A-League 2020: Golden Boot Jamie Maclaren desperate for title success with Melbourne City

Golden Boot winner Jamie Maclaren has the chance to bury the demons of a 2016 A-League semi-final meltdown.

Besart Berisha (left) congratulates Jamie Maclaren on his Golden Boot success. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

NO amount of goals or Golden Boots have been able to make up for an A-League semi-final capitulation that still haunts ace Melbourne City marksman Jamie Maclaren.

Despite basking in the glory of a 22-goal regular season haul that netted him a second Golden Boot, Maclaren on Thursday said he had some unfinished business to take care of with a City side just one win away from a grand final berth.

Next Wednesday’s semi-final will be the third time in Maclaren’s career he has reached that stage of an A-League season.

Twice during his time with Brisbane he made it to the last four, and it’s the Roar’s 2016 semi-final loss to Western Sydney Wanderers that still gives him nightmares.

Melbourne City marksman Jamie Maclaren is desperate for grand final success. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The Roar had one foot in the grand final when they led the Wanderers’ 3-0 after 23 minutes.

But what followed at Parramatta’s Pirtek Stadium still eats away at Maclaren, with the Wanderers staging a remarkable comeback to win 5-4 in extra-time and reach the following week’s grand final against Adelaide United.

“I remember after the game we were all just in disbelief,” Maclaren said.

“It was a crazy game. One you cannot explain.

“We probably thought we had the cigars out ready to go into a grand final against Adelaide.

“Western Sydney turned it around and at their stadium, they had the fans behind them and punished us.

“It still hurts me to this day.”

But the pain will ease if City win next Wednesday on the same site, the upgraded Bankwest Stadium, to qualify for the decider.

“We’ve got two games to go – that’s our mentality. If we don’t believe it then we’re not going to achieve it,” Maclaren said.

“I want to play in my first grand final and if there’s ever a time to do it, I believe it’s now.

“I’ve won some individual awards and they’ve been great, but I don’t think they’ll give me as much of a buzz as winning something (with the team).

“This game isn’t for individuals, unless your called Messi or Ronaldo ... we all want to achieve something great at this club.”

Maclaren said losing in the semi-final next week take some gloss off City achieving their highest ever points tally of 47 points.

“That’s something that will hold for the rest of our lives until someone beats that ... (but) there’s still one more box to be ticked,” he said.

“It’s a great group. The boys are so hungry to do something and I’m included in that.”