Can Bruno Fornaroli set the bar even higher in 2016/17? Will Bobo replicate the feats of Marc Janko at Sydney FC? Or could a returning fan-favourite at the Wanderers steal the show?
Who will emerge as the Hyundai A-League’s leading goal-scorer this season? We take a closer look at some of the contenders for the Golden Boot award.
Bruno Fornaroli (Melbourne City)
Can ‘El Tuna’ go back-to-back for the golden boot? You wouldn’t bet against him given his record-breaking debut season in the Hyundai A-League in 2015/16.
Fornaroli scored an incredible 25 goals for the campaign – the most ever in 11 seasons of the competition – and benefits from City’s all-out attacking style.
Has the ability to score all types of goals too whether it’s inside the box, headers, free-kicks, penalties or long-distance curlers.
Jamie Maclaren (Brisbane Roar)
Maclaren’s 20 goals last campaign was the most ever scored in a single Hyundai A-League season by an Australian.
With another full off-season under his belt under John Aloisi he could get even better and his ability to play off the shoulder of his defender with his pace means he is always getting in behind defences.
The 23-year-old should benefit from the service from the likes of Broich, Oar, Borrello and Kristensen.
Besart Berisha (Melbourne Victory)
You can’t have a list of contenders for the golden boot without mentioning the fiery Albanian.
Berisha has been prolific every season he’s played in the Hyundai A-League and scored an impressive 18 from just 26 appearances in 2015/16.
He has 81 career goals in the competition, needing just 10 more this season to go past Archie Thompson (90) as the A-League’s greatest-ever scorer.
Andy Keogh (Perth Glory)
It’s no surprise that Glory’s fortunes turned around last season when the Irishman joined the club mid-season.
An all-action striker who works incredibly hard for his side, Keogh is also a proven finisher and amassed 10 goals in just 15 appearances last season.
Keogh also set an Australian national league record by finding the net in eight consecutive games last season meaning he is right in the hunt for the golden boot in 2016/17.
Kerem Bulut (Western Sydney Wanderers)
The young striker may have had his share of issues off the field in the past but there’s no doubting his talent, especially when it comes to scoring goals.
Bulut proved in his last stint at the Wanderers – when he scored five times in just nine appearances – he can be a threat in the Hyundai A-League and in a side that should challenge for the title, he’ll get plenty of opportunities.
A defenders nightmare with his passion and ferocity in the box, the 24-year-old is a contender if coach Tony Popovic can get the best out of him.
Bobo (Sydney FC)
The Brazilian star has scored goals wherever he has played so there’s no reason why he won’t do just that for the Sky Blues.
Bobo is a powerful, mobile and technical striker who is simply deadly around the box.
If Sydney FC can return to their best in 2016/17, the 31-year-old is sure to get plenty of goals and be right near the top of the scoring charts.
Tim Cahill (Melbourne City)
Much will depend on how City boss John van ‘t Schip uses Cahill with Fornaroli but there’s no disputing the Caltex Socceroo striker’s credentials.
Cahill is the ultimate ‘fox in the box’ and is still scoring goals at the highest level at the ripe old age of 36, as we saw in Australia’s recent win over the UAE.
He’ll be keen to show Australian fans just what he’s been doing abroad for more than a decade.
