I’m a Perth Glory fan, and along with a lot of other Glory fans, I have witnessed a lot of lows.
There was that grand final in the 2011-12 season when Besart Berisha was awarded a dubious penalty and slotted a goal with seconds to go.
I also had to witness the 2014-15 salary cap scandal that had us kicked out of the finals, fined $269,000 and lose star striker Jamie Maclaren.
Now, in 2018, Perth Glory are having a great season, there’s no doubt about it, with five wins, two draws and the top spot on the ladder after seven rounds.
What I don’t like about this club at the moment has nothing to do with on-field performances – I am pumped about it; it’s the first time I get to see the Glory labelled as one of the best teams in the competition.
The issue is the culture. It’s gone, and it was gone almost immediately.
The culture I and a lot of other fans liked at Perth Glory was the ‘west versus the rest’ attitude.
The Glory is the only professional West Australian football team, making the team the pride of Western Australia – but the Glory are losing that.
The most recent game, against Melbourne City, saw the team consist of four players from New South Wales, four players from Victoria and four players from Western Australia.
Should a team with four players from the team’s home state be counted as a team representing that state? I don’t think so.
Going back to the 2016-17 season against Melbourne City, the Glory had six players from WA, including my two all-time favourite Glory players; Adam Taggart and Josh Risdon.
I see South Australia and Western Australia as very similar states with similar cultures.
In Adelaide United’s 2-0 loss to Melbourne Victory, Marco Kurz put 11 South Australians in the 16-man squad.
The only non-South Australians in that team were Ben Halloran, Isaias Sanchez, Vince Lia, Scott Galloway and Michael Jakobsen. Credit to you, Adelaide.
So how did the Perth Glory lose this culture? Tony Popovic.
A Glory fan complaining about the great man? I know, I know – but he has had a huge impact on the culture.
Let’s go back to Kenny Lowe. Although he is an Englishman, he tried to make the club more West Australian.
He was the one who developed and played a big part in Adam Taggart playing for the side, and he developed Josh Risdon and a lot of others.
I know it’s only early, but Popovic has no trust in the young West Aussies.
Where is Jacob Italiano? Unless he is injured, he should be playing.
Popovic decided to bring along other players from other Australian states, like Jason Davidson and Ivan Franjic.
Although they are playing well, they also have a big impact on the loss of the ‘west versus the rest’.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
So how can this issue be resolved? Popovic is too good to lose, so sacking him is not going to be an option.
In an interview earlier this year, when he was announced as coach, he stated there is a lot of good young talent in Western Australia that he wanted to work with.
Do I see any NPL signings? No. I’d like to see some in the next January transfer window, though.
One option would be Inglewood United striker Christopher Jackson, who scored 24 goals in 24 games for a team finishing tenth.
Or maybe 23-year-old Harley Orr from Perth SC, who finished fifth in the NPL Western Australia best and fairest. Those are just two of the many players who could be considered.
I believe the best way to do this would be to get Adam Taggart and Josh Risdon back, but that would not be impossible.
I would like to see some replacements for some of those non-West Aussies.
Maybe we could convince Storm Roux to come to the place he developed as a player and replace Dino Djulbic – although Djulbic is kind of a West Aussie.
This is maybe a step too far, but Brandon O’Neill was born and bred in Perth and could replace Juande, even though he just joined.
We convinced Spiranovic, who is rated highly, why not O’Neill? These two players could make a huge difference.
I will confess that, in the A-League, it is obviously very hard to get contracted players because of the no transfer fee system.
I have no issue with change – change is good and we wanted change at the Glory – it’s just that change has happened too quickly on the culture side.
A side full of east-coasters, a coach and his assistant also from the east coast – it just doesn’t feel like Perth Glory.
So what do you think, Roarers? Would you care if your team sacrificed the culture you like in order to achieve success?
Shaun Toutountzis
Guest
You’re right. It doesn’t feel the same since Kenny left. And I hope it stays that way. As for a ‘fake’ state representation, there are more people supporting soccer clubs like Man Utd and Liverpool who live outside of those cities then those who are from those areas. Does it make the support fake? Not at all. I am a huge United supporter and I’m just as passionate about them as someone from Manchester. These Glory players who aren’t from WA are giving their all. That’s passion. That’s devotion. That’s sufficient. And as for the attendances, the longer the success continues, the more chance the crowds will build. But I believe the biggest hurdle is the price of admission and merchandise. Soccer will always be the lesser of the sporting codes in this country in terms of crowds and they need to make it cheaper in order to entice the supporters of football, T20 cricket and basketball to a Glory game.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
I do understand, and Tony Sage doesn't necessarily need to do anything. But it just doesn't feel the same since Kenny left.
Matt
Roar Rookie
Jordan, sorry to reply again but you didn’t seem to respond to my first message so I’ll give this another go. Depending on the ownership structure, most professional sporting teams in the world have profit as their main priority. Club owners do not care about the number of local players in their squad, but they do care about sourcing young talented local players to recruit before other clubs notice them. Hence the Glory’s fantastic development system. Professional sport is a business and money comes before loyalty. If 15,000 Glory supporters committed to signing memberships based on an agreed quota of WA players in the senior team then the CEO and senior directors would probably consider it. But the club would unlikely be successful on the field and I’m certain Tony Sage and his executives would recognise this immediately. Why not just be happy to see WA players be successful around Australia and the world. Or, just support the WA state league if you want to feel some local pride. I’d love to hear your response to this, just to understand what you expect from professional sport.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Hah, yeah the FFA will do something to stop us.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
I couldn't give a Monkeys where the players come from as long as we win. As for the west versus rest mentality. Dont worry, that will kick in strong later in the season if the Glory look like winning something and the FFA have to come up with another ruse to derail us again.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
That's perfectly correct, except i feel it is more of a fake representing our state.
Eirik Haugen
Guest
This is our perth glory, it dosnt matter where your from if your in the squad your representing our state.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Mate of mine son is just making the grade at Subiaco Hoping he might get in the draft next year or after Good club
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
No i haven't. I support Subiaco.
anon
Roar Pro
Glory haven't been relevant for 15 years. They make strong moves to make the side competitive and people complain because not enough Western Australians in the side. I don't know what to say about this article.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Have you ever been to s east freo v south freo game by the way . Been ages before the Dockers, but they were huge games
Kangas
Roar Rookie
And that’s why Fremantle dockers have never won zilch
Kangas
Roar Rookie
I spent a few years living in wa Jordan You guys hate Victoria in footy and all us east coasters Doesn’t make you have more state pride then us east coast I think Queenslanders have got the state thing mastered in rugby league origin , but that’s not a club competition.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
The Fremantle Dockers say that being West Australian has a big impact on who they sign. What culture do you like at the Glory?
Matt
Roar Rookie
Jordan, I’m not sure of your age but during the clubs most successful period both on and off the field were in the NSL days. Our most successful coach was German and we had a similar number of West Australian players as we do today. Unfortunately in most sports attendances fluctuate based on the teams success. With a few good seasons behind us and hopefully a premiership I’m sure the crowds will increase. Success isn’t likely to occur by replacing quality non WA players with inferior players from the NPL. The Glory also have a fantastic youth development program with teams for many age ranges. I’m sure most of these players are from WA and if they are good enough they will eventually earn promotion to the senior team. I doubt there are many professional sports where the teams choose players based on where they were born and raised as opposed to recruiting the best players available.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
A lot of people who follow the Glory have that state pride. Just not that many people follow the Glory in Perth (i don't know why because we have a lot of soccer fans in Perth). And i agree, let's both just leave it at that.
Fadida
Guest
That's it's Jordan. Only people from the Republic of WA have "state pride". Explains why Glory get whopping 8k crowds
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Thanks.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Most of my comments come from East coasters that don't really know what state pride is.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I'm going to go against the grain of the general feedback here and back Jordan on this one. One of the key aspects of Adelaide United which has allowed to remain competitive despite a relatively small budget, is its promotion of local talent. Perhaps it is a stronger parochial flavour, however it is one that appears to suit both the resources of the club and the nature of the fan base. Perth have far deeper pockets, however the fan base is even more parochial and as such there is a need to maintain a stronger local flavour. Whilst this approach is less likely to yield significant returns on the East Coast, it is something that has greater merit the further you get from the Pacific Ocean.