With the 2026 NPL Night Series set to get underway on Friday evening, we caught up with PGFC Academy Head Coach Joe Heath for a pre-season update.
PG Online: Joe, how have the preparations gone ahead of the Night Series and what can we expect to see from the senior Academy side this year?
Joe Heath: We came back in in early November and did a six-week block and then had some time off over Christmas before coming back in on 5th January.
The side has changed a lot since last year.
We’ve brought up around eight players from the U23s, a few lads have stepped up to the A-League, a few have moved on and one or two have gone across to Europe.
The younger lads are showing a lot of promise, but they’re stepping into men’s football now which is completely different, so it’s about getting them up to speed and working with them on out of possession again, similar to last year.
We may also look to do things a little bit differently in terms of our shape this year.
The personnel we have really suits the way we’ve played in our last couple of pre-season friendlies and with them being that bit younger, it gives us extra bodies in the middle of the pitch.
The more formations and ways of playing we can expose them to, the better for their future.
PG Online: What were some of the major positives from what was a much-improved season last year?
Joe Heath: I feel like working so hard on out of possession got us at least 12 points across the season.
Everybody who we played against identified how hard our players worked out of possession and how well they pressed high up the pitch and I think that stands the players in good stead stepping into the A-League as well.
The work rate is there, they know what’s required.
You see now how much Gio [De Abreu] works in the A-League.
He’s relentless, he runs around 13kms a game.
PG Online: Gio De Abreu and Seb Despotovski have both made a seamless transition from Academy to A-League football, how pleasing has that been to see?
Joe Heath: It shows how talented they.
Last year they were real highlights in the NPL team… and each training session has kicked them on a bit, but it’s completely down to them.
They are very talented lads who wanted to kick on and it’s shown this year with the way they’ve stepped up.
PG Online: Finally Joe, what are you looking to get out of the Night Series this year?
Joe Heath: We’ve had three or four pre-season friendlies and conceded in all of them, so hopefully we can tighten up there and get some clean sheets.
It’s a chance to expose the lads we’ve brought up to playing against men, some of whom are only 16 and 17-years-old.
It’s important that they get to experience the tempo and physicality of it before the NPL season starts and for them to comfortable with how we’re going to play.
Glory’s Night Series campaign begins with a trip to Armadale’s Alfred Skeet Reserve to take on newly-promoted Dianella White Eagles on Friday 23 January (kick-off at 6:30pm).
Their two other group stage fixtures are set for Friday 30 January when they will face Western Knights at Dorrien Gardens (kick-off at 6:30pm) and Saturday 7 February when Perth Azzurri will provide the opposition at Percy Doyle Reserve (kick-off at 7:30pm).
The details for the knockout stages are as follows:
Semi-finals
Saturday 14 February – Dorrien Gardens
Semi-final 1 (6pm)
Semi-final 2 (8pm)
Final
Saturday 21 February – Macedonia Park
Third-place play-off (6pm)
Final (8pm)
#ONEGlory
PGFC Academy Latest: Glory youngsters all set for Night Series
