ALM Match Preview: Griff demands response from playing group ahead of Brisbane trip

Glory ALM Head Coach Adam Griffiths is expecting a strong reaction from his squad in Saturday’s high-stakes clash with Brisbane Roar at Kayo Stadium (kick-off at 3pm WST, watch live on Paramount+).

Click HERE to view his full pre-match media conference.

The men in purple were on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline against Adelaide United last week, a result which leaves them five points outside the top six with eight games of the regular season left to play.

But Griffiths feels that the playing group has the character to bounce back and give their Finals hopes a major boost by securing positive results both in Queensland and the subsequent back-to-back away games against Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix.

“The next three games will determine where we sit on the ladder, obviously and how we move forward for the rest of the season,” he said.

“I’m looking for a response from last week.

“I’m looking for competition in the group to get a place in the team and… I’m looking for a winning mentality.

“That’s what this club needs to grow towards; a mentality that is going to define us for the future games for the rest of the season.

“There are characters in this team who believe in what we’re doing and have the mentality to galvanise that and really push us forward in a positive direction.

“If we do that, we will start to get the results we believe we can.”

The Head Coach also believes that his side have shown glimpses of what they are capable of, but need to find a greater level of consistency in their performance levels.

“We have to stick to our gameplan and believe in what we do,” he said, “because when we do that correctly, we are a very strong team.

“We’ve been up and down.

“We have to improve a lot.

“There have been elements of our game which have been very pleasing and there are other areas where we have to stand up and make sure we start to improve.

“We need to stay together and connected and continue to do the things that have made us a strong team in the performances when we have done well.

“The players have to re-live those moments and understand why were successful in those moments.

“If we do that, then I’m sure the players will be stronger and more confident than before.”

Glory will be out to avenge a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Michael Valkanis’ men back in mid-January and Griffiths feels his side will need to match Roar’s abrasive approach.

“They [Brisbane] started the season strongly and are a physical team with a lot of energy,” he said.

“That hasn’t changed in terms of their game, so we’re expecting a similar type of game for us.

“It’ll be a physical game and it will have its challenges.”

In terms of early team news, meanwhile, Tom Lawrence and Lachie Wales will again miss out through injury, but Brian Kaltak is set to return to the squad having missed the Adelaide game due to suspension.

As for Brisbane, they will be looking to snap a five-game winless streak which has seen them slip out of the top six to ninth spot, two points ahead of Glory having played one game more.

Three of the their six wins this term have come in Queensland and they have scored the fewest home goals in the competition (8) across those fixtures.

Among their standout performers have been powerful midfielder Samuel Klein who claimed one of his three goals to date against Glory in Round 13, goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis who has kept six clean sheets and Costa Rican import Youstin Salas who leads the league in terms of both tackles (46) and interceptions (37).

Saturday will mark the 58th overall ALM meeting between the two sides, with Roar having chalked up 29 wins to Glory’s 17.

Five of those victories for the WA side have been in the Sunshine State, the most recent of which came in December 2024 when David Williams grabbed the only goal of the game at Suncorp Stadium.

Match Details

Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Season Round 19

Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory

Kayo Stadium

Saturday 28 February 2026

Kick-off: 3pm WST

Brisbane Roar Squad: 1.Dean BOUZANIS (GK), 2.Youstin Delfin SALAS GOMEZ, 3.Dimitri VALKANIS, 5.Marius LODE, 6.Austin LUDWIK, 7.Jacob BRAZETE, 8.Samuel KLEIN, 9.Christopher LONG, 10. Georgios VRAKAS, 11. Macklin FREKE (GK), 15.Hosine BILITY, 16.Matthew DENCH, 17. Justin VIDIC, 19. Michael RUHS, 23.James MCGARRY, 25.Nicholas D’AGOSTINO, 30.Quinn MACNICOL, 31.Noah MAIERONI, 44.Jordan LAUTON, 47.James DURRINGTON

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 15.Hosine BILITY (promoted),23. James McGARRY (returns from suspension), 30.Quinn MACNICOL (promoted)

Outs: 41.Emmett SHAW (back)

Unavailable: 13.Henry HORE (leg), 22. Nathan AMANATIDIS (quad), 26.James O’SHEA (leg), 77. Milorad STAJIC (leg)

Perth Glory Squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Charbel SHAMOON, 3.Sam SUTTON, 4.Scott WOOTTON, 5.Riley FOXE, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 8.Callum TIMMINS, 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 16.Gabriel POPOVIC, 17.Arion SULEMANI, 18.Luca TEVERE, 20.Trent OSTLER, 22.Adam TAGGART (c), 24.Andriano LEBIB, 25.Sebastian DESPOTOVSKI, 27.Will FRENEY, 29.Matt SUTTON (gk), 39.Giovanni DE ABREU, 45.Brian KALTAK, 67.Stefan COLAKOVSKI

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 17.Arion SULEMANI, 45.Brian KALTAK

Outs: None

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

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