Monday’s behind-closed-doors clash with Western United at HBF Park will hold extra significance for two key Glory figures in the form of Liam Reddy and Tony Popovic.
The club’s in-form goalkeeper is poised to make his 300th Hyundai A-League appearance having celebrated his 100th game in Glory colours last month, while Head Coach Popovic is set to take charge for the 50th time since arriving in the West in 2018.
And Popovic discussed both milestones in this week’s pre-game media conference.
“I’ve had a lot of experience with Liam over the years,” he said, “and I believe he’s playing as good as he ever has.
“Physically and mentally, he’s in fantastic shape.
“At the weekend, he had that one crucial save to make and he made it and I’m very happy to have him as part of this squad.
“In terms of my time here at Perth Glory, it’s been great . I feel like it’s flown by.
“I’m loving it and really enjoying my time at the club and working with the players and staff every day.
“We feel we’re on a journey and there’s so much more to achieve and so much more we’d like to do as a football club.
“It’ll be nice to reach 50 and hopefully we can do it with a win.”
Popovic, who previously took charge of Western Sydney Wanderers when they first entered the Hyundai A-League, went on to salute the work his counterpart and former teammate Mark Rudan has done during Western United’s maiden campaign in the competition.
“It’s a huge challenge to be a start-up club,” he said, “and you do go through a bit of a roller-coaster ride with the different challenges that you have.
“You learn a lot along the way, on and off the park.
“They are on a very good run at the moment. They’ve scored 11 goals in their last two games and it’s an important game for them and us.
“They’ve had a very good season and I’m sure they’re trying to lay a platform for years ahead to be a strong football club and that takes time.
“But they should be proud of their efforts so far.”
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