David Zdrilic Reflects on Perth Glory’s Crushing Defeat Against Macarthur FC

Perth Glory’s new head coach, David Zdrilic, cites lack of match fitness and underdone players as key factors in the Round 1 loss to Macarthur FC.

In what can only be described as a nightmare start to the Isuzu UTE A-League season, Perth Glory’s new head coach, David Zdrilic, faced a harsh reality check as his team succumbed to a crushing 6-1 defeat at the hands of Macarthur FC. Zdrilic pointed to a combination of player fitness and roster selection challenges as contributing factors to the defeat.

The game, which saw Perth concede five goals in the first half alone, was a brutal contrast to their promising pre-season form. Macarthur’s relentless attack left Glory scrambling, leading to a 5-0 halftime deficit – equalling the largest halftime margin ever recorded in A-League history.

While the second half saw both teams net a goal apiece, the damage had already been done. Macarthur celebrated their biggest win in club history, while Perth Glory – last season’s wooden spoon holders – found themselves anchored to the bottom of the table after just one game into the new campaign.

For Zdrilic, now one game into his reign, the loss highlighted several shortcomings, particularly with player fitness. He admitted that some players were not fully match-fit, a factor that weighed heavily on the squad’s performance.

“I just think there was a culmination of a lot of things that went

wrong in that first 45,” Zdrilic said, reflecting on the first-half debacle. “At no point in the pre-season did we have issues like that.”

The coach also pointed to the late inclusion of new defender Luis Canga, whose limited preparation and language barrier played a role in the team’s defensive collapse. “We knew the risk of some players going in underdone, but it is what it is. We had to take that risk.”

Zdrilic was clear that while the first half was a disaster, there were positive signs in the second half. “In the second half, it’s not easy to come back from 5-0 down and show something positive,” he said. “The young boys came on under pressure and handled it well. We had chances, a couple of disallowed goals, so we know we can score – but defensively, there’s a lot to work on.”

Another key takeaway for Zdrilic was his side’s lack of composure following Macarthur’s early goal, which snowballed into an avalanche of goals before halftime. “A mistake led to a goal, and instead of settling down, we got hit again and again,” he lamented.

Despite the heavy defeat, Zdrilic remains optimistic about the squad’s talent and potential. “This is a big learning experience for the group, and I believe we’ve got a lot of talent in there.”

Perth Glory will look to bounce back in Round 2 when they return to HBF Park to take on Wellington Phoenix on Saturday, October 26.

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