They're riding high at the top of the A-League, but Perth Glory still haven't reached the fitness levels coach Tony Popovic is asking of them.
The Glory are three points clear of defending champions Melbourne Victory, with a game in hand, having lost just one of their first 13 matches.
It's a significant improvement from last season when, in Kenny Lowe's final campaign in charge, they finished eighth in the table.
The 4-3 victory they earned last time out against Popovic's former team Western Sydney means that after 13 matches they have picked up 32 points - the same total they managed in the whole of their 27 games in 2017-18.
The team showed their physical conditioning when they came from 3-1 down with 13 minutes left to beat Wanderers on Sunday.
Popovic, though, wants his players to keep improving their fitness levels in the coming weeks.
"I believe we can be a lot fitter; I don't believe we're fit enough yet to play our style of football for 90 minutes," said the coach.
"But that will grow and that will get better. It's not easy to open up and play at all times the way we want to.
"Physically it's very demanding. We've got to keep working on that and improving that, and hopefully the minutes will get longer and longer that we can dominate games."
The Glory are set to bring back midfielder Neil Kilkenny for this weekend's clash with his former club Melbourne City, after he was rested against Western Sydney.
Perth are 5/2 to win the Grand Final.
The Glory are 19/10 to win their next game against Melbourne City, who are 6/4 with the draw 9/4.
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They're riding high at the top of the A-League, but Perth Glory still haven't reached the fitness levels coach Tony Popovic is asking of them.
The Glory are three points clear of defending champions Melbourne Victory, with a game in hand, having lost just one of their first 13 matches.
It's a significant improvement from last season when, in Kenny Lowe's final campaign in charge, they finished eighth in the table.
The 4-3 victory they earned last time out against Popovic's former team Western Sydney means that after 13 matches they have picked up 32 points - the same total they managed in the whole of their 27 games in 2017-18.
The team showed their physical conditioning when they came from 3-1 down with 13 minutes left to beat Wanderers on Sunday.
Popovic, though, wants his players to keep improving their fitness levels in the coming weeks.
"I believe we can be a lot fitter; I don't believe we're fit enough yet to play our style of football for 90 minutes," said the coach.
"But that will grow and that will get better. It's not easy to open up and play at all times the way we want to.
"Physically it's very demanding. We've got to keep working on that and improving that, and hopefully the minutes will get longer and longer that we can dominate games."
The Glory are set to bring back midfielder Neil Kilkenny for this weekend's clash with his former club Melbourne City, after he was rested against Western Sydney.
Perth are 5/2 to win the Grand Final.
The Glory are 19/10 to win their next game against Melbourne City, who are 6/4 with the draw 9/4.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com