At the start of the 2023/24 A-League season, I was asked to select a Golden Boot winner. Adam Taggart was my choice and remains so as the competition enters its final third.
There is something about the now 30-year-old Taggart that has always pulled an emotional nerve inside me. Many a comment on articles I’ve written over the years have suggested that there could well be something of a ‘bromance’ occurring between the two of us.
However, I can safely say that Adam and I are not friends, let alone anything more.
In fact, it would be more accurate to describe the situation as one man admiring another from afar and wondering why other people cannot see the same qualities that he does.
My admiration of the Perth-born striker is based simply on two core ideas. Firstly, in the vast majority of cases, wherever he has ventured in his football travels, he scores.
Adam Taggart celebrates a goal for Perth Glory. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Secondly, I’m not sure he has ever been given the chances he deserved in Socceroo colours.
Jamie Maclaren is probably thinking similar things after his selection snub from Graham Arnold in the leadup to the recent Asian Cup in Qatar. Perhaps there is a similarity in their stories.
Yet in my view, Taggart is more the traditional number nine who slots and poaches in a more clinical manner than Maclaren and who who went abroad and proved his worth in the challenging and torrid K-League.
Maclaren has a clear ability to run off the shoulders of defenders and capitalise on the motion created by his attacking midfielders. Yet to me, Taggart is more of a stand and deliver player, capable of the touches of class by foot they we rarely see in Australian strikers, a quality behind the man selected in place of Maclaren in Qatar, Bruno Fornaroli.
As controversial as the selection of a newly eligible and 36-year-old Uruguayan was for the disappointed Maclaren it would have been just as shattering for Taggart, whilst being far less reported in media circles at the time.
With 12 goals for the Glory this season Taggart’s grand total for the club now stands at 36 across 75 matches, dating as far back as 2010/11 when he was an exciting raw talent.
In between, a stint in Newcastle brought an A-League Golden Boot his way, with 16 goals scored in 2014 and a move overseas was eventually secured.
After some fits and starts abroad, a return to Perth then a successful period in Brisbane with eleven goals in 18 games, the K-League called. 29 goals across 56 matches proved the Aussie was good for at least a goal every other game.
Less success was to be found in Japan at Osaka, yet a second return to Perth has seen the classy co-captain slip right back in to goal scoring form in Alen Stajcic’s rebuilding squad.
Internationally, the goals flowed at under 20’s level (7) and despite lesser success with the Olyroos, Taggart found the net six times for the Socceroos after being initially thrust into the team at an extremely young age.
Adam Taggart was with the Socceroos as recently as 2021. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Taggart was just 21 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and played against both the Netherlands and Spain.
Ange Postecoglou obviously had faith and hope in the man as talented as any other Australian in front of goal, yet opportunities have been few and far between under different Socceroo managers.
No better work could Alen Stajcic do for the national team than provide the platform to build Taggart’s season goal tally to a point where he is difficult to leave out of the qualifiers looming for the Socceroos.
A duo of matches against an improving and dangerous Lebanese team will require attention to detail and a mindset of determination Taggart is displaying on a week to week basis for Perth.
His desperation and commitment in the dying moments against Brisbane Roar in the Glory’s 3-2 win on Saturday night was nothing short of inspirational for both the crowd and his team mates – almost as much so as his two goals earlier in the contest.
Maturity appears to be letting loose a new Adam Taggart and perhaps it’s the best version of him domestic fans have ever witnessed.
I still scratch my head and wonder why the Perth talisman remains on the international outer. I believe he is the best Australian I’ve seen in front of goal by foot since Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell.
Perhaps only weight of goals might see him get the chance he deserves back in national colours. Based on current form, he must surely be in the conversation.
jbinnie
Roar Rookie
Waz The pressure being built on to this kid is almost unholy. Look at the formation Roar have been using for weeks now and it has to be recognised that two 'extreme" wingers, playing very wide, give little or no support to a kid just learning his game. The club management have chosen to go with coaches freshly out of junior or youth football who are, by instruction, using a 4-3-3 formation as the nation curriculum dictates. A full time professional squad deserves a formation that will fit the available players and this is not being done. This means that kids being promoted have to be instructed by their teachers on how to play different formations. If Wadoo needs this help he is going to have someone with him in the opponents back third where he can accomplish much more than the almost endless running he is being asked to do. Personally, I would love to see Roar playing a 4-4 -2 formation with Hore (under instruction) playing alongside this kid. The Roar squad is not equipped to have 2 players playing as wingbacks, positions that demand supreme fitness and an almost endless desire to go forward. As it is at the moment it would appear the full backs being used are not getting thei jobs done and it is noticeable that most of the goals being conceded by Roar have their origins created out wide on their defensive flanks. It is going to take more that "Waddo" improving his game to make this team more functional. jb
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Botic has been a dud this season . Last season he played a lot less minutes and got 6 goals.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Jamaica is not a bad team I dont see why you would put them with Solomon Islands, they are way above that. A few of the teams in Asia are only slightly above Solomon Islands. Duke played Chinese Tapei and Bangladesh 4 of his 12 goals against them, but if you compare that to Maclaren 6 of his 9 against them plus Nepal and Taggart has 4 of his 6 against CHines Taipei.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Cahill scored more of his goals at striker in the twilight of his career for the national team, he did have an early flurry against the Pacific islands. If he played as a striker earlier I can't why he wouldn't have had even more goals he was still needed to get past Syria when he was in his late 30's. Kewell was a winger till he played as a stiker in the twilight of his career where he made most of his appearances and scored some useful goals. Kewell missed playing for Australia at his peak after having a lot of matches as a teen and then played a lot late in his career hampered physically by all his injuries. John Aloisi you cant fault his goal scoring record although he does his fair share against minnows and of course he had to come on as a sub a lot of occasions. Josh Kennedy had a very good scoring record and hardly played a minnow team. Viduka retired early from the national team, he didnt play in his twilight years, I think he was just naturally lazy and going to Dinamo Zagreb and Celtic meant he was spoilt by them into further laziness.
jbinnie
Roar Rookie
S/Wed - While agreeing with most of what you say I assume you never saw Beckenbaur when he was at his peak. He began his movement when the used as a "sweeper", a role that had come into play but soon tired of being a spectator for much of the game and began his forays into the midfield with much success and it was not long before he began to appear on the scoring list. Yes, the complete player ,or as near as you could get. They even christened him "Der Kaiser" (the boss). jb
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
When it come to national selection and WC qualifying.....you select whoever is in form. That is Tags. Blooding young players that "haven't been tested" is what friendlies are for.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I have to admit that I do not value a "ball playing CB" more than an attack stopping CB. This obsession to ask defenders to be everything on the pitch is nonsense, including the wing backs who today are expected to play everywhere except in the back line wider than the CBs). A CB's primary roll is to nullify the oppositions attack and hand the ball over to your actual ball players...the midfielders. We wonder why we keep seeing our national teams...or any team for that matter only hold possession by sending the ball sideways across the back line for hours and never get any penetration or forward movements...It is 100% because todays obsession with keeping possession is stifling creativity in the middle and taking the ball from the feet of our actual ballers. Have a think about it, where do we place our most technical superior players, the ones who know the game the best, the ones who have the best vision, creativity, ball control and passing.....CM, CDM, CAM. So why do we keep taking the ball off them in favour of our CB's. There is not a single reason for a CB to have a higher pass count or possession rate than a CDM. Yes, it is beneficial to have CBs that can hold the ball and make a good pass, or a full back who can overlap beat a player and deliver a cross, or a striker who is willing to track back and make a challenge...... but like everything in the modern game, we seem to have forgotten the absolute underpinning and foundation principals of the game; that is, to simply score more goals than the other team. Maybe I am just getting old??
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i dont like the country rowles plays in lol - id be very skeptical in picking players who earn there keep in scotland - unfortunately you wont learn much tactically and wont devlope properly technically. ciracati is a the perfect example for any young player who is on the cusp of a european move - pick a country that suits your playing style and a language you are either fluent in (or can learn easily)
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
The heading of this article says it all, unfortunately Arnie will stick with Duke up front.
chris1
Roar Rookie
I know you don’t like Souttar – but why not Rowles? He’s mobile, strong and has a high work rate. And he holds his position allowing Circati to venture forwards. I think you’re being a little harsh with him. It’s a shame Trent Sainsbury (in his prime) is not around. Circati and Sainsbury would have been a very good centre pairing.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Nah, we WILL sign a Striker next year. Waddo needs it.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
Bruno Fornaroli will win the golden boot. Adam Taggert will finish 2nd. Jmac is cooked and dusted.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
this year? they do have six home games to go, will help.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Can I boldly predict Perth, under coach Staj, will play final’s football? I shall.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
most definitely is. https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/12/02/alessandro-circati-is-parmas-next-great-aussie-hope/ that had a snippet of my early reporting on him. (ticked all boxes for me as a teenager and still ticks all those boxes as a fully grown man now) i believe he could be the left side half of the long term centreback pairing for australia, the issue is who will be his partner and suit his style? (definitely not souttar or rowles) the answer to that question (if things go right in terms of developement) would be the player in this article https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/12/08/the-latest-son-of-a-south-australian-cult-hero-making-a-splash-in-greece/ i'd like to see the next coach (please not arnie) try something revolutionary (especially in friendlies) when it comes to the defence a back 3 of circati, chipperfield (playing slightly higher, think of a sweeper/stopper combined) and valkanis this requires those 3 players to keep developing though
chris1
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure if he does warrant another chance - especially ahead of younger strikers we currently have. Stamatelopoulos and even Botic have been scoring lately. These players are yet to be tested at international level and maybe they will rise and be even better. We've seen Taggart and Jmac at international level and sadly I think they are in the Scott McDonald international class.
chris1
Roar Rookie
I'm hoping Circati is developing into the ball playing centre backs you mentioned. Italy is good at producing those types of players so lets hope he is getting good coaching there for that.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
I agree with the author. Taggart should get another chance. He hasn’t performed in the past but players can improve, form is very important, and he’s scoring goals even if it’s only in the A-League. He offers more than Maclaren and although I’m a fan of Stamatelopoulos, I think Taggart is currently slightly ahead of him in the pecking order.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
next season for the apprentice Waddo, with young Ryland Brownlee right behind him and Grace Kuilamu the women's.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
So Stamatelopolous then? Who’s your pick?