For the second consecutive year Perth Glory have qualified for a spot in the FFA Cup final, this time at the expense of a youthful Melbourne City outfit in a 3-1 victory at NIB Stadium.
Gyorgy Sandor continued his fine form with a poacher’s finish on the 24th minute mark, only for City debutant Matthew Millar to equalise soon after. Ben Garrucio’s luckless own-goal gave Perth a half-time lead, however, a visiting team that had been through a number of changes lost fuel in the latter stages and progression to the competitions penultimate stage was sealed for Perth by winger Chris Harold on 71 minutes.
Perth’s football fans have voted with their feet
4,165 – the attendance at NIB Stadium for one of the biggest games in the Australian football calendar.
Heidelberg United attracted nearly triple that, 11,372 supporters, to their modest home of Olympic Village in Melbourne’s north.
This is not a criticism aimed at the long-suffering Perth Glory fans. There is a long list of contributing factors that goes some way to explaining the lacklustre support the team receives. But to award the FFA Cup final to Perth, with a major reason being for the spectacle to be a ‘shot in the arm’ for the club, is rewarding a history of poor governance.
NIB Stadium’s capacity is 20,500. If the final was awarded to the West, the attendance at the semi-final would surely be improved upon, but is Australian football in a position to let empty seats dominate an FFA Cup discussion?
Kenny Lowe’s Glory side have deservedly reached the summit– it is now time for the club to show the same quality off-field and reconnect with the local area as it so bravely has on it.
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