecting on the main differences between Perth and her native New Zealand, Jale laughed: “Ah, it’s hot. Not just a little bit hot, a lot hot! It’s been good. I think coming in, I was a bit nervous…we all just get along off the field, and that translates on the field. We’ve had a good start, and just need to make that gap at the top a bit bigger!”
Maintaining her beaming smile, the attacker outlined why she’s enjoying the season so much so far: “I’m playing striker here which is nice. I’ve been a winger for my other teams. I have more of a striker’s mentality. Scoring the goals isn’t my priority. Winning is my priority. I like assists too, so I’m happy!”
With Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium staging this Saturday’s game, Jale will be heading to her home city to play for the Glory this weekend, and she’ll have a particularly big cheer squad of family and friends there to roar her and Perth on. “Oh it’s very exciting! They’ve got their tickets!”
The Perth striker was part of Wellington Phoenix’s foundation team in the A-League competition, and Jale takes great pride at their progress since. “I’m happy for them. I started for the A-League with them at the bottom. They have come a long way. They have a lot of young and international players, which is a good one for them.”
Whilst Jale was all smiles when talking to the media, she’ll have her serious game face on when the whistle goes on Saturday – and you wouldn’t bet against her finding the net yet again when she takes on her former side.
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