The Wellington Phoenix men are opening the inaugural Match For Good double-header at Hnry Stadium.
The men are playing host to Perth Glory before the women take the field against Brisbane Roar, with both Phoenix sides wearing a bespoke kit in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand (RMHC® NZ).
The match-worn shirts will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to RMHC NZ. McDonald’s customers are able to donate at restaurant kiosks and drive thru this week, and franchisees will match every dollar. Dynasty will also donate 10% from every charity kit sold.
Phoenix head coach Chris Greenacre says the Match For Good adds motivation.
“It’s a great occasion for everyone and a wonderful cause we’re all behind,” Greenacre told media after training at Hnry Stadium on Friday morning.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to give back to the community and to people who need the help.
“The kit also looks amazing and I’ll be getting one of those for my daughter.”
Despite a defeat and a draw in his first two matches in charge, the Phoenix still enter the round just five points off the top six.
“I’ve wanted to win all three games so nothing will change from my perspective.
“Three points on the board will be massive for everyone. It keeps us in the hunt and keeps everyone fighting for points, and I’ve said from day one while it’s mathematically possible, we’ll be scrapping for absolutely everything.
“Tomorrow is no different.”
Greenacre says he’s seeing moments of the brand of football he wants the Nix to play.
“There were more glimpses of it against Adelaide than there was against Sydney and hopefully we’ll have more glimpses of that going forward against Perth.
“Trying to get it all on one page is a little bit more difficult than you might think, but the boys are trying to adopt what I’m wanting them to do.
“It’s baby steps, but hopefully the sooner we can get that right we’ll move forward quickly.”
Wellington defended bravely to secure a point in Adelaide last Friday night and Greenacre’s hoping to see more attacking endeavour against Perth.
“I think I always want to be attacking at home. Any coach in the world wants to be attacking at home, they want to excite their own fans, they want to put on a brand of football that people want to pay and see, and I’m not different to that.
“The encouragement to the players has always been to be brave, want the football [and] create opportunities when you can.
“This stadium when there’s a lot of fans in it is a great place to be so it’s important we try and do that and get more bums on seats and that starts with a good brand of football.
“Hopefully we can take a good step forward tomorrow.”
There’s a sizeable Phoenix connection in the Glory men’s side with former players Scott Wootton, Sam Sutton, Nicholas Pennington and Stefan Colakovski now calling Perth home, while former Wellington assistant Adam Griffiths is now in charge of the Glory.
The friendships will be put on hold on Saturday afternoon.
“At the end of the day we need three points and they need three points and they’ll have a beer together afterwards, but it’s business as usual for us.
“We welcome them back but we don’t want it to be a happy stay in Wellington for them.
“All of the guys that were here were great servants for the club and we wish them well with their careers, but they’re Perth players now and they’re the enemy for us tomorrow.
“I wish them all well but at three o’clock on Saturday I’m not particularly fond of them.”
Chris Greenacre is able to call on club captain Alex Rufer, after he sat out the draw in Adelaide through suspension, with Sarpreet Singh and Nathan Walker the only absentees.
The round 21 Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory is scheduled to kick-off at Hnry Stadium in Wellington at 3pm Saturday and will be broadcast LIVE and free-to-air on Sky Open and LIVE on Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 18 October 2025 – Perth Glory 2 Wellington Phoenix 2
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 21W, Glory 21W & 13D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 8. Paulo RETRE, 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 12. Dan EDWARDS, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 16. Sander KARTUM, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 28. Bill TUILOMA, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk).
Unavailable: 9. Sarpreet SINGH (injured), 19. Nathan WALKER (injured).
Perth Glory squad (two to be omitted): 2. Charbel SHAMOON, 3. Sam SUTTON, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 7. Nicholas PENNINGTON, 8. Callum TIMMINS, 9. Jaiden KUCHARSKI, 16. Gabriel POPOVIC, 17. Arion SULEMANI, 18. Luca TEVERE, 19. Josh RISDON, 20. Trent OSTLER, 22. Adam TAGGART (c), 23. Anthony DIDULICA, 24. Andriano LEBIB, 27. Will FRENEY, 29. Matt SUTTON (gk), 39. Giovanni DE ABREU, 40. Ryan WARNER (gk), 45. Brian KALTAK, 67. Stefan COLAKOVSKI.
Unavailable: 6. Brandon O’NEILL (injured), 11. Lachlan WALES (injured), 13. Cameron COOK (gk) (injured), 31. Joel ANASMO (injured), 34. Tom LAWRENCE (injured).
