ALW Head Coach Stephen Peters is adamant that Glory will look to take the game to Central Coast Mariners when the two sides meet at polytec Stadium on Sunday (kick-off at 2pm WST, watch live and FREE on 10.com.au).
One of the best attacking outfits thus far this term and the reigning Champions, Central Coast are currently sitting third on the ladder, two points behind leaders Melbourne City.
But Glory will travel east bolstered by four consecutive home wins and Peters is urging his players not to take a backward step as they seek to secure a second away victory of the campaign.
“We’re trying not to think about the fact that we’ve won four out of the last five,” he said.
“It’s fantastic that we achieved that, but it’s in the past.
“It’s done.
“We’ve now just got to concentrate on the next game.
“We’re not going to rest at winning four games out of five, we want to continue to win matches, we want to play Finals football and we want to compete.
“If we play the game we want to play [against Central Coast], I think we’ll be right in the contest.
“We’re not going to die wondering.
“We’re not going to sit back and wait for them; that’s just not in our DNA.
“We want to get forward, get after them and be a nuisance.”
Not that the Head Coach is under any illusions as to the challenge that Kory Babington’s side will present.
“We’re quite pleased with where we’re sitting at the moment,” he said, “but if you start ladder watching, it’s not really going to get you anywhere.
“There’s also the old adage that we’re not very good away from home, so that challenge is there for us as well.
“Central Coast are a very good side again this season.
“I think everyone kind of forgets that they’re the Champions.
“They’ve got a good level of resilience, they seem like a together unit and they have some fantastic strike weapons.
“[Isabel] Gomez, [Peta]Trimis and [Annalise] Rasmussen are definitely players to look out for.
“But even though it’s a massive cliche, we are just looking at ourselves and how we can improve.
“We firmly believe that if we put together a performance of the quality that we are capable of producing, we can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the competition.”
In terms of early team news, Peters confirmed that leading scorer Rola Badawiya is in the frame to return from injury against one of her former club.
Otherwise, the Glory squad is likely to be unchanged from that which accounted for Western Sydney Wanderers last time out.
As for the Mariners, they have continued their impressive form from last season, winning five of their 11 games to date.
Their tally of 18 goals is the second-highest in the competition, with eight of those coming from 20-year-old rising star Rasmussen who currently leads the race for the Golden Boot.
Fellow-youngster Trimis has contributed three goals and three assists, while Gomez is top of the ALW rankings for assists with five.
Trimis and Rasmussen both found the net in their side’s most recent outing, a 2-1 F3 Derby victory over Newcastle Jets and after a slow start, the women from Gosford have now lost just once in their last seven outings.
In what is the seventh overall meeting between the two sides, Glory will be looking for their second win.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2025/26 Season Round 13
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
polytec Stadium
Sunday 18 January 2026
Kick-off: 2pm WST (5pm Local Time)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 4. Baxter THEW, 5. Annabel MARTIN, 7. Avaani PRAKASH, 6. Isabel GOMEZ 9. Millie FARROW, 10. Tamar LEVIN, 11. Annalise RASMUSSEN, 12. Tiana FULLER, 13. Kaiya BUCHANAN, 14. Greta KRASZULA, 15. Annalee GROVE, 16. Tess QUILLIGAN, 17. Jynaya DOS SANTOS 18. Taren KING, 21. Eliza FAMILTON 22. Peta TRIMIS, 23. Lorena BAUMANN, 25. Blake HUGHES, 30. Sophia VARLEY
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Isabel GOMEZ
Unavailable: 1. Sarah LANGMAN (Injured), Cannon CLOUGH (injured) 26. Isabella Coco DI SIPIO (injured)
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Teresa MORRISSEY (gk), 2.Mischa ANDERSON, 3.Emma TOVAR, 4.Daisy MCALLISTER, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 8.Georgia CASSIDY, 9.Gabby HOLLAR, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 12.Bronte TREW, 16.Olivia WOOD, 17.Rola BADAWIYA, 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE, 23.Isobel DALTON (c), 24.Julia SARDO, 25.Ella LINCOLN, 27.Charli WAINWRIGHT, 28.Clancy WESTAWAY, 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 4.Daisy MCALLISTER, 16.Olivia WOOD, 17.Rola BADAWIYA
Outs: None
Unavailable: 7.Megan WYNNE (injured), 11.Natalie TATHEM (injured), 13.Naomi CHINNAMA (injured), 20.Ella ABDUL MASSIH (injured)
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ALW Match Preview: “We’re not going to die wondering” – Peters
