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Should Perth Glory host an A-League game at Optus Stadium?

Tony P has the Perth G on fire. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Expert
22nd July, 2018
45

With tens of thousands of fans set to turn out at Optus Stadium tonight, surely Perth Glory should consider hosting an A-League fixture at the new ground?

The Glory take on English Premier League giants Chelsea in a high-profile friendly at the brand new stadium, and for those who don’t have tickets to the game, it’s being broadcast on SBS from 9pm (AEST).

The game will not only give Chelsea fans a glimpse of new coach Maurizio Sarri, but also a first look at Tony Popovic as he takes charge of perennial sleeping giants Perth Glory.

Sarri, of course, has already raided his former club for the highly-rated Brazilian-born Italian international Jorginho, and plenty of pundits reckon he won’t be the last Napoli star to end up in West London.

But from an Australian perspective, there’s surely more interest in what’s going on at the Glory.

As entertaining as they were last season, it’s safe to say an eighth-placed finish in the league wasn’t quite what Glory fans were hoping for under Kenny Lowe.

The likeable Englishman has now taken up a role as technical director of the Glory’s academy, allowing former Socceroo Popovic to take charge as Glory’s new coach.

And he’s wasted no time assembling a squad that looks like – on paper at least – a serious contender.

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If leaking goals was the problem last season, then a backline featuring the likes of newcomers Matthew Spiranovic and Tomislav Mrcela – not to mention tough-as-teak duo of Alex Grant and Shane Lowry – should tighten things up.

Add in full-backs Ivan Franjic and Jason Davidson and one-time Real Betis midfielder Juande, and suddenly the Western Australian side look a formidable outfit.

The problem for Perth has always been translating their undoubted potential on paper into tangible results on the pitch.

But if there’s a coach who knows how to motivate his players, it’s Popovic – who has surely taken on the most intriguing-looking job in the A-League.

Tony Popovic

Tony Popovic (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

So the question is whether the Glory should play one of their A-League fixtures in the 50,000-capacity Optus Stadium. My first inclination is to say: “why not?”

And before everyone lays into me for committing the heresy of tinkering with the fixture list, let me be the first to acknowledge that A-League clubs shouldn’t be in a position where they have to take games away from their home grounds.

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But here’s thing – they are.

Perth Glory’s average attendance last season was 9,186, and their biggest crowd of the season was 13,565 in a recently renovated 20,500-capacity stadium.

And since we’ve got the truth serum out, let’s acknowledge one more thing. No one in the East Coast football media gives a second thought to Perth Glory.

When it comes to whatever’s happening at nib Stadium, the majority of Sydney and Melbourne-based journos couldn’t care less.

That shouldn’t be the case for a club that was once the biggest in the land, but unfortunately it’s true.

So if the Glory want to start making headlines in a media landscape dominated by the two Sydney and Melbourne clubs, they’re going to have to do something different.

Starting with a decent performance against Chelsea tonight would help.

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Jacob Italiano of Perth Glory

Jacob Italiano of the Glory (Photo by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images)

And if a big crowd turns out and few newcomers get a taste for top-class football, then why shouldn’t the Glory explore the option of taking a game to Optus Stadium?

There’s a tendency in the A-League to want to say “no” to every idea and keep the competition hidden away for purists only.

And that would be okay if A-League clubs were selling out every game.

But they’re not. And it’s high time a few A-League clubs started to dream big.

I’d like to see Perth Glory switch their Round 1 fixture against Popovic’s old club Western Sydney to Optus Stadium and actually market it as a marquee event.

Sure, it might upset a few purists. But that might be the price the A-League has to pay to generate its fair share of media headlines.

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