Round 20 of the NPLWA – Men’s competition will paint a clearer picture on the context of the season as the top six and bottom six face off on Saturday afternoon.
With only three rounds remaining, the race to win the league, reach the Top Four Cup and avoid relegation is still at play with every game this weekend looming as important in the final shake-up.
Perth RedStar are currently top of the league on goal difference from Stirling Macedonia, who pulled level on points following last Saturday’s thrilling Round 12 catch-up win over Olympic Kingsway. This week the leading duo face finals hopefuls Balcatta Etna and Bayswater City respectively.
Jordan De Leo says Perth SC's 75th anniversary is a big occasion for players and fans alike. Photo by Rob Lizzi
Balcatta go to RedStar Arena with the league’s joint-best away record and are three points off a top-four berth, but they are also on a run of six games without a win. Bayswater, meanwhile, have lost only once in five games since Gary Williams took charge and welcome Stirling to Frank Drago Reserve knowing a win will put them in the top four.
That is because fourth-placed Perth Soccer Club are hosting third-placed Olympic Kingsway at Dorrien Gardens, with the Azzurri marking their 75th anniversary on Saturday.
They will celebrate their rich history with a pre-game function and a parade for their past players, while raffles and kids’ activities will also be a feature of the afternoon.
One player who has been at Perth for nearly 20 years from juniors to winning silverware at NPL level is skipper Jordan De Leo, who says this weekend is an occasion both he and club are looking forward to.
“It’s been a key message in training from (head coach) Danny (Hay) in highlighting that we are a proud and decorated club in WA and that Saturday is a day you want to be a part of,” the defender said.
“There’ll be lots of expectation and a chance to put on a show for all those people who have both played for and supported the club. All of those past players who will be there, I either played with them or grew up watching them, so it’s an exciting time and an occasion we’re going to look forward to, particularly with what’s at stake with the top four.
“The club has been a constant in my life and has shaped me into the person I am today. The mentors I’ve had, the coaches, players I’ve played with, captains, everyone has played a special part and a lot of credit must go to the club for the culture they set and the people they put in place who built that foundation.
“There have been many families as well who have contributed to the success of Perth Soccer Club and made it what it is. The Marocchis, the Trincas, the Giorgis, and many other people have played a key role, including those behind the scenes and the volunteers. It’s going to be a special day and hopefully the club can continue to perform the same way on and off the pitch for another 75 years and beyond.”
De Leo has seen plenty of success in his time with Perth. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo
The Azzurri hoped 2023 would be a bounce-back year after recording their lowest finish in the NPL era last term. However, a run of defeats earlier this year had them trending towards the bottom of the division again.
But since the announcement of former New Zealand head coach Hay, Perth has turned their season around with three wins in the past five putting them fourth, just one point behind Kingsway.
De Leo has been impressed with the team’s response in the second half of the season.
“We’ve had a few setbacks this season with the coaching change, players leaving, and a fair few injuries, but Danny has come in with his own ideas and has the team playing how he wants us to,” he said.
“He’s been with us for a couple of months now and the boys have reacted well to his coaching and you can see in recent weeks it’s coming to fruition.
“In a league where there’s been so much inconsistency, the fact we’ve found some consistency has gotten us a long way and we find ourselves in fourth place. It’s a big week of games this week, but reaching the top four is in our control and overall it’s an exciting time for the club.
“The week off did everyone a lot of good after what’s been a pretty intense season and speaking with the lads at training this week, they feel rejuvenated. We know the stakes of what we’re playing for in the final few games and we’re looking to finish in a top-four spot.”
Olympic Kingsway go into their game with Perth SC on the back of last week's 3-2 loss to Stirling, despite Liam Murray's excellent finish. Photo by Jack Foley
At the bottom of the league, Inglewood United are three points adrift of safety and face a must-win game when they travel to Sorrento FC.
The Gulls are back at home for the first time in two months following Haiti’s usage of the venue as a training base for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. They start the weekend seventh, but remarkably only one point separates them and the relegation play-off place going into Saturday.
Cockburn City in eighth and Perth Glory in 11th are split by the same margin ahead of their match-up at Dalmatinac Park. Both teams have collected only one win in their past five games to remain in danger at the foot of the table.
Finally, Armadale welcome Floreat Athena to Alfred Skeet Reserve, as Alun Vernals takes charge of his first game as head coach having replaced the long-serving John O’Reilly. The new man will be looking to end a run of four successive defeats which has seen them leak 16 goals.
Defending champions Floreat, meanwhile, return to the ground where they won the league on the final day of last year but this time in very different circumstances.
Wins over Sorrento and Cockburn were tempered a fortnight ago by defeat to Perth at home and they come off a short turnaround this week, following a 6-1 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers in Wednesday’s Australia Cup Round of 32 fixture.