‘Special’ tribute to A-League legend
A-League great and Socceroos marksman Jamie Maclaren’s “inner beast” is set to explode for a Melbourne City side keen to make amends for the disappointment of losing last season’s grand final.
In a timely tribute ahead of City’s semi-final battle with Sydney FC, a mural of Maclaren – who last month passed Besart Berisha to become the leading A-League goalscorer of all time – was unveiled on Tuesday near AAMI Park at Richmond Station. “When I came around the corner and saw it, it was something amazing – I’ve still got goosebumps,” said Maclaren, 29, who has scored 144 goals in 202 A-League appearances.
“It has ben a dream of mine to become great in this league. “I’ve still got a lot of improving to do, but being the top goalscorer of all time now is a special moment and one that I don’t continue on stopping any time soon.”
And particularly not during the A-League finals series in which City is seeking redemption after losing season’s decider 2-0 to Victorian rival Western United.
“We were the best team throughout the year but we lost the grand final,” Maclaren said. “We want to right that wrong. It’s almost as if the season form goes out the window, and it’s who turns up on the night. I’m ready for the finals now … the inner beast is coming out. I want to try to win another trophy for this football club because they’ve been great to me.”
City, which won the premiership for a third successive season, travels to Sydney to meet the Sky Blues in their first leg of their semi-final on Friday night at Allianz Stadium.
“Sydney’s a well-coached teamMaclaren said. “They’ve got another deadly striker in ‘Alfie’ (Adam Le Fondre), and they’ve been around the block a lot of times in finals series.
“I know I’ll get chances, and I know that probably Alfie will get chances, and it’s down to which strikers take their chances. I don’t think there’s anyone as deadly as me inside the box.”
Maclaren’s mural was designed and painted by Hannah Wilkinson, a striker from the Melbourne City women’s team. “I’m stoked to get this opportunity to design this mural for ‘Macca’,” she said.