It’s a story that Steven Bradbury would be proud of: Perth SC stuck it out in second behind Perth Glory Youth for much of the year and, when it mattered, seized on a stumble to win their second title in three years.
Here’s everything you need to know about the NPL WA outfit.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
While Perth Glory Youth flew high atop the NPL WA ladder for most of the season, Perth SC sat behind patiently.
They maintained a good run of form, with two draws and nine wins in their last eleven matches, to keep the pressure on at the top.
It was a pressure which proved too much for Glory in the end, and Perth SC snuck in to claim the title and earn themselves passage to the NPL Finals Series.
STAR PLAYER
The top scorer for Perth SC has proven the club's saviour in some very important occasions this season: Paul Zimarino.
He scored 16 goals across the course of the season, including an injury-time strike to secure all three points in a 2-1 win over Inglewood in round 24. Without those three points, Perth would not have won the title.
There were other important goals too: like his brace in the final round to secure the title and the solitary goal in a 1-0 win over Floreat Athena back in round 17.
COACH
The coach is Ramon Falzon, who took over in mid-2016 and led the club to a premiership in that same year.
That premiership was won in similarly spectacular circumstances: Perth SC won on the last day, and then-leaders Inglewood United lost to give up their lead atop the table.
HOME GROUND
Perth SC’s home ground is Dorrien Gardens.
It’s occasionally been used for Perth Glory matches in the FFA Cup. They played their 2015 quarter-final against Western Sydney Wanderers there, and in 2016 against Sydney FC.