ALM Head Coach Adam Griffiths is excited at the prospect of his Glory side locking horns with in-form league leaders Newcastle Jets at HBF Park on Friday evening (kick-off at 6:45pm, tickets available HERE).
Click HERE to watch his full pre-match media conference.
The Jets will make the long trip west looking to extend a run of six successive wins in which they have scored 17 goals, establishing a two-point lead at the top of the ladder in the process.
And Griffiths, who made nearly 40 appearances for Newcastle during his playing days, is under no illusions about the the threat posed by Mark Milligan’s free-flowing side.
“I knew from the moment that we played them earlier in the season that they are one of the best teams in the league,” he said, “and now that form has started to come consistently.
“They’re on top of the ladder for a reason, so it’s going to be our biggest challenge of the season and we’re looking forward to embracing that.
“Mark [Milligan] has been able to bring in some quality players in addition to what they already had.
“He’s brought it more [number] ten-type players, so they have tens all over the park and I rate that.
“It’s going to be a real challenge for us as the home team to bring the game to them and also control those moments.
“It’s going to be a great game and a really exciting one for us.”
Glory claimed an important point courtesy of a stoppage-time equaliser from Stefan Colakovski in their most recent outing away at Macarthur FC, but the Head Coach was disappointed that the men in purple did not go on to win the game after taking a first-half lead through Nicholas Pennington.
“We were happy that we got the one point in the end,” he said, “but the mentality of the group needs to know that that isn’t good enough and we need to keep pushing.
“There were a few issues that we addressed this week.
“If we’re going to be an elite team, a team at the top, we need to run that game out 1-0 or 2-0.”
In terms of early team news, Griffiths confirmed that Adam Taggart has recovered from the glute issue which ruled him out of the Macarthur game and is expected to return to the squad for Friday, while Jaiden Kucharski will also feature despite being felled by home goalkeeper Filip Kurto late in that draw with the Bulls.
Fellow-forward Tom Lawrence, however, is a doubt as the club’s medical staff continue to monitor a plantar fasciitis issue which forced the Welshman off the pitch last Friday.
Much like last week’s opponents Macarthur FC, Newcastle have gone from strength to strength since being beaten at home by Glory.
In the 11 games post that Round 5 meeting at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Jets have amassed a colossal 27 points and been transformed from wooden spoon candidates into potential Champions.
They have also failed to score only once in those 11 games and have found the net 12 times in their last four, with Lachie Rose and Clayton Taylor leading the charge by claiming seven goals apiece.
Other notable contributors this term include Daniel Wilmering who has provided five assists from full-back, former Melbourne Victory man Eli Adams and young attacking midfielder Alex Badolato who have both scored four times and claimed three assists and Joel Bertolissio who has established himself as one of the competition’s brightest up-and-coming defenders.
Friday will mark the 60th overall ALM meeting between the two clubs with Glory having enjoyed 29 wins to Newcastle’s 12, although the visitors have not lost on any of their last five visits to HBF Park.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Season Round 17
Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets
HBF Park
Friday 13 February 2026
Kick-off: 6:45pm
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Charbel SHAMOON, 3.Sam SUTTON, 4.Scott WOOTTON, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 8.Callum TIMMINS, 9.Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 11.Lachlan WALES, 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI, 17.Arion SULEMANI, 18.Luca TEVERE, 20.Trent OSTLER, 22.Adam TAGGART (c), 25.Sebastian DESPOTOVSKI, 27.Will FRENEY, 29.Matt SUTTON (gk), 34.Tom LAWRENCE, 39.Giovanni DE ABREU, 45.Brian KALTAK, 67.Stefan COLAKOVSKI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 18.Luca TEVERE, 22.Adam TAGGART (c)
Outs: None
Unavailable: 6.Brandon O’NEILL (injured), 13.Cameron COOK (gk) (injured), 31.Joel ANASMO (injured)
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. James DELIANOV, 5. Joe SHAUGHNESSY, 7. Eli ADAMS, 8. Lachlan BAYLISS, 9. Lachlan ROSE, 11. Ben GIBSON, 13. Clayton TAYLOR 14. Max BURGESS, 18. Kota MIZUNUMA, 20. Alex NASSIEP, 22. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 24. Alexandro NUNES, 28. Will DOBSON, 33. Mark NATTA, 37. Oliver COCKLE, 39. Thomas AQUILINA, 41. Lucas SCICLUNA, 42. Max COOPER, 43. Xavier BERTONCELLO
Ins:
Outs: 10. Zach Clough, 17. Kosta Grozos, 19. Alexander Badolato (ACL – Season), 21. Noah James, 25. Oscar Fryer (ACL – Season), 34. Meliwethu Nkomo, 40. Jordan Baylis, 44. Ben Van Dorssen, 45. Christian Bracco (ACL – Season)
(picture courtesy of Andrew Vezos)
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