Have The Perth Glory Turned A Corner?

Perth Glory this season have been like a box of chocolates — you’re never entirely sure what you’re going to get. For David Zdrilic and Stan Lazaridis, the hope for 2025 is a bit more consistency — preferably the kind of chocolates everyone actually wants, not the ones left at the bottom of the box.

There’s no denying that this season — and, by extension, the Pelligra Group’s ownership — has been a turbulent period for all involved with the club, from players and staff to the long-suffering members and fans. The early optimism and unbridled hope, fuelled by the promise of a fresh start, suggested that a “new everything” would finally ignite the spark everyone hoped for.

But it didn’t.

There’s little need to rehash what’s already been said countless times on various platforms — whether here, on the Far Post Perth, the Glory Days podcast, social media, or even on the radio. I’ve beaten every drum imaginable to express my deep disappointment with what has been an underwhelming and, at times, embarrassing start to the 2024/25 season.

What’s clear, however, is that amid the pages of disappointment, there is hope a new chapter is beginning — a chapter of renewal. This is a time for the club to redefine its playing style, deliver improved results, and recalibrate the squad’s overall composition.

There’s no shame in either David Zdrilic or Stan Lazaridis acknowledging the enormity of the task they’ve taken on. For Zdrilic, stepping into the role of the club’s 16th manager in nearly 30 years, and for Lazaridis, a 60-cap Socceroo entrusted with the role of football director, the challenge has undoubtedly been greater than anticipated.

In hindsight, the vision of a quick rebuild may have been overly ambitious. Yet, I can’t fault the club for having big plans. Aspiring to sign quality players capable of executing a distinct, results-driven brand of football — and restoring Perth Glory to the finals for the first time since 2020 — is a goal worth pursuing.

However, the practicality of those ambitions was swiftly undermined in the opening rounds of the 2024/25 season.

An interesting case study this season is comparing our start with that of fellow cellar dwellers in Brisbane Roar. Once a powerhouse club in the early 2010s, thanks to the transformative work of former head coach — and now Tottenham manager — Ange Postecoglou, the Roar enjoyed an immensely successful period. They revolutionised Australian football in many ways, particularly in redefining how the game should be played in this country.

Since then, however, Brisbane has endured a decline that mirrors the Glory’s struggles. This season, both teams find themselves far off the pace, their plight reflected in their lowly ladder positions and meagre points tallies.

Yet, despite the parallels, while I may be wearing rose-tinted — or in this case, purple-tinted — glasses, I can’t help but feel more optimistic about how my club is responding to a challenging season.

First and foremost, it’s important to stress that anyone can talk a big game. Leading into the season, Perth Glory was perhaps one of the most vocal proponents of this, boldly declaring their zero-tolerance approach to failure and promising “wow signings” that would propel the club back into the finals.

However, actions speak louder than words, and it’s worth comparing the words and actions of Glory’s Football Director, Stan Lazaridis, with those of Brisbane Roar Chairman and CEO, Kaz Patafa.

Earlier this month, Lazaridis appeared on 6PR for an extended interview with Mark Foreman. For those who didn’t tune in live, there was likely some trepidation about what he might say, given his history of “foot-in-mouth” moments during previous interviews.

To his credit, Lazaridis came across as genuinely disappointed and deeply apologetic. During the interview, he acknowledged the club’s struggles, stating, “I apologise to the fans. I know they’re hurting. The results haven’t been there… blame me.” He went on to pledge that the club would secure at least three to four new signings during the transfer window.

True to his word, the signings announced by the club in recent days are a significant improvement over those brought in during the off-season. The headline recruit is Lachie Wales, a championship-winning winger from Western United. Additionally, the club has secured two highly experienced Japanese defenders, Yuto Misao and Takuya Okamoto, who boast a combined total of over 600 appearances in Japan. Patrick Wood has also joined the Glory on loan from Sydney FC until the end of the season, providing more attacking depth.

Is the squad in a perfect position? No. But its composition — in terms of age, quality, and experience — is gradually improving. This progress remains contingent on the new additions, which will depend on player departures and the available budget.

The reason I bring up Kaz Patafa is due to his recent interview with 10 News First reporter Josh McLean, where he addressed various issues at Brisbane Roar. The interview, however, did not sit well with many Brisbane supporters. Patafa faced some pointed questions regarding the scrutiny directed at head coach Ruben Zadkovich and the club’s Indonesian owners, the Bakrie Group, by fans and the A-League media.

For me, Patafa’s answers and demeanour came across as neither genuine nor informative. More importantly, they lacked the substance needed to rally supporters behind the club’s project. For instance, when asked about Zadkovich’s future, his response was notably unconvincing: “We need a level of stability in the role… But, as Ruben knows, and any manager in football, nothing’s ever certain.”

This lack of conviction drew criticism, including from A-League commentator Simon Hill, who responded on Twitter: “Stability is all well and good if you’re heading in the right direction. Roar haven’t won in 16 matches (all comps). I have nothing against Ruben, but in any other league in the world, I’m afraid that would be untenable.”

This month, the Glory have been, in my view, proactive and forward-thinking in their efforts to salvage the season. While the new signings look promising, a significant factor in their gradual improvement lies in the nature of their performances — credit for which should go to head coach David Zdrilic.

I can’t deny that I’ve rarely felt more conflicted about a Glory head coach than I have with Zdrilic. Make no mistake: when he was appointed, I was genuinely excited. He represented something new and fresh — articulate, ambitious, and clearly someone who had waited for the right opportunity to transition from assistant coach to the lead role.

The pre-season showed promise, particularly during the Australian Cup, where the Glory displayed not only the playing style expected under David Zdrilic — shaped by his education at RB Leipzig under Ralf Rangnick — but also a relentless attitude.

They fought until the very last moment, a quality that stood out most in their Round of 32 clash against Melbourne City. Coming from 4–2 down to secure a 5–4 win in extra time was nothing short of extraordinary. It was only pre-season, but the game gave me genuine hope that the Glory were on the path to meaningful improvement.

However, as has been aforementioned in this piece, the start of the season was a poor one. With the team enduring multiple thrashings and lacklustre performances, there were serious doubts about Zdrilic’s ability to achieve results and whether his Red Bull-inspired philosophy was truly translating into success on the pitch.

On an episode of the Glory Days podcast, I outlined what felt like an ultimatum for David Zdrilic: to show tangible progress over the next four matches against Western United, Sydney FC, Auckland FC, and Western Sydney Wanderers. Following a demoralising home loss to Macarthur, scepticism had reached its peak, and Zdrilic needed to deliver something concrete.

To his credit, David Zdrilic and the team responded. Against Western United, they were desperately unlucky not to hold on for a 2–1 win, ultimately losing 3–2 in heartbreaking fashion. Against Sydney FC, they were competitive for the first half, though undone in the second by Joe Lolley’s individual brilliance.

But the games against Auckland and Western Sydney Wanderers marked a significant turning point. The 1–0 win over Auckland at HBF Park was monumental — arguably one of the Glory’s best performances in years. It was a game that epitomised David Zdrilic’s philosophy.

As Zdrilic himself once explained, his brand of football centres on “being aggressive when pressing and implementing a high-intensity game plan, which means no matter who you are playing against, you always have a chance. We encourage an attitude where you press, you win the ball, and you go. If you execute this philosophy correctly, you have a chance against anybody.”

The Auckland game showcased this to perfection. Aggressiveness, tenacity, and pace were on full display — qualities embodied in Jaylan Pearman’s wonder goal. Following an intense pressing sequence, the 18-year-old unleashed a rocket that left Auckland goalkeeper Alex Paulsen no chance. Zdrilic nailed the game plan, and the team, bolstered by a touch of luck, held on for a massive win.

Although they couldn’t beat Western Sydney a few days later, in what marked former head coach Alen Stajcic’s return to Perth, many fans left the game feeling optimistic. Up until this month, the lack of fight and the deviation from David Zdrilic’s promised style of play had left supporters deeply concerned about the club’s future.

It’s evident that the standard of performances has risen drastically — a stark contrast to the way the season began. As I stated during that ultimatum on the podcast, the goal should always be for fans to walk away from games thinking, “We can build on this,” rather than feeling disillusioned and wanting to write off the season entirely.

Now, does this mean the Glory are suddenly poised to storm into the finals this season? Of course not. But what they are doing is laying the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable foundation that could support a genuine push in seasons to come.

That said, the progress made so far remains fragile. Any regression in performances or results could quickly undo the gains of the past few weeks, leaving us back at square one. However, the upward trajectory — both in how the team is performing and the outcomes they are achieving — suggests that with time and further quality additions, there’s a genuine case to be made that the Glory might have turned a corner.

The next steps will be critical. Sustaining this progress requires consistency, smart recruitment, and a continued commitment to the aggressive, high-intensity style of football that has shown glimpses of its potential. If these elements come together, the foundation being laid now could indeed signal a brighter future for the Glory.