Perth RedStar head coach Callum Salmon has challenged his side to change the script as they face the side he now considers to be their biggest rivals.
RedStar head to Madman Arena on Saturday to take on Olympic Kingsway in the latest chapter of an engrossing 2026 New Balance NPL WA Men’s campaign.
Bayswater City currently sit top, but that is guaranteed to change this weekend as their two nearest rivals meet in their Round 14 make-up game. A win for Olympic will lift them into first place. Any other result and it will be RedStar who lead the field going into the final five rounds.
“This is obviously a big game and we’re really looking forward to it. I always enjoy going to Kingsway. They get a good crowd and there’s always a good atmosphere,” said Salmon, who led RedStar to the league in 2023.
“Sorrento have always been our biggest rivals, but the Olympic game is now on par. There’s always a consequence in terms of league positions and cup games when we play each other.
“To be fair, they have shaded it lately, and the only way to change that is by winning at their ground.”
RedStar have conceded the fewest goals in the competition this year and Salmon praised his side’s consistency. He has also been pleased with how some of his younger players have stepped up, including former Olympic player Jacob Evans.
“A few players have come up from the Academy team and taken their chance, such as Jack Baker, Teddie Curran and Jacob Evans. It’s great to see them doing so well.
“We lost Luke Bodnar to a serious injury and we’ve also been without Aaron Black, who’s had a hamstring injury. He’s been fantastic for us up front. But the Academy players have been fearless.
“Jacob Evans played all his junior football with us. He went to Olympic then came back to the 23s last year. He’s got his chance and I can’t leave him out of the team. He now gets the opportunity to go back to a team he left and show his talent. I hope he does it.
“But it’s also credit to the older boys who have helped make their step-up that much easier.
“We brought in Gordon Smith from Bayswater when everyone was telling me he was finished. He has such a great attitude.
“We recently brought in Brandon O’Neill too. He’s been huge. An amazing professional and amazing guy.”
While Salmon is happy to praise his side, he said there were also a few “home truths” delivered after their two recent defeats against Bayswater. First they suffered a 3-2 loss in the Australia Cup after leading 2-0, then went down 3-0 in the league.
“We conceded six goals in two games, four of them from set-pieces,” he said.
“That was really disappointing and we had a few home truths. They obviously saw a weakness and exploited it and it was something we had to address. We had to suck it up and be honest and put things in place and I was pleased we responded with a clean sheet at Stirling last week.
“Now it’s about backing up this week. They are a club that continues to grow and are always trying to push on.
“It should be a fantastic game and hopefully we are the ones that come away smiling.”
