On Saturday evening at Optus Stadium, the West Coast Eagles will unfurl their 2018 premiership flag in front of an expected 55,000 fans.

A couple of hours later, a short distance across the river, runaway leaders Perth Glory will host reigning champions Melbourne Victory in an A-League blockbuster.

Two months from now, Glory could be lifting the championship trophy at Optus Stadium in front of a bumper soccer crowd.

But how many fans will make it this Saturday to Glory’s biggest game of the season so far? This season’s crowd figures make for sobering reading. Glory’s average crowd is 9633 — in the State’s best rectangular stadium which can hold 20,500.

Perth soccer fans have grown tired of waiting for the glory days of the old National Soccer League to return. Since the A-League began in 2005, Glory have floundered from one false dawn to another. After years of disappointment, soccer fans in Perth can be forgiven for waiting to see if Glory are the real deal. But they should wait no longer. Under new coach Tony Popovic, they can go all the way. It’s time for WA fans to climb back aboard the Glory bandwagon.

Glory are rightly billing Saturday as a big game. The bigger ones to come are the home final they have already qualified for, and the grand final, which they will host at Optus Stadium in mid-May if they continue the form that has put them nine points clear at the top of the ladder.

Popovic has stiffened the squad he inherited with a few carefully chosen recruits and the players have had no choice but to lift their standards of professionalism to match his.

Glory’s young forward Chris Ikonomidis is the Socceroos’ most potent attacker now that Tim Cahill has retired. And playmaker Diego Castro is the A-League’s best player, hands down. Come and see them in Perth while you still can. European clubs are sniffing around Ikonomidis, and Castro cannot go on for ever even if he is in the best form of his A-League career, aged 36.

Popovic is building this team for long-term success. Almost all of his starting 11 are contracted for next year, when Glory will almost certainly make their debut in the Asian Champions League.

Many WA soccer fans have fond memories of big days at Subiaco Oval. But the prospect of a grand final at Optus Stadium is on another scale altogether.

Since Glory secured their last NSL title in 2004, WA sport has been blessed with success. West Coast have won two AFL premierships and the Perth Wildcats have clinched five NBL championships. Their crowds have grown immensely.

Glory’s time is coming. The revolution under Popovic has begun. It’s up to WA soccer fans to be a part of it.

Owner Tony Sage searching for investor at Perth Glory

https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-glory/owner-tony-sage-searching-for-investor-at-perth-glory-ng-b881146406z

Nice article.

Sage is on the way out.

Glory fans have been let down one time too many.

9,633 average is okay given their history and will easily finish north of 10k.

Poppa gone within 12 months. Just deal with it Perth.

i don't understand why sage would leave he wanted perth to play in asia his whole life now it's happening he is leave?

Also hope Perth can be successful Poppa won't go anywhere for the time being  

Good article, MCG.

Thanks for posting it.

@MelbCiryGuy

Sage will go, hes breaking the bank this year and will face increased costs/losses from being in Asia next year ... I recon he’ll go out on a high.

Poppa - same thing. Gone by the end of June I recon, if not back in Sydney at the end of next season.

The most shocking thing for me is that almost all of Popovic's starting 11 are contracted for next year. But how will he be able to replace 3/4 of the starting lineup in the off season if they all have contracts?

Why do you say Popa will be gone?

@Burzar

I think poppa has unfinished business overseas. If not there he’ll be back in Sydney next year. Just my feelings that’s all ..

Agree that he believes and wants to do more overseas. Don't know about Sydney next year. Where will he go? SFC or WSW or SWS?

I recon anyone of those three are possibilities.

Popovic will give Asia a crack next season and then head to MSWSU for their inaugural campaign.

Assuming Poppa does the double (or at least gets the Plate) he becomes the hottest Australian coaching prospect going with success at two very different clubs.

Surely he’d want to be there for the acl and ikon’s Development 

He’s nothing to prove in the ACL, or to be fair the HAL now.

Needs to provide that WSW wasn't just luck.

I don't think so.
He's wanted to see the Glory in Asia for a long time. I think it's just a case that he realises that if we do get into Asia, he can (could) get some extra investors start to jump on board.