PGFC Academy Director Kenny Lowe is looking forward to seeing how more of the club’s emerging players respond to Saturday’s testing NPL WA trip to Armadale SC (3pm kick-off at Alfred Skeet Reserve).
The Academy First Team has had a particularly youthful feel about it in recent weeks, with a number of the more senior players being left out as the start of A-League pre-season draws closer.
And Lowe confirmed that he will be maintaining that approach against seventh-placed Armadale.
“We’re going to keep putting the younger boys into a tougher environment,” he said.
“Jaylan Pearman has been playing and we’re going to go with the likes of Daniel Bennie and Joel Anasmo as well, give them that experience and see how they stack up.
“A lot of the senior players, like Trent Ostler, Adam Zimarino, Ciaran Bramwell, Aidan Coyne and Jacob Young are all on a little bit of a rest period before they start training with the first team (A-League), so that facilitates the opportunity to play the younger boys.”
Alfred Skeet Reserve is traditionally one of the toughest away venues in the NPL WA, but for Lowe, that makes it an ideal testing ground for the youngsters.
“The sooner they get these experiences the better,” he said.
“Hopefully they’ll have a little bit of pain which means they’ve got to grow some resistance which will help them be better.
“It can’t be all plain sailing on calm seas; there have to be some choppy waters, otherwise you never learn and develop.”
Glory will be up against an Armadale side which downed Balcatta Etna last time out and is set to take on South Australian outfit Modbury Jets in the Australia Cup Round of 32 later this month.
The previous meeting between Glory and the southern suburbs club back in April ended in a 1-1 draw.
Ahead of the First Team game, the PGFC Academy Under-18s will be out to extend their seven-point lead at the top of the table and the Under-20s, who are also in pole position, will be targeting a remarkable 14th consecutive league victory.
The Under-18s game gets underway at 11am, followed by the Under-20s at 1pm and the First Team at 3pm.
Do get along and lend the lads your support if you can!
(picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
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