ALM Match Preview: Griff and Taggs determined to farewell legend Risdon in style

Glory ALM Head Coach Adam Griffiths and skipper Adam Taggart have both spoken of their determination to ensure that Josh Risdon’s professional career ends on a winning note this weekend.

Click HERE to view Adam Griffiths’ full pre-match media conference.

The men in purple are set to round off their 2025/26 campaign by taking on Brisbane Roar at HBF Park this Saturday in what will be Risdon’s 171st ALM appearance for his hometown club.

(kick-off is at 7:45pm, tickets available HERE).

And both Griffiths and Taggart would love to farewell a true icon of the club in style.

“Riz is a legend and the boys love him,” said Griffiths.

“Culturally he fits; he’s a WA boy and he’s had a very, very successful career.

“We want him to embrace this next game and hopefully we can give him the win he deserves.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Taggart who grew up playing youth football with Risdon and eventually joined him in being capped by the Socceroos.

“It’s a hard one to put into words really,” he said, “because he’s such an amazing player and an amazing person.

“Having been there through a large part of it [Risdon’s career] at the same club when we were younger and at ECU Joondalup, I understand the challenges that he had to face to become a professional footballer.

“Driving from Bunbury to Perth to play at ECU and obviously then progressing to Perth Glory and ultimately a World Cup, I think he’s one of those people, where if you really look into his story and the success he’s had and the challenges he’s had to face, just to be a professional footballer is amazing.

“He’s one of those people who doesn’t take too much of the limelight, he’s very modest and kind of quiet, but he’s loved by everyone.

“A quiet person, but a massive personality in terms of what he brings to the group and the respect and love everyone has for him… [it] speaks volumes of him as a person and as a footballer.

“To be the record appearances holder for Perth Glory in the A-League is something unbelievable and for us boys to be a part of that now and watch the person who has that record finish up and retire this weekend, it’s massive for us.

“I think it’s important that everyone understands everything that he’s brought to this club over the years.”

Glory will be looking to extend a solid run of form which has seen them lose just once in their last seven outings and Griffiths vowed to continue to take a front-foot on Saturday.

“We’re preparing like we have been in recent weeks with the firm mentality that we want to get at the game and we want our fans to know what we’re about,” he said.

“That’s been the message this week.

“When I look back over the course of the season, there were critical moments that didn’t go our way, but all I can look at is the positives from the last six or seven weeks when the team has been really trying to evolve.

“That’s the pleasing thing from this situation.

“What we need to do is make sure that we do it every single week and that’s really what I want to see this weekend.

“I want the players to play with the belief, desire and attacking mindset that they have been and put in big performances in every single game, no matter what the moment is.

“That’s key.”

In terms of early squad news, meanwhile, Griffiths confirmed that Callum Timmins has a 50/50 chance of making the squad having been sidelined by a quad injury, while a hip issue may rule out fellow-midfielder Luca Tevere.

Saturday will mark the 28th A-League meeting between the two clubs at HBF Park, with Roar having claimed 12 wins to Glory’s nine.

The most recent of those clashes here in the West came in Round 13 when goals from Chris Long and Samuel Klein guided the visitors to a 2-1 victory.

Brisbane have not secured another win in their 11 games since that clash at HBF Park, losing six and drawing five and they currently sit one place and two points below Glory on the ladder.

Klein, Long and Justin Vidic have provided their main goal threat this year, with each finding the net four times, while James McGarry has provided three assists.

Other players to look out for include influential Irish midfielder Jay O’Shea, former Glory man Henry Hore and versatile Costa Rican import Youstin Salas who leads the league for successful tackles with 57.

Match Details

Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Season Round 26

Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar

HBF Park

Saturday 25 April 2026

Kick-off: 7:45pm

Perth Glory Squad: 2.Charbel SHAMOON, 3.Sam SUTTON, 4.Scott WOOTTON, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 16.Gabriel POPOVIC, 17.Arion SULEMANI, 18.Luca TEVERE, 19.Josh RISDON, 22.Adam TAGGART (c), 23.Anthony DIDULICA, 24.Andriano LEBIB, 25.Sebastian DESPOTOVSKI, 27.Will FRENEY, 29.Matt SUTTON (gk), 30.Tadi KUZAMBA, 39.Giovanni DE ABREU, 40.Ryan WARNER (gk), 45.Brian KALTAK, 67.Stefan COLAKOVSKI

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 19.Josh RISDON, 23.Anthony DIDULICA

Outs: None

Unavailable: 6.Brandon O’NEILL (injured), 8.Callum TIMMINS (injured), 11.Lachlan WALES (injured), 13.Cameron COOK (gk) (injured), 20.Trent OSTLER (injured), 31.Joel ANASMO (injured), 34.Tom LAWRENCE (injured)

Brisbane Roar Squad: 1.Dean BOUZANIS, 2.Youstin Delfin SALAS GOMEZ, 3.Dimitri VALKANIS, 5.Marius LODE, 6.Austin LUDWIK, 8.Samuel KLEIN, 10.George VRAKAS, 11.Macklin FREKE, 13.Henry HORE, 16.Matthew DENCH, 17.Justin VIDIC, 19.Michael RUHS, 23.James MCGARRY, 26.James O’SHEA, 27.Benjamin HALLORAN, 30.Quinn MACNICOL, 31.Noah MAIERONI, 35. Mikael EVAGOROU-ALAO, 39.Niall THOM, 44.Jordan LAUTON

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 27. Benjamin HALLORAN (promoted), 35. Mikael EVAGOROU-ALAO (promoted)

Outs: 7. Jacob BRAZETE

Unavailable: 9.Christopher LONG (foot), 22.Nathan AMANATIDIS (quad), 25.Nicholas D’AGOSTINO (leg), 77. Milorad STAJIC (leg)

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