- Newcastle Jets (W) finished 2025/26 with two wins and three losses in their final five competitive matches.
- Perth Glory (W) ended 2025/26 with one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five competitive outings.
- The Glory Girls had the better of the two ALW clubs last term, winning 1-0 and 3-2 in 2025/26, but Newcastle won 4-0 in December 2024.
Glory Girls to gain a foothold in season opener
Newcastle Jets (W) and Perth Glory (W) face off in the A-League Women 2026-2027 on Saturday in what should be a good opener to the season with both starting on zero points. Stephen Hoyle's side, who will be without Alexis Collins and Emma Bates, finished 2025/26 in lively, but leaky, fashion - beating Sydney and Adelaide 3-1 in the last two games of the regular season before 3-2 and 4-2 defeats in all competitions. Perth Glory, who will miss Sakura Leong, Hayley Muir, Isobel Dalton and Charli Wainwright, played to a patchy end to the 2025/26 campaign with a 3-2 away win at Newcastle Jets followed by a 0-0 draw and two heavy losses in all comps. Newcastle are favourites at 2.25 to kick off with a victory, but our preference is to take Perth at 2.72 in the double double chance market or the draw at 3.6 as there is a bit more quality and experience in their squad and because they have the better record in this rivalry. But with both teams to score at 1.57 also tempting and over 2.5 goals at 1.7 a decent play, the model points to a Perth edge in a high-scoring draw.
Jets’ style suits Glory’s game
Stephen Hoyle has an attacking style with his team playing direct, transitional football. There's plenty of youthful energy at Newcastle and Libby Copus-Brown brings experience and set-piece quality to the table, having re-signed for Newcastle. But it will be Melina Ayres, who will be the main danger for the home side.
Perth are built on structure and resilience, while they like to press, play with width and tempo, so this should be an interesting tactical clash between control and counterpunch. Glory will try to turn the Jets over in their own half while the home team will be looking to punish any space left behind, so this game will have some spice to it.
Georgia Ritchie earned the goalkeeper's spot in the side at the end of 2025/26 and her confidence and shot-stopping ability will be crucial if Glory are to turn the screw on Saturday. Glory have an extra bit of quality in their attacking third with Rola Badawiya, who can get on the end of attacks and cause some damage while Teresa Morrissey's good recent form should keep the visitors in the game if Newcastle can get a foothold early.
The value lies with Perth, but the result may well be a high-scoring draw if the Jets show up ready to go.
