Podcast Show Notes: The Far Post Perth – Season 3, Episode 2 Episode Title: An Unnatural Position Episode Description: Round 1 is in the books, and the A-League is back with instant controversy, tactical teething issues, and plenty of fire. Blayne, Neil, and Renton unpack a chaotic opening weekend, starting with Perth Glory’s frustrating 2-1 defeat to Macarthur in Campbelltown. Despite a world-class 25-yard strike from skipper Tom Lawrence and an immense shift from young centre-back Cher Deng, Glory left empty-handed after a contentious handball penalty against Calem Nieuwenhof turned the contest on its head. The boys dissect the fallout from Lawrence’s unfiltered post-match comments, slamming media pundits who think players should be silenced by club PR shields. We review the drab, scoreless Sydney Derby, questions why the league insists on burning its marquee rivalry chips in Round 1, and applauds Bayswater City for flying the WA flag with a stunning 3-1 win over Marconi in the Australian Championship. Plus, Neil vents about the hideous Chicken Treat sponsor sticker ruining Glory's slick 90s retro kits, the panel calls out Newcastle Jets for banning a veteran journalist over unpaid wage reporting, and the lads preview a sodden Friday night trip to Suncorp against Brisbane Roar. Key Topics: Vale Gary Morrell: The boys open the show with heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and everyone at East Perth Football Club following the passing of a respected WA football stalwart. Campbelltown Review (Macarthur 2–1 Perth Glory): The positives in the process: Cher Deng's breakout performance in central defence and Tadiwa Kuzamba's athletic power down the right flank. The familiar attacking void: Seb Despotovski’s missed first-half chance, Adriano Lebib’s uncomfortable shift at left-back, and why relying solely on Peter Jacobsz off the bench highlights Glory's desperate lack of an established number nine. Ryan Fraser's game-changing cameo off the bench for the Bulls. The Penalty & The Rulebook Circus: Breaking down Sean Evans’ call against Calem Nieuwenhof: thigh deflection, arm positioning, and Bernardo’s un-penalised screen. Blayne’s crusade to throw out the "natural vs unnatural" wording and bring in black-and-white rules to eliminate subjective guesswork. Backing Tom Lawrence: Why the panel loved the Glory captain calling out the refereeing decisions on live broadcast, pushing back against Erik Paartalu and Kosta Barbarouses claiming he should have been muzzled. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: The Good: Wall-to-wall weekend football returning to our screens, and Bayswater City outclassing Marconi 3-1 at Frank Drago Reserve with Matt Sparrow building a serious case for professional coaching ranks. The Bad: Wasting prime Sydney and F3 Derbies in Round 1 while squads are underdone, disjointed, and playing pre-season tempo. The Ugly: The cheap-looking white sponsor patch heat-pressed over Glory’s new Macron kit; Robbie Slater labelling the Sydney Derby's technical standard as unwatchable; and Newcastle Jets banning journalist James Gardiner for doing his job on missed player payments. Around the League & Australian Championship: Auckland proving their crowd staying power, Wellington stunning Melbourne Victory 1-0, and why boutique 6,000–10,000 capacity grounds like Macarthur’s Oran Park plan beat cavernous empty stadiums every day of the week. The penalty shootout gimmick in the Australian Championship: why awarding extra points for shootout wins belongs in the bin. Glory Women & Round 2 Tips: Stephen Peters' squad kicking off their campaign with a gritty 1-0 away win against Newcastle courtesy of a solid display from Megan Wynne and returning hometown hero Baxter. Predictions for Round 2, featuring a wet slog at Suncorp between Brisbane and Perth, the Melbourne Derby, and Sydney FC hosting Adelaide. Keywords: Perth Glory, A-League Men, Macarthur FC, Tom Lawrence, Calem Nieuwenhof, Chur Deng, Australian Championship, Bayswater City, Sydney Derby, Newcastle Jets, A-League Women, Football West. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.