Perth Glory captain Adam Taggart has set his side the ambitious target of reaching the Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series in 2024-25 after a wooden spoon finish last season.
Glory limped to the finish line in 2023-24, conceding 23 goals in their last four games (all defeats) to finish four points adrift at the foot of the table having conceded 69 goals in 27 games.
But much has changed since the end of last season; through the first off-season under new owners Pelligra Group, the club has a new head coach in David Zdrilic and a new head of football, Stan Lazaridis, who oversaw a busy transfer which resulted in 14 new players arriving at the club.
One thing has remained the same, however: Taggart wearing the armband as captain of the club’s men’s side. The Socceroo, who won the league’s Golden Boot award last season having scored 20 of Glory’s 46 goals, says securing finals football is a realistic target for a club looking to create a new identity under Zdrilic.
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“We obviously need to be in the top six as an absolute minimum,” Taggart said.
“I know everyone says that but I think for the club, not finishing in the top six for the last (four) seasons is obviously something that needs to be rectified.
“Challenging for finals football is an absolute minimum… I just think with our history over the past few years in terms of where we’ve finished on the table, that needs to be a clear goal for all of us – but also to create the identity of Perth Glory. For me, that’s winning every home game – I think that needs to be an absolute certainty for us, almost, going into games knowing we’re going to win all our home games.
“And obviously to improve on our away record. Last year when we won away against Western Sydney, the vibe and atmosphere it created helped us kick on to a winning streak and the confidence that can build.
“(Last season) was extremely disappointing. Anyone who finished last is always going to have a bit of motivation for next year. I think there were definitely some positives to come out of last year. Going forward I think we were very good, especially in the first half of the season. We just probably lost our way a little bit more towards the end of the year.
‘As much as we’re a new side, a new team with fresh opportunities I think it’s important to realise we did have some positives and to build on those things we did well last year: scoring lots of goals.”
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“It’s definitely a new era and a fresh start,” Taggart added. “For all of us, it gives us fresh opportunities and that bit of optimism that we can be a bit of a surprise package this year, and use all of that freshness and new people to push this club forward.
“I know that when people arrive at a new club, players, staff, upstairs, there’s always that extra bit of motivation to prove yourself to the members and fans that have been so loyal. I’m looking forward to seeing that action from all the new players and staff.”
Taggart and Glory head east this weekend for the start of the Isuzu UTE A-League season, with a trip to Campbelltown to face Australia Cup Champions Macarthur FC awaiting Zdrilic’s side in Round 1.
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Speaking at Glory’s season launch on Tuesday morning, Zdrilic confirmed both Mustafa Amini and Nathanael Blair would miss the start of the season through injury, but otherwise reported a clean bill of health.
Injuries aside, Zdrilic conceded some of the most recent arrivals at the club will take more time to get up to speed with his style of play.
“Mustafa Amini, he’s not fit to start,” Zdrilic said. “Nathanael Blair just picked up a little injury, but generally for the most part, everybody is ready to go. But there are some guys who are just starting to come back in, and we don’t know how long they’ll last – so they’ll be the ones that miss out.”
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Zdrilic will however be able to count on Taggart to lead the line for Glory from Round 1 – a player the Glory coach says is pivotal to leading from the front in the implementation of his pressing style.
“The really impressive thing with Taggs is that he’s embraced a very new way of training, and a new philosophy. That’s not easy for the older players to do and he’s not only embraced it, he’s led it.
“Him leading that pressing mentality from the front is what will drive everyone behind, and he’s really embraced that.”
For Taggart, the start of the 2024-25 season not only provides the opportunity to pick up where he left off on the scoring front, but to remind Socceroos selectors of his attacking class with an early run of form.
The Glory captain has revived his international career at his hometown Isuzu UTE A-League club but believes a lack of match minutes in recent months was a contributing factor to new Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic electing not to select him in the squad that defeated China in Adelaide on October 10, and is set to face Japan in Saitama tonight on the 2026 World Cup qualifying trail.
“I’m not too sure how close I was (to selection),” he said.
“It’s always difficult when you’re not playing competitive games.
“Obviously the majority of the (Melbourne) Victory boys were playing competitive games up until they’ve gone into camp, and they’ve all done fantastically in that first game against China as well.
“I think moving forward it’s a great appointment with Popa taking over. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do tonight against Japan.
“Moving forward I’ll put all of my focus into Perth Glory, which is what I’ve always done. If you get rewarded with future call-ups then great, if not I think the focus needs to be here on Perth Glory. For the game tonight I’ll be cheering them on and I’m sure they’ll get a result.”
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