Glory Head Coach Alex Epakis believes that his side have no room for error in Sunday’s home clash with Wellington Phoenix if they are to make a push for Finals (kick-off at 4pm, tickets HERE).
The women in purple return to Macedonia Park off the back of an impressive away draw with reigning champions Melbourne Victory and will be out to maintain a 100% record against a Phoenix side still looking for their first win of the season.
And the Head Coach was unequivocal in his assessment of what is required from his side this weekend.
Watch his full pre-match media conference HERE.
“We aren’t in a position where we can have any slip-ups,” he said.
“We’ve been very clear about that within the group.
“From here on in, we’re going into every fixture, regardless of who we’re playing against, with the idea that we’re going all in to get maximum points.
“That mindset is a good one to have because we know that there is no Plan B.
“There’s just Plan A and that is to get a positive result.”
With the Kiwi side having only been narrowly edged out by league leaders Western United in their most recent outing, Epakis believes they will provide a tough challenge at Macedonia Park.
“They’re a very high-energy team with a lot of young players there and I think some of their performances have been really good,” he said.
“It’s a really hard-working side which has a lot of parallels to us as a group as well.
“I’m going to really enjoy the challenge of coaching against them.
“Since they’ve come into the competition, I don’t think they’ve let anyone run over the top of them.
“They are a very good competitive team and we had some tricky encounters with them last year, so we’re fully aware of where we need to be at for this game.”
In terms of early team news, Epakis confirmed the saddening news that Rylee Baisden will require surgery after rupturing her ACL in the draw with Victory.
“Unfortunately the results [of the knee scan] weren’t great,” he said.
“It’s a serious knee injury and it’s going to be a long-term one.
“It’s devastating because she’s been fantastic for us and fantastic for the competition and we’re just offering as much support as we can now and putting the steps in place so that she can start the rehabilitation.
“She’ll be undergoing surgery in the next week or two.
“It is a huge loss.
“With Rylee, you get fantastic energy and leadership throughout the group and you also get the quality on the field.
“So to replace that isn’t easy.
“It’s something that we’re all going to have to chip in and try and fill the void.”
On a more positive note, Sunday will mark Kim Carroll’s 150th A-League Women/W-League appearance and Epakis was unstinting in his praise of the veteran former Matildas defender.
“It’s a huge testament to her as a person and as a player,” he said.
“Kim’s been a fantastic servant to the competition and the national team for as far back as I can remember.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have her here this season and last season.
“She’s someone who I value a lot and who I know the team values a lot.
“She’s got a lot of leadership capacity, she’s still doing the job very much on the field and she’s a good person to rely on.
“We have conversations regarding the team and what we’re doing and it’s a really good exchange of ideas and I feel that she improves me as a coach.
“She’s been great and I’m really looking forward to her and the team putting on a great effort and a great performance for this game.”
Sunday’s opponents picked up their solitary point of the season earlier this month courtesy of a 1-1 home draw with Western Sydney Wanderers, but three of their six defeats have come via a single goal.
Among their more consistent performers this term have been teenage forward Ava Pritchard, New Zealand international midfielder Chloe Knott and fellow Football Fern, Mackenzie Barry.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2022/23 Season Round 10
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
Macedonia Park
Sunday 15 January 2023
Kick-off: 4.00pm WST
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Morgan AQUINO (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Demi KOULIZAKIS, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 13.Sarah CAIN, 15.Cyera HINTZEN, 16.Isabella WALLHEAD, 17.Abbey GREEN, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 19.Izzy FOLETTA, 20.Sarah LANGMAN (gk), 21.Ella MASTRANTONIO, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC, 23.Alana JANCEVSKI, 42.Gabriella COLEMAN
Ins: 13.Sarah CAIN, 16.Isabella WALLHEAD, 17.Abbey GREEN, 22.Claudia MIHOCIC, 42.Gabriella COLEMAN
Outs: 11.Rylee BAISDEN (injured)
Unavailable: 11.Rylee BAISDEN (injured), 24.Milan HAMMOND (injured)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 2. Saskia VOSPER, 3. Kate TAYLOR, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 6. Isabel GOMEZ, 7. Chloe KNOTT, 8. Grace WISNEWSKI, 9. Ava PRITCHARD, 12. Brianna EDWARDS (gk), 13. Paige SATCHELL, 14. Michaela ROBERTSON, 15. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 16. Emma ROLSTON, 17. Claudia CICCO, 18. Te Reremoana WALKER, 19. Charlotte LANCASTER, 20. Milly CLEGG, 21. Michaela FOSTER, 22. Georgia CANDY (gk).
Ins: 3. Kate TAYLOR (returning from injury).
Outs: Nil.
Unavailable: 1. Lily ALFELD (gk) (injured), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (personal reasons), 11. Betsy HASSETT (international duty).
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