Ask any coach what they want out of their last pre-season hit-out and most will say ‘no injuries’.
Unfortunately, it appears to be a bullet Perth Glory have not dodged after star attacker Tom Lawrence was forced off midway through their final pre-season game.
On a night when coach Adam Griffiths watched his side battle to a 2-0 win over the WA State side which showed glimpses, rather than sustained periods, of promise, he was dealt two separate injury blows ahead of next Saturday’s A-League Men opener away to Macarthur.
Former Welsh international Lawrence, who wowed Glory fans last season before succumbing to plantar fasciitis midway through the campaign, had put Perth ahead midway through the first half and showed his class and guile in a central attacking midfield role.
Alas, Glory fans are not allowed good things apparently, and in first-half stoppage time, Lawrence landed awkwardly after a foul and immediately looked concerned by his left knee.
The good news is the concern looked to be minor rather than major to the naked eye as Lawrence did not require a stretcher or any physical assistance in removing himself from the field of play.
He hobbled off the field, spoke to the physio, walked back to the halfway line with a noticeable limp afterwards and did not return after half-time, raising the distinct possibility Perth will miss their talisman attacker for at least the opening game of the season.
Lawrence’s injury was not the first of a night suffered by a Glory player after Daniel Solsky — who arrived at the club in the off-season and appeared to have usurped incumbent goalkeeper Matt Sutton in the pecking order after starting three games in a row— was forced off with a back injury.
Given the stream of injuries suffered earlier in pre-season and amount of players just returning and still yet to approach full fitness, there is no doubt Griffiths will rue his luck on both front and wonder whether he or his players accidentally walked under any ladders en route to the game.
Any amount of time Lawrence may miss would be a sizable blow for Perth. Beyond his pedigree, the former Derby County skipper’s dribbling ability and tidy footwork in tight areas means he was something of a focal point in an advanced midfield role, almost operating as a second striker who dropped deep.
Against the state team’s hunkered down defence, Glory found space at a premium beyond the halfway line and passing lanes chopped off, which was where Lawrence’s skill and physicality, allowing him to survive contact and keep the ball moving, was valuable.
The intent from Perth was there to play positively, with Griffiths heard urging his side to play forward passes whenever they received the ball on the turn facing towards their opponents’ goal.
But the issue was a lack of fluidity in the final third amid the rigidity of WA’s defence, with not enough off-ball movement leading to a too-common staticity.
The difference after the break was the introduction of Jaiden Kucharksi, who was more whirlwind than human as his speed — both vertical and lateral — added a different dimension in central areas.
Meanwhile, Tadi Kuzamba appears set for a starting A-League debut at right-back after another impressive showing capped with the game’s second goal as the teenager was given licence to roam forward and even slide inside as an extra midfielder at times.
Beyond the injuries and the at-times stilted attack, the way in which WA were able to wrestle control of the midfield in the second-half after the impressive Will Freney was withdrawn will have raised one of Griffiths’ eyebrows, although loan signing Calem Nieuwenhof was eventually able to calm down things.
Glory fans would have relished the sight of Josh Risdon putting in an impressive shift in midfield — unfortunately, he was captaining the WA side having retired from the professional game in the off-season.
Elsewhere, Perth’s women avenged last year’s Challenge Cup defeat to a WA representative with a 4-2 win. New signing Ella Buchanan slotted in seamlessly at right-back, and Emma Tovar and Georgia Cassidy controlled proceedings in the midfield with the former playing in a more advanced role than last season.
Ella Lincoln grabbed two goals as she looks to take a stranglehold of the centre-forward role, something Perth would welcome after a dire few seasons in front of goal, while Ella Abdul-Massih caught the eye on the left.
The win would have probably been more comfortable, had it not been for a magical goal and sumptuous assist to former Glory attacker Caitlin Doeglas.
