Perth Glory coach Adam Griffiths has issued a clear message to his squad's returning stars: no one walks straight back into the team. Following a narrow 3-2 defeat to Melbourne Victory, Griffiths is demanding a significant lift in training intensity as key players edge towards full fitness.
No Easy Path Back for Glory's Injured Stars
The coach's comments come after a frustrating loss at AAMI Park on Saturday, 3 January 2026, where Spanish maestro Juan Mata inspired a Victory comeback. Despite taking an early lead through Trent Ostler, Glory faded, with Mata providing two crucial assists after Louis D'Arrigo's injury-time equaliser.
While the result was disappointing, the trip to Melbourne was undertaken without several key attacking weapons. Lachie Wales, Jaiden Kucharski, and Sebastian Despotovski all remained in Perth to continue their rehabilitation. Star striker Adam Taggart was again limited to a substitute role as he manages groin and heel issues.
Amos Makes Instant Impact in Season Debut
A major positive was the long-awaited season debut of English midfielder Luke Amos. He made an immediate impact off the bench, winning possession from Denis Genreau and setting up Khoa Ngo for a goal shortly after his introduction.
Despite this bright spark, Griffiths emphasised that minutes on the pitch are not enough. The returning cohort must match the gruelling standards set by the players who have carried the load during the injury crisis. "They're quality players. What we need to do is to build on those minutes, but more importantly, regularly training at the intensity that the rest of the group have been doing," Griffiths stated.
He added a firm warning: "That's key for any player to play at their maximum... until we have that, then it's not going to be enough. We need to push them harder."
Glory Aim to Capitalise on Tight Ladder and Home Games
Perth currently sits 10th on the A-League Men's ladder after 11 rounds, but the competition remains incredibly tight. They are just seven points off top spot, leaving their season ambitions very much alive.
The focus now shifts to a crucial back-to-back home stand at HBF Park, starting with the visit of Central Coast Mariners this Saturday. Griffiths pinpointed game management as the critical lesson from the Victory defeat, where his team lost control in key midfield moments.
"We need to be better with the ball, and if we're better with the ball, then we don't have to have so much pressure on us constantly," he analysed. "We had a chance to kill that momentum, silence the crowd going into the break, and that momentum shifted."
While acknowledging the quality of a confident Victory side, the coach made it clear that mere promise is insufficient. "When you finish this game and you're disappointed you didn't win, that shows that we're going in the right direction, but it's still not good enough," Griffiths concluded.
