Host Blayne Treadgold sits down with club legend, former Socceroos captain Gary Marocchi. Fresh off the plane from the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Gary drops by to dissect the tournament's fallout, defend under-fire national coach Tony Popovic, and tackle the controversial last-minute international allegiance flip of Cristian Volpato. We look back at Gary's historic days captaining the green and gold while working a regular day job, and explore the legendary junior pathway that continues to produce top-tier national team talent at Dorrien Gardens.

Plus, we celebrate our Senior Women absolutely dominating the NPLW with a massive nine-point lead at the top of the table as they hunt down a historic back-to-back championship.

Key Topics

• The 2026 World Cup Post-Mortem: Gary breaks down the Socceroos' performance in the US, including our massive 2-0 win over Turkey and the rough refereeing calls that cost us against America.

• Defending Tony Popovic: Why the national coach deserves respect after an unblemished qualification run, and Gary's take on the heavy criticism coming from ex-internationals.

• The New Golden Generation: Looking ahead to the 2027 Asian Cup and the immense potential of young ball-carriers like Nestory Irankunda, Lucas Harrington, and the controversial dressing-room dynamics surrounding Cristian Volpato’s late switch from Italy.

• The becoming of Alessandro Circati: Gary reminisces about watching a two-year-old Circati running around Dorrien Gardens with a thick Italian accent before climbing the ranks to become an elite international defender.

• Old School Socceroos vs. Modern Pros: Gary takes us behind the scenes of the late 70s and early 80s national team setup, balancing international football with a day job, and a hilarious locker-room prank pulled off by Celtic legend Dixie Deans.

• Azzurri Standalone Saturday & Ladder Wrap: With the Senior Men on a bye round, we look at the Men's tight table just four points off the top. Meanwhile, the Senior Women are flying nine points clear ahead of their Saturday clash at home against UWA Nedlands.

• Club Housekeeping & Junior Parade: Deadlines are closing fast for Azzurri juniors to join the historic Milano Derby junior parade on August 5th. Plus, Term 3 Skills Acquisition Program (SAP) registrations are officially open.

Keywords

Perth Azzurri, Gary Marocchi, Tony Popovic, Alessandro Circati, Nestory Irankunda, Cristian Volpato, 2026 World Cup, NPL WA, Dorrien Gardens, Football West, Australian Football.

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In this episode, Blayne Treadgold sits down with Club President Jason Marocchi for a comprehensive mid-season review, covering the top-four push from our NPL Men, the undefeated streak of our NPL Women, and a bright look at our flying junior academy. Jason also shares major updates on the Dorrien Gardens redevelopment and a milestone sponsorship year.

Later in the show, we introduce Football Operations Manager, Tass Kalogirou. Tass shares his football journey from London to New Jersey, Canada, and the east coast, before breaking down his day-to-day work building the future technical blueprint for the Azzurri.

Key Matchday & Club Events Mentioned

• Azzurri Business Network Luncheon: This Friday at Dorrien Gardens, featuring special guest and Perth Glory Coach, Adam Griffiths.

• Socceroos World Cup Watch Party: This Sunday at the clubhouse. Gates open at 9:30 AM for the midday kickoff against Turkey, featuring our brand-new big screens. Stay on to watch our senior women face the Football West Academy directly afterward.

• Annual Pink Game: Sunday, 28 June at Dorrien Gardens vs Fremantle City, raising vital funds for Breast Cancer Care WA.

Key Points From the Show

The Mid-Season Report Card

• NPL Men: Currently sitting in the top four and just six points off the pace. Despite a difficult run of early injuries, squad depth has kept the team on a six-game unbeaten streak ahead of a vital four-week away stretch.

• NPL Women: Enjoying an incredible, undefeated season under Tommy, having conceded only two goals so far. Squad chemistry is at an all-time high, with major A-League squad inclusions like Charlie Wainwright and Daisy McAllister strengthening the park.

Junior Academy Success

• The Under 16s are currently undefeated and clear at the top of the table.

• The Under 14s secured a historic away victory over Perth Red Star last weekend.

• Former first-team player Federico Achille has taken the reins of the Under 15s as he starts his coaching journey.

Facilities & Infrastructure Progress

• Upgrades to the change rooms and amenities at Beatty Park are nearing completion.

• Birdwood Square is on track to be fully lit with training lights ahead of next season.

• Long-term redevelopments at Dorrien Gardens are moving forward alongside local council and government bodies, with a major corporate announcement expected this Friday.

Behind the Scenes with Tass Kalogirou

• Tass shares his background coaching in elite academy spaces across the UK, USA, and Canada before moving to Australia.

• An honest look at the structural differences between East Coast football models and WA, including technical coordination, academy tracking, and local funding models.

Keywords for SEO

Perth Azzurri FC, NPL WA football, WA soccer podcast, Dorrien Gardens events, local Perth football clubs, junior football academy Perth, West Australian NPL results, football operations management, Socceroos watch party Perth.

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In the May edition of the Perth Azzurri Podcast, we are incredibly proud to bring you a very special episode centered around family, resilience, and the true strength of the WA football community.

I sit down with former Azzurri player Matt Danskin. Matt shares the heartbreaking reality of his son Jack's diagnosis with Batten's disease, an ultra-rare and life-limiting form of childhood dementia. With the required enzyme reduction therapy costing an astronomical $11,450 every 22 days , the local football family is rallying behind the Danskins this Sunday at Dorrien Gardens for 'Jack's Game'.

To help preview the massive Legends match taking place on the day, iconic local coaches Graham Normanton and Taki Nicolaidis join me in the studio. We share some brilliant laughs about managing big personalities, debate the current fitness levels of returning 2008-era players like Dino Djulbic and Todd Howarth, and hear why Normo is officially putting a $500 wager on the line.

Key Topics

Matt Danskin's Football Journey: Matt chats about signing with Azzurri back in 2005, and the dog-eat-dog reality of moving to Germany at 17 years old to play for Werder Bremen.

The Fight Against Batten's Disease: Matt opens up about Jack's diagnosis with childhood dementia. We discuss the importance of community support and the financial reality of funding life-extending medication that costs over $11,000 every 22 days.

Everything You Need to Know About Jack's Game: All the logistical details for this Sunday's family fundraiser at Dorrien Gardens, featuring the Legends soccer game, bouncy castles, a live auction, and a massive raffle.

Legends Banter with Taki & Normo: Graham Normanton and Taki Nicolaidis drop by to preview the Legends clash. Expect plenty of laughs as we remember Andreas Oliveira's flat-out refusal to do sprints, and hear Normo throw down a $500 wager if his team gets beaten.

Weekend Fixtures: I wrap up the weekend action, with the senior men heading to Percy Doyle Reserve to face Sorrento , and the senior women making the cold trip down to Albany for the NPL WA regional round against the Football West Academy.

Keywords

Perth Azzurri, Jack Danskin, Batten's Disease, Childhood Dementia, Graham Normanton, Taki Nicolaidis, NPL WA, Dorrien Gardens, WA Football Community, Werder Bremen.

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