With both sides eliminated from finals contention, players were largely playing for pride and contracts at HBF Park on Saturday, but goals from Gabriel Popovic and Sebastian Despotovski also ensured Bunbury native Risdon departed a winner.
Taking over following the ouster of David Zdrilic after just two rounds, Griffiths was given a contract to lead the club to the end of 2025-26 but made very clear post-game he wanted the job next season.
"I definitely think I'm the right person to take this club forward," he told Paramount.
"I see the mentality is shifting."
A former World Cup Socceroo and the Glory's all-time A-League appearances leader, Risdon was substituted on in the 75th minute, which gave him a front-row seat to the Despotovski rocket that secured Glory the win just moments later.
"I didn't feel any different coming into the game. It probably started to hit home when I was walking out onto the pitch with my family," Risdon said.
"To come on in the last 15 and play a part was nice."
The scores were level after Popovic's sixth-minute penalty was cancelled out by Dimitri Valkanis's hustle to bundle the ball – and Glory keeper Matt Sutton – over the goalline following a 67th minute corner.
Having missed the chance to go two ahead when Nicholas Pennington smashed a 30th-minute penalty against the crossbar, Glory were furious the goal wasn't disallowed for a foul but their protests were waved off.
But after Griffiths had told Pennington to take the spot-kick he'd won, there was no denying Despotovski from delivering the match-winner when he thundered a half-volley from the top of the box beyond Dean Bouzanis.
Neither side moved on the table after the result, with Perth finishing 10th – snapping a run of back-to-back wooden spoons – and the Roar locked into eleventh.
Brisbane coach Michael Valkanis is contracted for next season but has overseen a tailspin in form in 2026 in which Roar won just one of their last 16 games and finished second-bottom for a second consecutive year.
"We've had no luck," Valkanis said.
"We're going to have to bring in a Greek priest to bless the club, because the bad luck has just continued in 2026."
