There was a decent crowd for this fixture, and while it is a far cry from the Glory heydays of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the optimism was palpaple around the ground. I hope that under the new ownership, Perth Glory really works at cultivating the loyal small crowd that has remained with the team during the decline over the past 15 years. This is where the team can build that core support and then grow the team outwards. I personally would love to see Perth have a core active support end that is respected and looked after by the team and in turn by the supporter's group. Also the loyal family members and the members outside of the active end are pivotal for the continued support outside of the more 'rowdier' active supporters.
But keeping these fans by showing them the respect that they deserve and looking after these members, many of them who have been members for the team since the very beginning in 1996, ensures that they keep coming to games but also encourages more to come. Keeping these fans 'onside' is important to keep local investment into the team from a fan level but also through their businesses that woudl encourage sponsorships and Perth/Western Australian corporate sponsorship and investment. I am optimistic that the new ownership might herald in these changes but it is the fresh air that this team so desperately needs.
Now let us talk about the match, afterall that is what we are here for aren't we? Actually about the food and drink but yes, we are here to talk about the performances on the park also! Perth had started strong against the Roar and they just did not look comfortable, especially after Adam Taggart opened the scoring in the 24th minute and it did look like that Perth might have been able to bag a second goal only for the Brisbane defence to hold out and start to mount counter offensives. This was and proved successful as Perth's defence was placed under pressure and began to wilt and Brisbane pegged one goal as Nikola Mileusnic scored in the 29th minute.
Brisbane after that goal had gained the advantage and looked like they were starting to wrestle the game away from Perth, looking to blow the game wide open after they hit the lead in the 36th minute goal from Thomas Waddingham. Glory looked rattled and they did not look like they were going to be able to shake this off and regroup from this and try to snag a goal back, or score any more goals for that matter. Perth would hit the sheds down 1-2 and looking rather forlorn and rather flat.
Perth must have received a firery half time talk from Alen Stajcic as they came out for the second half looking like they wanted to be there and the desire to push Brisbane and looked more threatening than the last 15 minutes of the first half. While Brisbane were still a threat and at times they were lucky to not even grab a third goal. Perth were snapping at their heels and their lead looked ever more fragile as the minutes were ticking up to 90.
This pressure had culminated in yet another brilliant Taggart goal in the 73rd minute and had really threw the cat amongst the pidgeons. This threw the game wide open and Perth were fired up and wanting to really send a message to the 6597 crowd and to Brisbane that they were here to play and that theyre looking to hit the lead. Brisbane were under immense pressure and in the 78th minute strike from Stefan Colakovski sent the crowd into a state of delerium and sheer pandemonium of the overflowing excitement of bagging a terrific goal from a terrific strike and I will say terrific a third time as it was Perth's third goal and the hit the lead which they would hold onto for the rest of the match. It was a bit touch and go towards the final minutes and into stoppage time, but the match ended with Perth securing the vital 3 points with a 3-2 win.
I do try and keep my food purchases to a minimum as I feel that the selection of food to be rather disappointing and way overpriced. The food outside of hot ships are so underwhelming it sours the matchday experience, spoiling what otherwise would be a good evening out. Had I eaten prior and not spent an entire day at my cricket match I would not entertain the prospect of buying something to eat. But because I was on empty and needed just something to eat as well as something to drink I really had no choice. But I genuinely feel annoyed that there are countless people who take their children, or go otherwise to the games and willingly pay for this garbage and emptying out what practically is their week's pay for slop.
But if we, including myself here, still participate and keep buying food or even beveages will never end or slow the cycle down. They know that the market forces will not act as they are somewhat forced into this. But I have said this many times over the years of this blog, people who go to Perth Glory games really should be having food and drinks before the game so that they come with full stomachs and their thirsts are quenched. This would also double up for the fans investing in businesses of varied degrees in sizes, from the small and local to the more multi-national fast food chains. You would still get better value for money there than inside.
On this occasion I did not eat any food, but I drank a Captain Morgan Rum and Cola midstrength and a 600mL bottle of Pepsi. I needed the rum and cola after a long day's play at cricket but it was a shame that due to the rules, only midstrength. I could have done with a full strength drink after such a long day. But both hit that spot that I needed to be hit, but unfortunately so did my wallet. The Captain Morgan was 13.50 and the Pepsi was 6.20. Both absurdly priced and I feel for parents who would have to buy perhaps 3 or 4 of these and then you have to buy food.
The game was a thrilling encounter and was great to see Perth pick themselves up off the canvas to then find that second wind and give the visitors two hooks that sent them hitting the deck and walking away with the win. Well done and while I always look forward to coming back to HBF Park, I can never say that the food, nor drink is a part of that.
