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Novocastrian fans have yearned for the prodigal son to
return to the club for several seasons given the Jets have lacked an out and
out goal scorer since his departure.
Enter Adam Taggart.
He might not have reached the lofty heights of Griffiths (or lows when Griffiths sack whacked a linesman) but he’s well on the way.
The 20 year-old former Perth Glory striker bagged his first ever hat-trick in the A-League and became only the third Jets player to do so in the competition’s history.
And they were quality finishes too.
His first goal was a spectacular volley after the ball sat up nicely on the edge of the area and he smashed it home. The second and third were pure class, slotting into opposite corners of Andrew Redmayne’s goal leaving the Heart custodian with no chance.
It’s strange what confidence can do for a player.
The Jets shot blanks in the opening three rounds and people were asking where the goals were going to come from.
With Emile Heskey slowly returning from injury, Adam Taggart stepped up.
The youngster is the competitions leading goal scorer with six goals in seven matches and has scored five goals in his past two matches.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond was quick to praise the impact of his strike weapon crediting hard work as key to his prolific form.
“Yeah I’m really pleased for him he’s worked very hard physically in the off season and he’s always been one to look to score goals in youth competitions,” he said.
“To make that transition from a promising youth player to a senior player is not always so easy especially for strikers and today he really took his chances well.
“What was so pleasing was they weren’t just easy goals, he’s getting more types of finishes, we saw last week with his left foot, he’s getting goals from outside the box now.
“He’s very good within the box with one touch finishing, he’s got a few other areas to keep on improving but nice to see him developing.”
Van Egmond revealed a chat with Taggart about the role Griffiths’ used to play for the Jets has seen the striker improve his form in recent weeks.
“I had a good chat to him after the Wellington game and I said to him do yourself a favour youtube the 2007/08 season and have a look a Joel, how he moved and what he did and his work ethic off the ball,” he said.
“He really has responded to being able to visualize and see what Joel did, they’re very similar players in certain ways but Taggs is his own man.”
Joel who?
Enter Adam Taggart.
 |
| Credit: Chris Beavon |
He might not have reached the lofty heights of Griffiths (or lows when Griffiths sack whacked a linesman) but he’s well on the way.
The 20 year-old former Perth Glory striker bagged his first ever hat-trick in the A-League and became only the third Jets player to do so in the competition’s history.
And they were quality finishes too.
His first goal was a spectacular volley after the ball sat up nicely on the edge of the area and he smashed it home. The second and third were pure class, slotting into opposite corners of Andrew Redmayne’s goal leaving the Heart custodian with no chance.
It’s strange what confidence can do for a player.
The Jets shot blanks in the opening three rounds and people were asking where the goals were going to come from.
With Emile Heskey slowly returning from injury, Adam Taggart stepped up.
The youngster is the competitions leading goal scorer with six goals in seven matches and has scored five goals in his past two matches.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond was quick to praise the impact of his strike weapon crediting hard work as key to his prolific form.
“Yeah I’m really pleased for him he’s worked very hard physically in the off season and he’s always been one to look to score goals in youth competitions,” he said.
“To make that transition from a promising youth player to a senior player is not always so easy especially for strikers and today he really took his chances well.
“What was so pleasing was they weren’t just easy goals, he’s getting more types of finishes, we saw last week with his left foot, he’s getting goals from outside the box now.
“He’s very good within the box with one touch finishing, he’s got a few other areas to keep on improving but nice to see him developing.”
Van Egmond revealed a chat with Taggart about the role Griffiths’ used to play for the Jets has seen the striker improve his form in recent weeks.
“I had a good chat to him after the Wellington game and I said to him do yourself a favour youtube the 2007/08 season and have a look a Joel, how he moved and what he did and his work ethic off the ball,” he said.
“He really has responded to being able to visualize and see what Joel did, they’re very similar players in certain ways but Taggs is his own man.”
Joel who?