Perth Glory’s 3-2 win over Brisbane Roar on Saturday night was the icing on the cake of a week in which the club’s long-standing ownership issues were finally put to rest.
Before we dive head-first into what the Ross Pelligra era might mean for the team from the west, let’s first pay tribute to Tony Sage.
The fast-talking businessman, mining deal-maker and occasional fashion impresario was not always everyone’s cup of tea.
“Several Glory players say Tony’s rousing half-time pep talks have inspired them to push through the pain barrier of a game’s closing stages to bring home the win,” reads a paragraph on Sage’s personal website.
But Sage, for all his bluster, loves the city of Perth. And more than that, he loves Perth Glory.
At a time when so much of the league’s talk is around finding investors, it shouldn’t be forgotten that for years Sage put his hands in his own pockets to ensure football fans in Western Australia continued to have a professional club to call their own.
No word on whether Pelligra gave a stirring half-time speech in Saturday night’s rollercoaster win over the Roar, but one thing is certain – coach Alen Stajcic made all the right moves.
With his side 2-1 down at the end of an entertaining first half, Stajcic made a triple substitution on the hour mark that changed the game.
In came Stefan Colakovski, Trent Ostler, and Joel Anasmo – and it was the hard-running Anasmo who set up the equaliser, as he charged straight at the Roar defence and saw a rebound drop fortuitously for the in-form Adam Taggart to volley home.
The difference between Perth’s attack and Brisbane Roar’s was plain for all to see, as erstwhile Socceroos striker Taggart produced a couple of clinical finishes to take his tally to 13 goals for the season, while Roar coach Ruben Zadkovich took off his teenage striker Tom Waddingham after 56 minutes.
Zadkovich said his team looked “a bit leggy” following on from last weekend’s 5-1 demolition of Melbourne City, but the truth is Stajcic’s substitutions made a real difference.
So too did Zadkovich’s, just not in the way he would have hoped.
James Nikolovski had looked impressive lining up in the starting side for captain Tom Aldred in recent weeks, but it was the young defender’s risky pass that led to fellow substitute Colakovski’s late winner.
Cue pandemonium in The Shed behind the goal, and it’s hard to argue Perth Glory fans don’t deserve a bit of fortune.
(Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Glory have now picked up 11 points from the last 15 on offer – and it would have been more had they not conceded that last-gasp equaliser away in Adelaide last Friday night.
Property developer Pelligra allegedly paid a token amount for the club, but he’s promised to clear Glory’s crippling debts and make them a force in Australian football once again.
He’s already helped lead Sicilian outfit Catania from Serie D to Italy’s third tier and may potentially involve former Socceroos midfielders Mark Bresciano and Vinnie Grella in running Perth.
Whatever the Glory’s new managerial make-up, Pelligra’s takeover is at least one weight off the Australian Professional Leagues’ shoulders.
They’ve had Western Sydney coach Marko Rudan spitting venom in recent weeks, and the suspended Wanderers tactician would have been seeing red in the wake of the Central Coast Mariners’ 1-0 win on Sunday.
Football Australia’s ‘respect’ campaign is a laudable initiative in a sport where far too many referees are being lost to our game.
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Mark Rudan. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
But the A-League’s problem – and it puts those who’d rather not focus on these issues in a bind – has always been one of consistency.
If Wanderers defender Tate Russell deserved two yellow cards last weekend, then it’s hard to understand how Mariners defender Jacob Farrell didn’t deserve the same on Sunday.
At least the Glory’s ownership issues have been resolved.
They may cling to that ‘west versus the rest’ tag more than any of us understand, but a more competitive A-League can only be a good thing.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I think Brisbane Roar would take a player like Adam Taggart back in a heartbeat.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
If only Asia was split into two and Oceania was absorbed into our half, problem solved.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
I believe the vast majority of those that go to or watch Matildas games do not follow the Aleague anyway, so I doubt that would affect the attendance. I certainly wouldn't watch the Matildas ahead of my Aleague club. The fact Adelaide hasn't won many games lately is a much bigger factor that would likely affect the attendance. Having said that, I think they'll still get around 8k like they did in the last home match.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
"Sorry to pessimistic, but so have Western Utd." You do know Western Utd will be playing in their new Regional Training Centre soon don't you? The first ALW match is scheduled there 17th March, followed soon after that the first ALM match.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Clubs go under all the time all around the world, not just in the Aleague. Even in English football where the game is number one by far, Wimbledon, Scarborough, Chesterfield, Hereford Utd...just to name a few.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
They'll probably end up building a boutique stadium and football ends up sharing with the ARU and NRL clubs again. It'll be a miracle itf it is a football only stadium.
Sydneysider
Roar Rookie
appalling crowds for a so called “national team” and yet they get the coverage.
Garry
Roar Rookie
“Coincidentally, Football Australia confirmed this morning they won’t. The 2023/24 ALM Premier will enter next season’s ACL Elite and Sydney FC (Australia Cup) will enter the ACL2. Should the Nix win the league, the next highest finishing side on the ladder enters the ACLE.’ ps if Sydney finshes second do they compete in both? :stoked:
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
they recruit fairly heavily in south east Qld, Brandtman being their latest, with Nisbett and several others. Jets recruit up here a lot too.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
they do and that pool is running very low (which is why they have heavily recruited from wanderers in the past 2 seasons and why they continually have players trialing from south australia. there is still enough to have at least 2-3 local players move up from the academy to the first team squad each year
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
No 2024/25 the money is getting bigger, 12m to the winner.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
post match interview Roar coach Ruben called him a special player who wins games. He said the result depends on stopping him, Roar knew but didn't stop him
Grem
Roar Rookie
“Former Socceroo Mark Bresciano has met with the state government and the City of Stirling, part of a potential consortium looking to buy embattled A-Leagues club Perth Glory. Nine News Perth can reveal Bresciano and property developer Ross Pelligra travelled to Perth to meet with WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti and officials from the City of Stirling this week. And a new home base for the Perth Glory was a key topic of discussion. One of the sites being floated is a vacant block beside the City of Stirling’s council offices on Cedric Street, favoured for its proximity to Mitchell Freeway and public transport services.” This was the best article I could find. There were better ones, but I can’t find them now.
Skoose
Roar Rookie
This is what makes PG special is the Shed and now there's the young shed (in front of the shed and under 18) they are something else and getting bigger each match.
Skoose
Roar Rookie
Sorry to pessimistic, but so have Western Utd. I hope we do get a new Stadium but where that is central? Land isn't cheap in Perth centre! Fans come from Mandurah, Rockingham, Joondalup, the Hills, so it needs to be central otherwise we'll end up like Brisbane Roar.
Skoose
Roar Rookie
Yes but they have cashflow, PG don't get much cashflow. They only get money from memberships, NOT on the door ticket sales, NOT on beer.....I could go on. TheSecretScout is right, PG is still in trouble.
Skoose
Roar Rookie
The A league has a history of clubs going under.......NQ Fury, Gold Coast something, NZ Knights etc....
Skoose
Roar Rookie
No way. Poppa only looked after his kids and we lost lots of promising youngster in WA because of Poppa. And all the players he brought in quickly disappeared. Poppa is a hated figure in the WA NPL scene.....and this is where the WA kids come from.
Skoose
Roar Rookie
TheSecretScout I am a PG fan of nearly 10 years, and you are spot on regards the new owner. I don't think he'll start buying lots of players most fans imagine. Also Sage did a good job, PG is a lower league team as we don't get the number of fans. PG have brought in players who are clearly after one more pay day, get injured then we wear the wages e.g. Brad Jones and I didn't see him out in the community football like Liam Reddy. The only point I disagree on is Stajic, he is the best manager we've had in my 10 years here. To get wins with the oldies (Amini/Tags/Lachman are brilliant but creaky at the joints) and the kids recently out of NPL (Bennie was playing U18 NPL just a couple of seasons ago), plus lots of younger players have left for better opportunities e.g. Keagan Jelacic (sorry about the spelling), Forde etc. he is far better than the likes of Poppa and Melb City's manager who just buy in experienced players. Thanks for your insight good to hear from someone with a level head.
Garry
Roar Rookie
“Women’s INTL Cricket. CROWD. 990 (10% of capacity). DATE. Thursday 15th February 2024.” 10% of capacity??? CROWD 1318 Friday 16th February 2024