The heat was on at HBF Park, but Jaden Kucharski brought the fire! In this episode, Blayne and James break down Perth Glory’s "smash and grab" victory over Auckland FC, proving that a long ball over a high line is sometimes all you need.

We are joined by Glory midfielder Nicholas Pennington for a fascinating chat about his journey from Rome to Perth. Nico opens up about the brutal pressure of Italian football versus the physical demands of the A-League, his new role as an "Inside 10" under Adam Griffiths, and why he thinks this squad is finally ready to go on a run.

Plus, we dissect the Sydney Derby atmosphere, ask what on earth is going on at Western Sydney Wanderers, and call out the "ugly" behaviour in the stands. We also wrap up the latest from the A-League Women and the WA Night Series.

Key Topics:

• Glory 2-1 Auckland: How "hoof-ball" exploited Auckland’s high line and why Kucharski & Colakovski changed the game.

• The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: The Sydney Derby atmosphere, WSW's capitulation, transfer rumours regarding a midfield exit to Holland, and the disappointing jeering of Oli Sail.

• Feature Interview (Nicholas Pennington):

  • Growing up in Rome: And the Cagliari system.

  • Serie C vs. A-League: Why Australian football is physically harder but tactically freer.

  • The Griffiths Effect: How training intensity has transformed the squad's work ethic.

  • Position Change: Does Nico prefer the #6 role or the attacking midfield spot?

• A-League Women: A stalemate against Sydney FC—great defence, but where are the goals coming from?

• WA Night Series: A wrap-up of the group stage as the local pre-season heats up.

• Predictions: Can Glory do it on Friday night against Macarthur?

Keywords: Perth Glory, Nicholas Pennington, A-League Men, Adam Griffiths, Jaden Kucharski, Auckland FC, Sydney Derby, WA Night Series, Football West, A-League Women.

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