Glory’s new-look squad is all set and raring to go in Saturday’s season-opener against Wellington Phoenix at HBF Park (kick-off at 6:45pm, tickets available HERE).
That’s the message from Head Coach David Zdrilic who has overseen a significant overhaul of the playing squad during the off-season.
Click HERE to watch his full pre-season media conference
As many as six players are in contention to make their Glory league debuts in what is the 55th Distance Derby and Zdrilic believes his side are well placed to make a strong start to the campaign.
“We are much, much better than we were last year and we’re aiming for Finals this year,” he said.
“You can see that we’ve recruited really well and the squad has gelled together.
“Towards the back end of last season, we managed to get some positive results and now we want to build on that.
“We’re ready to go.”
The Head Coach went on to reflect upon what he felt was a successful pre-season period.
“We have a really good mix of experience and youth in a team that has spent a whole pre-season together and it was a very positive pre-season in terms of the amount of work we got through and the games we managed to get in the end,” he said.
“There are seven or eight players that we’ve brought in that are starting players, so we’ve got depth and competition that we didn’t have previously.
“There’s a confidence, an energy and a real excitement for this season.
“The foundation is excellent for a good start to the season.”
Zdrilic went on to reveal that 19-year-old attacking midfielder Seb Despotovski, son of Glory legend Bobby, is likely to feature against the ‘Nix after a strong pre-season showing.
“Despotovski got a little bit of time at the back end of last season… and in the last few weeks, he’s really taken a step up, which is exciting,” he said.
“Jaylan [Pearman]… I can’t remember which round he came in last season, but he wasn’t ready at the start of the season and then he just jumped onto the scene.
“I’m seeing similar vibes with Despotovski.
“He played some of the pre-season games and looked very good.
“Hopefully he can keep that level and then make that next jump, just like Jaylan did.”
Glory did, of course, take on Wellington in the Australia Cup in July, but the Head Coach is not expecting a repeat of that storm-lashed round of 32 tie at Kingsway Reserve.
“It’s going to be a different game to that game from both the way they’re playing and the way we’re playing,” he said
“I think it’s going to be a high-energy, high-tempo, exciting game, especially in that opening period and we’re looking forward to it.”
In terms of early team news, meanwhile, Zdrilic confirmed that knee injuries will rule out both defender Sam Sutton and goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, with Matt Sutton being drafted in as a short-term replacement for the latter.
Zach Lisolajski (hamstring) will also miss out and central midfielders Callum Timmins and Luke Amos may not recover from their own injury concerns in time to feature, while the game comes too early for new international recruit Tom Lawrence as he continues to build up his fitness.
Glory will be looking to secure back-to-back league wins over Phoenix for the time since 2019-20 having claimed a 2-0 victory at Sky Stadium in the final game of last season.
Three points for the men in purple on Saturday would also see the two sides draw level in terms of overall wins in this fixture with 22 apiece.
Wellington recruited two former Glory players during the off-season in the form of wingers Carlo Armiento and Nikola Mielusnic, while Nigerian striker Ifeanyi Eze has also arrived, along with defender Manjrekar James who has represented Canada at senior level.
Other players worth looking out for in the visitors’ ranks include the highly-rated young defender Lukas Kelly-Heald, vastly-experienced utility-man Tim Payne and Japanese international midfielder Kazuki Nagasawa.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Season Round 1
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
HBF Park
Saturday 18 October 2025
Kick-off: 6:45pm
Perth Glory Squad: 4.Scott WOOTTON, 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 11.Lachlan WALES, 13.Cameron COOK, 14.Nathanael BLAIR, 17.Arion SULEMANI, 18.Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Trent OSTLER, 21.Adam BUGARIJA, 22.Adam TAGGART, 25.Sebastian DESPOTOVSKI, 26.Khoa NGO, 27.Will FRENEY, 28.Kaylan MAJEKODUNMI, 29.Matt SUTTON, 31.Joel ANASMO, 45.Brian KALTAK
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (injured), 3.Sam SUTTON (injured), 8.Callum TIMMINS (injured), 10.Luke AMOS (injured), 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI (injured)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI, 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 12. Dan EDWARDS, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 24. Xuan LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 37. Anaru CASSIDY, 39. Jayden SMITH, 40. Eamonn MCCARRON
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 8. Paulo RETRE (injured), 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured), 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (injured)
#ONEGlory
ALM Match Preview: “There’s a confidence, an energy and a real excitement for this season” – Zdrila
