Breakthrough season for Perth Glory | (Credi: Getty) Breakthrough season for Perth Glory | (Credi: Getty)

It was almost a fairytale turn around for Perth Glory in Season Five but despite the WA team falling short of the ultimate prize, it was still a breakthrough season.

Even avid Perth Glory supporters (including this author) would never have guessed that 12 months the Glory would have finished the W-League season in second position, played off and narrowly lost a semi final.

The Glory of Season Four and Season Five are so disparate it is hard to comprehend they wore the same out fit.  With several big name off-season signings including Matildas quartet Collette McCallum, Lisa De Vanna, Aivi Luik and Kate Gill, England international goalkeeper Carly Telford, New Zealand international Liz Milne and former Canadian international Sasha Andrews, the Glory assembled a class outfit.  The question was; could they click?

The season kicked off well with early confidence boosting wins over the Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United and then came the wake up call with a 2-0 loss to the newcomers Western Sydney.

Far from being despondent, the loss spurred Glory on lose just one of their last nine games, notching up 5 wins and 18 points to finish the season on a club record 24 points.

Perth has always been an attacking team but in Season Five they took it to the next level with the potent strike force of Kate Gill, Lisa De Vanna, Elisa D'Vidio and Rosie Sutton, supplemented by Aivi Luik and Marianna Tabain, hammering home 34 goals.  Whether Jamie Harnwell set them up in 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or the ultra attacking 4-2-3-1 formation, they proved difficult for many teams to cope with.

A home final game the faithful something to cheer about but in the end they fell short of what would have been an incredible turn around.

MVPs

Luik proved a real asset in the midfield | (Credit: Getty Images) Luik proved a real asset in the midfield | (Credit: Getty Images)

Carly Telford

Chelsea captain and goalkeeper Carly Telford was one of the players for the season in the W-League.  From the very first match the 25 year old oozed confidence which was backed up by her ability.  A complete goalkeeper, Telford demonstrated lightening reflexes, quick thinking to smother attacks and bravery in dominating her area.  It was the latter that ultimately ended her season as she her hand collided with Sam Kerr's head with her unfortunate result for her and Perth Glory.

Aivi Luik

A newcomer to the Glory team, the experienced Luik slotted right in without missing a beat. Possessing an excellent football brain, the Matilda anchored Perth's midfield alongside McCallum and was everywhere; whether tracking back to break down opposition attacks or bursting forward to support a quick counter.

Kate Gill

Gill returned to football and the Glory and picked up where she left off before her knee injury. The tall striker was the focal point of the Perth attack and she delivered leading the W-League in goals with 13.  Gill also turned provider on several occassions to her strike partners De Vanna, D'Vidio and Sutton to become a league leading strike force (34 goals).

Room for Improvement

While they were much more solid this season, defensively Perth Glory can still get better.  Telford, Sasha Andrews, Liz Milne, Bronwyn Studman and Carys Hawkins are as good a back four as the Glory has ever possessed.  Against the lower ranked sides they had little trouble however against the quick and pacy strikers of Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC they were exposed time and again with goalfests the end result.

Final Words

All in all it was an excellent season for Perth Glory.  The WA side cultivated a side with a nice mixture of youth and experience and employed an exciting and attacking brand of football.  There is still lingering disappointment about missing out on the grand final, however, if they can keep the side together for next season, they will one of the title favourites come October.