Above: Head Coach Stephen Peters talking to the media. Image: Perth Glory.
By Ella McShane (5/11/25).
Perth Glory take on Brisbane Roar at the grandest soccer stage in the west this Friday, in a double header under the lights. Head coach Stephen Peters and Gabby Hollar preview what is bound to be an ambitious afternoon at HBF park, with everything to play for.
Each respective side carry an encouraging 3 points coming into round 2 of the Ninja A-League season, Stephen Peters commended the three points as a result of travelling well and putting “a few things in place that we were pretty happy with, and I think that laid the platform for us”. Peters subsequently commended his sides management of weather delays that were widespread across the league in its opening weekend.
Coming into the weekend, the side carry a renewed sense of belief having remained winless away from home since December 2023. Peters stating “I think that was probably the issue in why it went so long, that mentality piece, but I think this group we’re pretty switched on…I think we did everything right.”
The side face an undoubtedly quality Brisbane outfit, with the north east side carrying a viable attacking threat to the west’s defence. Peter’s expressed confidence in his side defence, expressing that; “it is going to be a tough ask for our defenders, no doubt. But I think if we show that resolve that we’ve had, there is no reason why we cant pose a threat to them”.
Glory intend on carrying a “quiet confidence” into Friday, reiterating that “it is one win and Brisbane are very good side and I think Alex [Smith] is going to have them ready to go and we’ve got to be ready for that”.
Tactically, the side are committed to “finding the balance early” with a relationship between adaptability and internal strength and mentality seeking, highlighted as key features in a prospectus night under the lights:
“You’ve got to make tactical adjustments given what the opposition is going to throw at you and the quality. But I think that we can’t go away too much from the principles that we’ve been working on and what we feel our strengths are. But you have to be wary of what they pose. It is a different style that they’re playing versus last season, we’ve also got to be ready that.” Stated Peters.
Looking at the bigger picture, round two nurses a growing rivalry between the west and east, with points between the two sides having to be earned with grit in previous matches. Gabby Hollar reflected on the excitement with “how [Glory] got the three points last time [Roar] came here”. “But the game before, we all still have a bitter taste in our mouth about how that went. So it is just, can we capitalise on them coming here?”
The match kicks off at 16:00 AWST at HBF Park Perth/Boorloo available to stream on Paramount+.
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