Today Perth Glory revealed the results of their on-line poll to pick the best team to have represented the club in its first 15 years. The question is are the players from the NSL poles apart from those who have played for the club since the start of the A League? The results would tend to be categoric in their answer.
Seven members of the Glory’s first Premiership winning side in the old NSL made the starting eleven, Jason Petkovic, Scott Miller, Jamie Harnwell, Matt Horsley, Edgar Junior, Damian Mori and Bobby Despotivski. All are names that are undoubtedly etched in the clubs history as superb servants to the club during those successful times.
Inaugural skipper Gareth Naven who epitomized the ‘never-say-die’ attitude of the club in those early days also unsurprisingly made the side. His leadership was exemplary both on and off the pitch and he has proved a hard act to follow.
True entertainer Con Boutsianis also made the starting eleven. He may not have been the coach’s favourite player but he was undoubtedly a fan favourite.
Not so surprising was the fact that only two players to play for the club since the A League’s inception made the starting eleven. The two players were Scott Neville who plays with his heart on his sleeve and is without question proud to represent his hometown club, and classy import Andy Todd.
What does this say about the club and the fans? It shows that fans will always remember the high points in a club’s history. It also shows the club has struggled since the inception of the A league, and that maybe previous coaches have been right, it is hard to attract quality young players to Perth now that all the clubs can offer similar salaries.
It would be interesting to carry out a similar poll in five years whether or not the club has managed to achieve further success in that time and see if other players have come to the for. Certainly if Shane Smeltz can continue to score the way he has in the A League he could well threaten Damien Mori and Bobby Despotovski for a place in the side. While Danny Vukovic has the ability to threaten Jason Petkovic’s position.
