Friday’s Round 9 clash with Brisbane has all the ingredients to be one of the games of the season, as Perth look to reclaim top spot from the Queenslanders.
It’s been a tough travel schedule for Bobby Despotovki’s side this season, with just two home games in the opening eight rounds, but they return to Dorrien Gardens for a clash that could go a long way to deciding the Westfield W-League Premiership race.
Round 8, only 2 home games.. On the road again with @PerthGloryWomen 💜 let’s gooo ✈️
— Sam Kerr (@samkerr1) December 15, 2017
With no games played over the Christmas weekend, both sides will enter the contest fresh and ready to make the summit of the W-League theirs heading into the final third of the season.
Glory will be hoping their fine attacking form continues, with their 18 goals for the season double the tally that Roar have managed thus far this term.
One-to-Watch: Melissa Maizels
After consolidating her place as the team’s number one choice between the sticks last season, Maizels has refused to become complacent, with her intensive off-season work paying dividends.
The 24-year-old is steadily building her reputation in the league and is now equal-third for most saves with 23. Working week in and week out with goalkeeping coach and Glory legend Jason Petkovic has evidently had a huge impact on Maizels, with her reaction time and distribution notably improving this season.
And she’ll be keen to maintain her fine form against a Brisbane side laced with Matildas stars.
Last Time They Met: Brisbane Roar 1-4 Perth Glory
It was an emphatic victory for Glory back in Round 2 in front of over 4,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium, with Rachel Hill’s sublime hat-trick rounding out consecutive 4-1 results to open the season.
The American opened the scoring after 42 minutes, with Brisbane replying on the stroke of half time through Claire Polkinghorne.
But it was Perth who would prevail thanks to a clinical second-half performance which included two more strikes from Hill and a coolly-converted penalty from skipper Sam Kerr. While the home fans will be hoping for a similar scoreline, all signs are pointing towards a much tighter contest come Friday night.
Match Details
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar
Dorrien Gardens, Perth
Kick-Off: 7:00pm
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Southern
Assistant Referee 2: Adrien Liechti
Fourth Official: Shane Skinner
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To purchase tickets visit www.w-league.com.au/tickets
Perth Glory Squad: 2.Sarah CARROLL, 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY, 5.Patricia CHARALAMBOUS, 6.Danielle BROGAN, 7.Nicole STANTON, 8.Shawn BILLAM, 9.Rachel HILL, 10.Raquel RODRIGUEZ, 11.Nicola BOLGER, 13.Jaymee GIBBONS, 16.Amanda FRISBIE, 17.Marianna TABAIN, 18.Melissa MAIZELS (GK), 20.Samantha KERR (c), 30.Morgan AQUINO (GK)
**one to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Patricia CHARALAMBOUS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1.Gabby DAL BUSCO (GK) (arm – 2-3 weeks), 12.Shannon MAY (hamstring – 1-2 weeks)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), 2.Carson PICKETT, 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 6.Celeste BOUREILLE, 7.Ayesha NORRIE, 8.Kaitlyn TORPEY, 9.Wai Ki CHEUNG, 10.Katrina GORRY, 11.Natalie TATHEM, 12.Allira TOBY, 13.Tameka BUTT, 14.Summer O’BRIEN, 15.Abbey LLOYD, 16.Hayley RASO, 17.Emily GIELNIK, 19.Hollie PALMER, 20.Georgina WORTH (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 15.Abbey Lloyd (promoted), 19.Hollie PALMER (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
#CREATEDESTINY
