Perth Glory coach Adam Griffiths has issued a clear warning to his players: their impressive 3-0 victory over the Central Coast Mariners is just the beginning, not a reason to relax. The win at home on Saturday, 11 January 2026, propelled Glory up to seventh on the A-League Men ladder, but Griffiths insists the job is far from done.
Griffiths' Hunger for Improvement
While pleased to see the team's identity taking shape under his guidance, Griffiths declared he is far from satisfied. With a crucial match against Brisbane Roar looming on Friday, the coach emphasised that a single win means little in the long campaign.
"When I came in, I knew that there’s some real energy from these fans, and my objective and the team’s objective is to bring joy to them, so we’re going to push every week," Griffiths stated. "The identity is definitely coming through now, but we’re still off from having that full flood of water."
He confirmed the team would return to training immediately, focusing on sharpening their attack. "(We will) work harder, keep working on different areas of our game in the final third. It doesn’t stop; one win doesn’t mean anything. We’re going to push again."
Teenage Star and a Stunning Olimpico
The match was decided by a strong first-half performance and a moment of individual brilliance. Nicholas Pennington and Adam Taggart found the net before the break, setting a solid foundation.
The highlight, however, belonged to star attacker Tom Lawrence. The former Derby County and Rangers player scored a spectacular ‘Olimpico’ goal, curling the ball directly into the net from a corner kick. Griffiths praised Lawrence as a definite asset but was quick to highlight the collective effort.
One of the standout performers was teenage midfielder Gio De Abreu, who made his starting debut in place of the injured Will Freney. "He was exceptional," Griffiths raved. "He played with so much hunger, you could tell he loves football and that’s what we want here."
Reinforcements and Rising Competition
The squad is set to get stronger, which excites the coach. Foreign midfielder Luke Amos has just completed his second game back from injury, while Lachie Wales, Jaiden Kucharski, and Sebastian Despotovski are nearing returns to training.
Griffiths believes this internal competition will drive the entire squad to new heights. "Competition will drive all of them to be the best version of themselves. That’s what we’re looking for," he said. "I’m really excited about these players coming back, because we haven’t had that for a while."
Despite the comprehensive scoreline, Griffiths noted the team came out flat after half-time, an area for improvement. However, Lawrence's sublime third goal effectively sealed the three points for Perth Glory, keeping their finals ambitions firmly alive as they prepare for the next challenge.
