In the wake of Glory’s comprehensive friendly win over Murdoch University Melville FC on Wednesday evening, Head Coach Tony Popovic’s focus switched immediately to next week’s training camp on the Gold Coast.
While in Queensland, the men in purple will also take on Hyundai A-League rivals Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets in the inaugural Surf City Cup tournament and Popovic regards the trip as a vital part of the club’s preparations for the 2019/20 campaign.
“We know the facilities very well, so we know we’ll be well looked after on and off the park,” he said.
“The thinking behind the trip is two-fold really.
“Firstly, it’s about trying to create more combinations on the park.
“We’ve got a lot of new players that have started at different times and we want to get them out there more often in a training-camp environment and have a few games to practise a few things.
“And off the field, it’s a chance for players to get to know each other which is always important.
“In a camp environment, you’re together 24/7 and at this stage of the year, we feel that’s a real positive for us.
“There’ll be chances for them to spend some time together away from training which is important because we spend so much time together in the season, we want to have a really good spirit and build on what we have so far.”
Popovic is also relishing the opportunity of taking on Roar and the Jets, both of whom remain involved in this year’s FFA Cup.
“Playing quality opposition will help,” he said.
“It’s fantastic for us to be playing Brisbane and Newcastle because, as I’ve found out over the last 12 months, it’s not easy for us to get A-League opposition from Perth.
“So we have to make the most of it in terms of what we want to get out of the games.
“Putting the results aside, it’s about playing tough opposition that will test us and we can try out a few things in those games that will help us for Round 1.”
Glory are set to take on Robbie Fowler’s Roar on Friday 30 August at the Croatian Sports Centre in Carrara (kick-off at 6.30pm local time), with the game against the Jets taking place at the same venue on Tuesday 3 September (kick-off at 6.30pm local time).
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