Perth Glory will play their first ever A-League final on Sunday. Glory fans though know this is only another chapter in the club's proud history. Tando Velaphi, Scott Neville and Andrija Jukic hadn't even reached their teenage years when Perth made their finals debut some 11 years ago, and the three youngsters may even have been down on the sidelines hunting autographs all those years ago as they were inspired by the mighty efforts of past (and indeed present) day Glory heroes.

While the current Perth Glory team looks towards the future and their own chance to make more history against Wellington this coming weekend, now seems like a perfect time for Perth fans to look back on the club's past post-season achievements and just what it is that has preceded the current and long-overdue success.

1998/1999
League position: 3rd
Elimination Final 1st Leg: Adelaide City 0-0 Perth Glory
Hindmarsh Stadium, 4,500
Elimination Final 2nd Leg: Perth Glory 2-1 Adelaide City
Scorers- PG: Harnwell 73, Despotovski 87, AC: Mori 69. WACA Ground, 25,000
Minor Semi Final: Perth Glory 1-0 Marconi-Fairfield
Scorers- PG: Farah 21og, WACA Ground, 27,556
Preliminary Final: Sydney Utd 2-1 Perth Glory
Scorers- SU: Sterjovski 13, Berry 70, PG: Boutsianis 83, Marconi Stadium, 7,698

After two near misses, Perth Glory hunted the globe to find the coach to deliver a debut finals appearance to the club. In ever-likeable German Bernd Stange, they found a man who did not disappoint. Not only did the former East German coach give a massive profile to the club with his media-friendly demeanour, he guided the side to third and a first finals campaign for the club.

The first final away to a difficult Adelaide United side resulted in a tight 0-0 draw, leaving everything to play for in the return leg. The WACA was a controversial choice to host the match with many Glory fans seeing a move away from Perth Oval as forfeiting home advantage. The 25,000 fans in attendance though justified the choice as Perth Glory became the hottest ticket in town. The match too was a nail-biter, with 3 Perth Glory legends fittingly scoring the goals. Damian Mori opened the scoring when he was still an Adelaide player, but Perth pulled back firstly through a Jamie Harnwell header and then a fantastic Bobby Despotovski goal that will be forever remembered by the Glory faithful.

Perth's good form continued in the Minor Semi Final against Marconi as they maintained their unbeaten record at the WACA. Minor premiers Sydney United, though, halted the run one game short of the grand final when they beat Perth 2-1 in Sydney. A Con Boutsianis thunderbolt late in the match was not enough to continue the fairytale but Perth could be very proud of their first-up finals performance.

1999/2000
League Position: 1st
Major Semi Final 1st Leg: Wollongong Wolves 1-0 Perth Glory
Scorers- WW: Young 28p, Brandon Park, 8,326
Major Semi Final 2nd Leg: Perth Glory 2-0 Wollongong Wolves aet
Scorers- PG: Trajkovski 85p, Ergic 93gg, Subiaco Oval, 42,760
Grand Final: Perth Glory 3-3 Wollongong Wolves (6-7 on penalties)
Scorers- PG: Despotovski 20, Milicevic 33, Harnwell 42, WW: Chipperfield 56, Horsley 69, Reid 89, Subiaco Oval, 43,242

Buoyed by their performance in the previous season and bolstered with the off-season recruitment of Jason Petkovic, Kasey Wehrman and Brazilian Edgar Junior, Perth managed to secure the 2000 Premiership and favouritism for a first NSL Championship title. Wollongong were the opponents in the Major Semi Final and Stuart Young became the 3rd future Perth player to score against the club in the finals as Glory lost the first leg 1-0. An NSL record 42,760 fans turned up to Subiaco for the return leg and weren't disappointed as a late Rob Trajkovski penalty levelled the tie. Ultimately, an Ivan Ergic extra-time goal sent the crowd into delirium and sent Perth into the grand final.

The Grand Final, with Wollongong again the opponents, will be forever remembered as one of the most amazing football games in Australian domestic history. Perth went in full of confidence and raced to a 3-0 lead courtesy of Bobby Despotovski, Ljubo Milicevic and Jamie Harnwell goals. With little over half an hour to be played, however, Wollongong pulled one back and then got two more to level the match. Matt Horsley was the 4th future Glory player to score against the club in three years when he grabbed the 3-2 goal. Wollongong had amazingly sent the game to penalties, and with the 18th kick of the shootout James Afkos watched his shot saved as the Wolves took the contest 7-6. Troy Halpin, a regular set-piece take for Perth, had refused to take the shot and left it up to his younger teammate thus losing all respect in the eyes of many Perth fans.

2000/2001
League position: 3rd
Elimination Final 1st Leg: Melbourne Knights 0-0 Perth Glory
Knights Stadium, 5,380
Elimination Final 2nd Leg: Perth Glory 2-2 Melbourne Knights
Scorers- PG: Deans 67, Maloney 93, MK: Cervinski 5, Horvat 28, Subiaco Oval, 31,710

After the previous season's close shave Perth added star striker Damian Mori to its ranks, but could still only manage third place in the regular season. This meant an Elimination Final series against arch-rivals Melbourne Knights. Few expect much of a challenge from the Victorians, but after outplaying Perth throughout the 0-0 draw in Melbourne the Knights, clad in Celtic-style white-and-green hoops, raced to a 2-0 lead at Subiaco. Craig Deans and Brad Maloney pulled goals back but Melbourne won on away goals in what proved to be Stange's last game in charge of the Glory.

2001/2002
League position: 1st
Major Semi Final 1st Leg: Perth Glory 4-1 Newcastle United
Scorers- PG: Despotovski 27, 79, Maloney 35, Mori 55, NU: Moreira 81, Subiaco Oval, 31,936
Major Semi Final 2nd Leg: Newcastle United 2-0 Perth Glory
Scorers- NU: Masi 16, 41, EnergyAustralia Stadium, 17,503
Grand Final: Perth Glory 0-1 Olympic Sharks
Scorers- OS: Milicic 48, Subiaco Oval, 42,735

Stange's assistant, South African and former Ipswich player Mich d'Avray, took charge following the parting with his former boss. He had immediate success, securing a second minor premiership for the club. The first leg of a Major Semi Final against Newcastle was played at Subiaco and won decisively by the hosts 4-1, with Despotovski scoring a brace and Maloney and Mori adding a goal each. The return match at EnergyAustralia Stadium was won 2-0 by the hosts, but it wasn't enough to deny Perth a second chance at hosting a grand final.

The Olympic Sharks overcame Newcastle to feature in the final, and again a sense of optimism surrounded the 42,735-strong crowd. Surely, Perth had learned their lesson from two years ago and would win this game against the inconsistent Sydney side. It was, however, the Sharks who secured the title with a 1-0 win. An Ante Milicic shot in the 48th minute beat Jason Petkovic and ensured Perth's "chokers" reputation was secured.

2002/2003
League position: 2nd
Championship Series position: 1st
Grand Final: Perth Glory 2-0 Olympic Sharks
Scorers- PG: Harnwell 29, Mori 87

Perth finished the regular season second to the Olympic Sharks, but a convoluted "Championship Series" between the top six teams was dominated by Perth and allowed them to secure hosting rights for the end-of-season one-off final. The Sharks had struggled in the top six series but a six point head-start for finishing as minor premiers allowed them to finish ahead of Adelaide and a rematch of the previous season's final was set.

This time, Perth could not be denied and 38,111 fans at Subiaco were treated to a 2-0 courtesy of a trademark Jamie Harnwell headed goal and one of the slowest finishes you could ever see from Damian Mori. The Sharks had no answer and Perth finally had a national championship to their name.

2003/2004
League position: 1st
Major Semi Final 1st Leg: Parramatta Power 4-2 Perth Glory
Scorers- PP: Ceccoli 9, Petrovski 41, Zorbas 45, Milicic 75, PG: Despotovski 46, Harnwell 56, Parramatta Stadium, 6,059
Major Semi Final 2nd Leg: Perth Glory 0-2 Parramatta Power
Scorers- PP: Elrich 15, Petrovski 65, Members Equity Stadium, 14,023
Preliminary Final: Perth Glory 5-0 Adelaide Utd
Goals- PG: Despotovski 10, 81, Mori 51, 69, Mrdja 88, Subiaco Oval, 17,524
Grand Final: Parramatta Power 0-1 Perth Glory aet
Scorers- PG: Mrdja 98, Parramatta Stadium, 9,630

In the final NSL season, Perth had a new main rival in a Parramatta Power side that spared no expense in securing one of the best on-paper sides the NSL had ever seen. It was, however, Perth who finished as minor premiers.

A return to the six team finals format meant a Major Semi Final against the Power. It was an unsuccessful outing for Perth, with a 4-2 loss in Sydney followed by a 2-0 loss in Perth's Members Equity Stadium finals debut.

Denied a third straight home Grand Final, only 17,524 fans turned up to Subiaco the following week for the Preliminary Final against Adelaide. The faithful few were however given a treat as Perth romped home 5-0 in a major confidence-boosting performance. Despotovski scored his sixth and seventh finals goals for the club while Damian Mori added two and Mrdja also got on the scoresheet late.

Parramatta, with their awesome attacking power, were clear favourites for the Grand Final at Parramatta Stadium. Torrential rain however seemed to favour Perth as chances proved few and far between throughout the match. Despite dominating the wings particularly through the impressive Simon Colosimo and Ahmed Elrich, Jason Petkovic was rarely troubled in the Perth goal and the game went to extra time. Nik Mrdja proved the hero as he scored a clinical finish from the edge of the box to give Perth a surprise 1-0 lead they lasted until the final whistle. Perth had secured back-to-back Championships and earned the last ever NSL title.

Sadly for Perth, the final match of the NSL was also their last ever post-season encounter. Until Sunday, that is!!!

OVERALL FINALS RECORD
Played: 17
(after 90 minutes)
Won: 6
Draw: 5
Lost: 6
Won after extra time: 2
Won after penalties: 0
Lost after extra time: 0
Lost after penalties: 1
Goals: 25
Conceded: 19

Top Scorers:
7- Bobby Despotovski (1 in Grand Finals)
4*- Jamie Harnwell (2 in Grand Finals)
4- Damian Mori (1 in Grand Finals)
2- Brad Maloney
2- Nik Mrdja (1 in Grand Finals)
1- Con Boutsianis
1- Rob Trajkovski
1- Ivan Egic
1- Ljubo Milicevic (1 in Grand Finals)
1- Craig Deans
(1 own goal)

Most Appearances:
16- Bobby Despotovski
16*- Jamie Harnwell
13- Scott Miller
13- Jason Petkovic
10- Damian Mori