Subway Socceroos striker Adam Taggart has urged fellow Isuzu UTE A-League star Noah Botic to keep producing consistent performances for Western United in the hope of a future call-up to the international squad.
Botic is on fire in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season, with his 11 goals the most of any player in the competition in 2024-25 to date.
The rich vein of goalscoring form put the 23-year-old well and truly in the debate for selection in Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic’s 26-player squad picked for this month’s 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China.
But it wasn’t meant to be for the red-hot Western marksman, who has been made to wait for a career-first call-up to the senior Socceroos squad.
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Taggart was one of 10 Isuzu UTE A-League players called up by Popovic for the March international window.
A player who has gone in and out of favour with the Socceroos throughout his career, the Perth Glory captain knows better than most how it feels to be on the outside looking in and has encouraged Botic to use his absence from the current camp as motivation to continue performing at a high level.
Botic scored his 11th goal of the Isuzu UTE A-League season on Sunday in Western United’s 6-2 rout of Newcastle Jets. He marked his latest strike with a phone call celebration in a not-so-subtle response to being overlooked for Socceroos selection.
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“It’s a tough one for anyone who’s doing well and wants the opportunity,” Taggart said.
“He obviously looks like a natural goalscorer, and has a good mentality. I’ve watched him over the past few years improve, and he’s got a great coach in John Aloisi, there to help guide him – especially being a forward himself – and I was lucky enough to work with him as well.”
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Taggart worked under current Western United head coach Aloisi at Brisbane Roar in the 2018-19 season.
The reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Golden Boot winner was 24 when he signed for Aloisi’s Roar, one year older than Botic is today.
“I think he’s in a great place to continue that development,” Taggart continued.
“And all I would say is to keep going, don’t stop. The form that he’s in, it’s just important to try and maintain that for a long period of time and kick on throughout his career.
“But I’ve got all the confidence in the world that he’s going to go on and do great things. And as a striker, I’m looking forward to seeing that.”
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Botic is one of four young Australian strikers contending for the Isuzu UTE A-League’s Golden Boot this season; his 11 goals to date leads all comers in the race, but Archie Goodwin, Nicolas Milanovic and Adrian Segecic have all scored nine goals apiece after 23 rounds and are equal-second on the goalscoring standings alongside veterans Hiroshi Ibusuki and Joe Lolley.
Taggart says the form of young Australian strikers scoring regularly in both the Isuzu UTE A-League and in overseas leagues can only bode well for the future of Australia’s No.9 stocks.
“It’s been fantastic, actually,” he said.
“As a more experienced player, I guess especially over the last few years, I’ve really enjoyed watching young boys do well, especially strikers, because I think it’s been a difficult position for the Socceroos for a long time now.
“So great to see a few of the young boys in the A-League and abroad starting to score goals and doing that regularly. I think that’s a positive sign for the national team in general. And I’m sure over time that, you know, those boys will get their opportunity if they keep performing.
“But as an older striker, I know how difficult it is to kind of break through as a young boy, and get that consistency in front of goals. So yeah, for me, it’s fantastic to see, and I’m looking forward to seeing those boys continue that.”
Currently occupying second place in World Cup qualifying Group B, the Socceroos face Indonesia at Allianz Stadium on March 20 before taking on China in Hangzhou on March 25.
Popovic’s side will then play Japan in June at Perth’s Optus Stadium before rounding out what they hope will be a successful FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in Saudi Arabia on June 10.
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