Australian football has long searched for figures who can cut through the noise, spark imagination, and reawaken interest in a competition that often struggles to command headlines. In Perth Glory’s new head coach Adam Griffiths, the A-League may have stumbled upon one of its most compelling characters in years — a man whose ideas, personality, and unexpected metaphors are proving just as captivating as his results on the pitch.
Adam Griffiths would, however, prefer not to revisit one particular talking point. Only two weeks ago, a post-match press conference propelled him into viral territory after he delivered an unusual monologue comparing himself to a mountain goat before concluding with the declaration: "I am a lion." The moment spread rapidly across social media, puzzling fans and commentators alike, and turning Griffiths into an overnight curiosity well beyond Western Australia.
Asked about the now-famous analogy ahead of Perth Glory’s weekend clash with Adelaide United, Griffiths insists there is no hidden manifesto behind it. "It's something for the person to absorb and take for whatever they want," he explains, suggesting the meaning lies entirely with the listener. Any attempts to link the comment to football personalities such as Zlatan Ibrahimović — who famously refers to himself as a lion — are quickly shut down with a firm refusal.
Regardless of its interpretation, the metaphor achieved something few press conferences manage: it generated genuine interest. At a time when both Perth Glory and the A-League have struggled for attention, Griffiths’ words cut through, inviting curiosity about both the man and the movement he is trying to build.
That interest was sorely needed. Perth Glory has endured a turbulent period marked by instability and disappointment. The dismissal of David Zdrilic in October made him the club’s sixth coach in just eight years, a statistic that drained patience from even the most loyal supporters. Many fans were close to disengaging entirely. Yet, under Griffiths, something has shifted.
In less than two months at the helm, Perth Glory has rediscovered momentum, putting together three consecutive wins for the first time since 2021. The revival may still be in its early stages, but the change in energy is unmistakable.
A Director’s Mind in a Coach’s Role
Griffiths’ flair for the dramatic is no accident. Away from football, he has explored filmmaking, directing short films and commercials over the years. It is with a straight face that he once described himself as Perth Glory’s Quentin Tarantino, though he is quick to clarify that his favourite filmmaker is Stanley Kubrick. The comparison may sound whimsical, but it reveals how he sees the game — layered, expressive, and open to interpretation.
He has deliberately stepped away from social media, viewing it as a distraction rather than a platform. This absence has only deepened his mystique, forcing fans and journalists to piece together his story through scattered interviews and old footage. One such clip from Malaysian television in 2013 shows a younger Griffiths admitting that if granted a single wish, he would choose to become a vampire and live forever.
These fragments contribute to a reputation that sets him apart in a league often dominated by cautious, media-trained personalities.
When Football Becomes Art
Griffiths occasionally allows glimpses into his broader creative world. He paints. He once founded a machine learning company. He hints at a life rich with experiences but declines to elaborate. All of that, he insists, is now secondary.
"Football is all consuming," he says.
"I love it and I'm 100 per cent focused on that."
To Griffiths, football is more than a sport or a profession. It is a form of expression. "Football has that element of creativity and you can take different pieces and turn it into something beautiful or ugly or fascinating," he says. That philosophy is evident in the way his team plays — deliberate, expressive, but structured.
From Sydney Suburbs to the Spotlight
Raised in Sydney’s outer suburbs, Griffiths’ love for football began early. At the age of five, his father — a first-grade cricketer and footballer — took him, his twin brother Joel, and younger brother Ryan to a match. All three would go on to play professionally, though Griffiths insists their personalities diverged sharply. With trademark confidence, he once again refers to himself as "the ledge" of the trio.
When his playing days ended, coaching became his new obsession. "[I] fell in love again, but just in a different aspect, probably more so the tactical, the decision-making," he explains. That passion would soon lead him to an unexpected opportunity.
Zdrilic’s dismissal opened the door for Griffiths to step up from assistant to interim coach after just two matches with the club. This week, that interim role was extended with a contract running until at least the end of the season.
Clear Messages, Clear Identity
From day one, Griffiths knew how he wanted to lead. "My approach as soon as I came in was to give clear messaging, identify the leaders within the group, have the players buy into a playing style that they want to play for and want to love, which is what I love," he says.
That style, in his words, is "possession-based attacking football with a solid defensive structure." The transformation has been evident. Perth Glory now controls the ball more confidently, creates more chances, and concedes fewer goals — all signs of a team with a renewed identity.
Equally important is his emphasis on personal connection. "Every human is different so [I] make sure I connect with the individual on their specific level and then try to find the best thing to get the best out of those players," he explains.
Defender Charbel Shamoon is living proof of that approach. After scoring his first A-League goal under Griffiths, Shamoon credits the coach with reshaping the team’s mentality. "Ever since 'Griff' took over he gave us this real belief, changed the way we played and changed the ways we just thought mentally every single day and it helped us," he says.
"Those three wins in a row wasn't just luck. He's really built a good belief in the team and we're all really excited to play under him."
Even the now-infamous mountain goat speech has become a source of amusement and inspiration inside the dressing room. "I've got no clue [what it means] but I like it," Shamoon laughs.
"I like something different, character."
An Underdog Script in the Making
There is an unmistakable cinematic quality to Perth Glory’s resurgence. A coach with unconventional ideas, a team written off by many, and the possibility of rising from consecutive wooden spoons to finals contention — it is a narrative ready-made for the screen.
For Griffiths, though, there is no room for distraction. "That is the only thing on my mind — to achieve success with this team at whatever cost. We will be pushing every single day to make sure that happens," he says.
"Whichever narrative you want to spin, it's going to be good viewing."
Perth Glory face Adelaide United in Perth on Saturday, and whether fans come for the football, the philosophy, or the personality on the sideline, Adam Griffiths has ensured one thing: Australian football is watching.
