Perth Glory will have a chance to reset after a disappointing 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League season when they take on Central Coast Mariners in Darwin in the Hahn Australia Cup Final Rounds Play-offs.
The Glory finished bottom of the table in the league but ended their season on a high, with a 2-0 victory over Wellington Phoenix. They’ll hope to carry the momentum of their win into the match in Darwin.
Read our profile of the Perth Glory as they prepare for the Hahn Australia Cup.
A-League Men 2024/25 Season Recap
The goals of Adam Taggart kept the Glory afloat throughout the season, but unfortunately for the West Australian team, the only question for most of the year was whether they would finish last or second last.
Their first win came in Round 9, when they defeated Brisbane Roar. At that point, both clubs were breaking unwanted records in terms of worst starts – and they were threatening to break more as the season progressed.
Their most memorable victory came in January, when they defeated eventual Premiers Auckland City 1-0 at home. It was one of a total of four victories that they would pick up throughout the season, two of which came in the last three games.
They ended the season on 17 points after 26 games, four points below the Roar who finished in 12th.
One to Watch
Sebastian Despotovski is the son of Glory legend Bobby, which in and of itself is enough to turn heads. The 19-year-old is yet to get his chance in the Izusu UTE A-League Men but is hoping to show his boss what he can do via the Hahn Australia Cup.
He did his chances of selection no harm when he recently scored four goals for the Glory in a National Premier Leagues (NPL) game against Perth RedStar.
The Boss
Former Subway Socceroo David Zdrilic has been in charge of Perth Glory for the last 12 months. All signs indicate that he will be tasked with helping turn this young team around for the next Isuzu UTE A-League season, starting in Darwin next week.
Zdrilic had a successful playing career, starting in the National Soccer League (NSL) before plying his trade overseas in Switzerland, Germany, England and Scotland. He returned to Australia when the Isuzu UTE A-League formed in 2005 and made 59 appearances for Sydney FC. His 30 appearances for the Subway Socceroos came between 1997 and 2005.
The 51-year-old got his start coaching in the NPL NSW before expanding his horizons overseas with roles at clubs such as RB Leipzig, Chicago Fire, and Genoa. He was announced as Head Coach at Perth Glory last season.
He has been working with new ownership at the Glory to oversee a restructure of the first team and academy programs, the boons of which he hopes to see during this Hahn Australia Cup campaign.
Hahn Australia Cup Record
Perth Glory have never won the Hahn Australia Cup, but have made the final twice, in the first two editions of the Cup.
Under then-Head Coach Kenny Lowe, they were defeated 1-0 by Adelaide United in 2014 before losing 2-0 to Melbourne Victory the following year.
Their recent Hahn Australia Cup record is less illustrious. In the most recent edition of the tournament, they were knocked out in the Round of 16 by NPL QLD team Morton Bay Excelsior.
They were involved in one of the most memorable games of the Cup last year, though. They took on Melbourne City in the Round of 32 in a high-scoring, see-sawing affair, which saw them come back from 4-2 down to equalise in regular time and score a 115th minute winner thanks to Nathaniel Blair.
The Glory will hope to draw on some of their early success this year.
Match Information
The Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Date: Tuesday, 13 May
Kickoff: 7.30pm AEST (7pm local)
Venue: Larrakia Park, Darwin
Broadcast: 10Play and Football Australia's YouTube channel
Tickets: Ticketebo
