Goalkeeper Matt Sutton is keen to end a testing week on a high when Glory face Melbourne Victory at HBF Park on Friday evening (kick-off at 6:45pm, tickets available HERE).
Watch his full media conference HERE
A heavy defeat at the hands of reigning Champions Melbourne City was followed by the departure of Head Coach David Zdrilic who parted company with the club on Tuesday.
But Sutton, who arrived on a short-term contract earlier this month, believes that a win over the navy-and-whites would go a long way to putting Glory right back on track.
“Every time you play Melbourne Victory,” he said, “whether it’s here or there, they’re one of the biggest clubs and it’s going to be a big game.
“They obviously haven’t started the way they wanted to, similar to us… so it’s a massive game for both teams and we’re really welcoming that challenge.
“We can’t wait for Friday to come already.”
The 25-year-old went on to reveal his reaction to Zdrilic’s departure which came off the back of a challenging off-season during which he became a free agent after his previous club, Western United, were placed into hibernation.
“It [Zdrilic’s departure] was obviously a big shock and a big change,” he said.
“I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, but we’ve got some really strong leaders in the dressing room… to lean back on and trust.
“Whatever we think, it doesn’t matter; we’re professionals and we’ve got to carry on.
“We have a big game on Friday… and we have to get prepared for that.
“It was disappointing [the situation at Western United], but in saying that, it was a great opportunity to come here.
“Perth is a fantastic place… and I’m super-stoked to be here.
“There are five or six former Western United players and another couple of ex-Melbourne City players that I’ve played with before and that has helped me hit the ground running and smoothed over a few cracks.
“It’s a really close changing room.”
Sutton looks set to make his third start for Glory on Friday evening as fellow-senior ‘keepers Cameron Cook and Mark Birighitti continue to recover from knee injuries.
In other early team news, Welsh import Tom Lawrence is expected to make his A-League debut having completed another full week of training, but Jaiden Kucharski is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a groin injury in last weekend’s defeat against Melbourne City.
Midfielders Nicholas Pennington and Luke Amos are also unavailable, along with Joel Anasmo and defensive duo Sam Sutton and Zach Lisolajski.
As for Victory, they fought out a 0-0 draw with reigning Premiers Auckland FC in Round One before crashing to a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Newcastle Jets last weekend.
Keegan Jelacic scored one of their goals in that Round 2 clash at McDonald Jones Stadium and he is one of four former Glory men likely to feature for Victory at HBF Park, along with Jack Duncan, Jason Davidson and Josh Rawlins.
Other players to look out for in the opponents’ ranks include Spanish World Cup-winning legend Juan Mata, gifted midfielder Matt Grimaldi and Greek frontman Nikos Vergos.
Arthur Diles’ men did of course get the better of Glory in both of last month’s pre-season friendlies in Mandurah and Bunbury and have also won on their last two visits to HBF Park.
Overall, however, Glory have enjoyed 14 victories in this fixture to the visitors’ nine.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Season Round 3
Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
HBF Park
Friday 31 October 2025
Kick-off: 6:45pm
Perth Glory squad: 2.Charbel SHAMOON, 4.Scott WOOTTON (co-c), 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 8.Callum TIMMINS, 11.Lachlan WALES, 14.Nathanael BLAIR, 17.Arion SULEMANI, 18.Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Trent OSTLER, 21.Adam BUGARIJA, 22.Adam TAGGART (co-c), 24.Andriano LEBIB, 25.Sebastian DESPOTOVSKI, 26.Khoa NGO, 27.Will FRENEY, 29.Matt SUTTON (gk), 34.Tom LAWRENCE, 40.Ryan WARNER (gk), 45.Brian KALTAK
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 21.Adam BUGARIJA, 26.Khoa NGO, 34.Tom LAWRENCE
Outs: 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI
Unavailable: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI(gk) (injured), 3.Sam SUTTON (injured), 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON (injured), 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI (injured), 10.Luke AMOS (injured), 13.Cameron COOK (gk) (injured), 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI (injured), 31.Joel ANASMO (injured)
Melbourne Victory squad: 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 28. Kayne RAZMOVSKI, 29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 34. Xavier STELLA, 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 64. Juan MATA
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 28. Kayne RAZMOVSKI
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 5. Brendan HAMILL (long-term injury)
#ONEGlory
ALM Match Preview: “We can’t wait for Friday to come already” – Sutton
