IT TOOK seven games, nine weeks and 20 goals nestled neatly in the purple onion bag to wake David Mitchell up, but he finally wiped the sleep out of his eyes and had a good look at the Perth Glory goalkeeping picture.

It was clear to most onlookers before the new season had even started that Tando Velaphi was the future and ageing former hero Jason Petkovic was ready to be put out pasture, while the jury was still out on Frank Juric.

Not many Down Under had seen a heck of a lot of Juric, formerly of German club Hannover 96, so from the fans’ point of view he deserved his initial chance. Unfortunately for both the ‘keeper and the club, the recently turned 35-year-old failed dismally in the first three games.

Soon to be 36-year-old Petkovic replaced him for one match, but twinged a hamstring after letting in four goals in Gosford (including Mile Jedinak’s very reachable free kick). It is clear that the old, grey Petkovic ain’t what he used to be. Was the tight hammy a blessing in disguise for Glory? You bet.

Juric won a reprieve but was relegated from the first XI after letting in four against Melbourne at the Telstra Dome, taking his total goals conceded tally to 13 in four games.

In the first seven rounds of the season Petkovic had shown all the foot movement of an English tailender; and Juric that of Alan Donald at the non-striker’s end. So Mitchell was practically forced into biting the bullet and giving exciting young Olyroos ‘keeper Velaphi a go.

Velaphi had amazingly been denied opportunities by Mitchell since returning from Olympic duty in Beijing, despite doing enough in nine previous A-League games to prove that he has got both the required talent and athleticism to work with. All he needed was some experience to take the next step up.

Perhaps it was the two clean sheets that the well-spoken young goalie kept in as many National Youth League games to start the season which eventually twisted Mitchell’s arm.

It was either that or the fact that the comparatively geriatric Juric and Petkovic could hear the fat lady clearing her throat for a few verses on their respective careers...

By no means are the goalkeepers entirely at fault for Glory’s abysmal on-field performances this season – they never are – but they have certainly played a significant part in the team’s defensive woes.

Velaphi will not turn Glory’s fortunes around on his own, but deserves his place in the team ahead of two old boys with their best well behind them.

In two games he has made just one major mistake, on the end of a Brendan Santalab shot, and has pulled off a plethora of saves in situations that would’ve seen the other two throw their backs out or stand by and watch the ball curl into the net. He probably could have prevented Alemao’s equaliser at Hindmarsh, but Naum Sekulovski should have been awake to the Brazilian’s presence and covered Velaphi’s arse.

Sekulovski even admitted on Wednesday that the goal was his fault.

If Velaphi can continue his good run of form to deny the inevitable barrage of shots from Shane Smeltz, and Jamie Coyne can avoid giving away penalties 30m from goal, we should see Glory off the bottom of the A-League table by Sunday night.