Perth Glory’s season could be over before it even begins considering the horrendous schedule the West Australian club have for the upcoming season.
The Glory kick-off their 2021-22 A-League Men’s campaign on Saturday 20 November at home to Adelaide United, but after that, they have at least nine games in 46 days away from home.
That includes an unexpected ‘home’ FFA Cup preliminary round game against the Melbourne Victory in Adelaide.
WA’s strict border controls have made it challenging to cater for the Perth Glory home games, with travellers from interstate required to quarantine for 14 days at their own cost.
In a further development, which is sure to upset Glory fans, the WA government plans to allow the England and Australia cricket teams to quarantine for only five days in a bid to save the Ashes Test in Perth.
This is similar to the rules imposed on AFL teams for this year’s finals.
The Glory’s FFA Cup preliminary round game has been moved to 24 November at MARS Sporting Complex in Adelaide, a game that was significantly delayed after the Victory declined to travel to Perth and undertake the mandatory 14-day quarantine required.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The Glory may have an additional away game should they progress to the Round of 32, with the winner of their game against the Victory set to take on former NSL club Adelaide City in Adelaide in December.
After the Cup game against the Victory, the Glory travel to Melbourne for three games in 13 days, after which they head straight to Brisbane for ten days, before playing two games in Brisbane and Adelaide in the space of five days before Christmas.
This means players – a number with young families – are away from home for 31 days.
After being home for Christmas, the Glory then start the new year with three games within a week in Sydney.
Their next home game, after Round 1, is on 15 January 2022 against the Wellington Phoenix.
Apart from a compromised draw, player welfare is a key concern, with the amount of travel likely to impact player recovery as well as compromise their mental health considering the extended time away from their families.
(Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Considering the limited number of home games, selling memberships early in the season has also been challenging for the club, significantly impacting their cash flow.
In contrast to Perth’s situation, clubs in NSW will not travel interstate for the first part of the season.
Sydney FC play their first away interstate game in Round 8 on 7 January 2022 against Western United.
The Western Sydney Wanderers first travel beyond NSW to Melbourne on 22 December in Round 6.
Central Coast play Brisbane in Round 8 on 9 January 2022 on their first interstate trip.
Macarthur FC travel to Melbourne on 9 January 2022 in Round 9.
The Newcastle Jets won’t go interstate until Round 11 when they visit Perth on 22 January.
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
The thing is by the time their run of home games start they could be out of contention. It’s not anyone’s fault really this. I feel for Perth though
Gashead
Roar Rookie
No, its not that simple. I hate Victory (City supporter) but WA has classified Victoria as High Risk or Extreme Risk, meaning there are very little reasons to be granted travel to WA to even then quarantine for 14 days at your own expense (not allowed to leave and hence train). The list of qualifying reasons, playing sport would not count. 100% agree that other sports have been given dispensation, but surely its the onus for Glory to get the WA government to provide this dispensation. Trying to suggest Victory are not "coming to the party" is a bit rich.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I think its to Perth advantage they are just too stupid to see it. If they move to East coast play their away games they dont have to travel as much and then they can do heaps of home games in a row. The biggest issue is Tony Sage needing the revenue from home games, they arent going to buy memberships if its pie in the sky when they play at home. WA government bend over kings to AFL and rip off football.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
They're a victim of circumstance, So while the draw seems bad at first they do get a good home run mid way though the season.
AGO74
Guest
Yep it is absurd that WA is adopting this hermit state approach. Every other state and territory realises and has adopted reasonable and pragmatic approaches to re-opening to each other. I feel for Perth glory. Recent commments from Tony sage suggest he is at his wits end (and fair enough).
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
I think victory had the option to travel but didn’t due to quarantine requirements.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I know it was a home game for Perth, but they wouldn't allow Victory in. If they don't allow Victory in then I think there are only 2 solutions - Perth forfeit, or the game is played elsewhere. I saw people writing in other articles that Victory should have forfeited, but they were fully prepared to travel and play. WA was the problem. I understand their zero covid strategy, but this can't work in a national competition so they have to come to a workable arrangement. So I don't get why it is understandable that they will send their youth team?
Grem
Roar Rookie
That is spot on. Queensland also have a plan for reopening which will allow freer travel to and from them. I feel sorry for the situation Perth Glory are in, but it's not something the FA have any control over and they have to set fixtures accordingly.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
The onus is now on the WA Government to join the rest of Australia. NSW/ACT/Vic make up 60% of the Australian population and now have full movement with each other. They are now at around 90% fully vaccinated. Two-thirds of A-League clubs are located in NSW/Vic, so it follows, if any state is incapable of allowing full movement with NSW/Vic, then those clubs must re-locate to those states until there is full movement with the state concerned.
Janakan Seemampillai
Roar Guru
I believe Glory are sending their youth team to Adelaide for the Cup game against Victory. Understandable!
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Agree. There must not be special rules for sport, for any sport.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Very clever I hope the WA government at least financially support the club if they continue to stop people from coming in.
Tigertown
Guest
Western Australia need to get with the program & reopen (their Berlin Wall). They are behind the rest of the world. In the famous words of Ronald Reagan: “ Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
Grem
Roar Rookie
If the Ashes cricket test is allowed with a 5 day quarantine then that is absolute hypocrisy and absolutely wrong. My understanding is the test will not go ahead there and The Big Bash won't either. Because of their quarantine regulations their season may not be able to start at home until late January. At the time of creating the fixtures, NSW was a pariah state and could travel nowhere, combined with the fact 50% of the competition resides there means those fixtures make sense. Please don't add fuel to the east coast bias rubbish for the supporters with little club syndrome and east coast envy!