The second batch of votes are in for the Liberty Next Gen Tracker, keeping tabs on the ones to watch aged 21 or under!
The award is voted on every month by the Dub Zone panel in the Liberty A-League and the Official Isuzu UTE A-League podcast in the Isuzu UTE A-League, with five players aged under 21 at the start of the season earning votes for their performance, with five given to the top-voted rising star, down to one vote for the fifth-ranked player, thanks to Liberty.
Watch above as the Dub Zone panel hosted by Niav Owens and featuring former Matildas Alicia Ferguson and Catherine Cannuli unpack the five selections from the Liberty A-League for this month – with Canberra United star Vesna Milivojevic leading the way after eight rounds.
5 votes: Vesna Milivojevic (Canberra United)
Canberra United star Vesna Milivojevic’s brilliant season continued in the second month of the season.
The Serbian international polled five votes after taking her tally to eight goals for the season, leading all comers atop the Liberty A-League Golden Boot charts. During this run, Milivojevic scored a hat-trick against Brisbane Roar and a brace in their 4-3 defeat to Newcastle Jets.
Milivojevic, however, went down hurt against Brisbane with a knee injury, but any fears of a dreaded anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury were quashed after scans revealed she had sustained bone bruising from a hyperextension.
“She’s been unbelievable,” Cannuli said.
“Canberra United without Vesna would be a different team this season. I think she’s grown as a person, as a player.
“We signed her at the Wanderers from a young age. She’s just got such a technical ability, her creativity, she’s unpredictable when she gets on onto the ball.
“She went away at a young age, she moved to Serbia. She wanted more opportunity. She was playing Champions League football. She debuted for the Serbian national team as well.
“Now she’s come back to Australia, she missed her family through that covid period, but she has been carrying Canberra United. She’s been fantastic.”
4 votes: Cushla Rue (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Western Sydney Wanderers’ bright run of form has come off the back of the form of their fleet-footed attack, headed up by Sophie Harding and her partner in crime Cushla Rue.
The Wanderers forward put together yet another brilliant month, scoring once in their win over Western United and tallying assists against Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners.
“Cushla Rue has been excellent, I think. On that Wanderers team who are now looking at being on the front foot, playing with a lot of pace going forward,” Ferguson said.
“She’s dynamic. She’s powerful and she is constantly looking for Sophie Harding as well. She’s been really impressive.”
3 votes: Alana Murphy (Melbourne Victory)
Alana Murphy continues to go from strength to strength this season.
The Melbourne Victory midfielder polled for the first time this year after an impressive month, where she took her assist tally to three for the season.
Murphy was particularly impressive in the 2-0 win over Canberra United last weekend, teeing up Kurea Okino for her sealer in the second-half.
2 votes: Daniela Galic (Melbourne City)
Daniela Galic is off the mark this season after a solid run of form.
The 17-year-old scored in Melbourne City’s wins over Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC, along with tallying an assist in their trip to the Hunter.
Galic went on international duty with the Young Matildas, meaning she started on the bench against Perth Glory after just returning from China in the days leading up, before playing less than an hour in their draw with Central Coast Mariners.
1 vote: Alexia Apostolakis (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Western Sydney Wanderers’ Alexia Apostolakis has had a very solid start to the season.
Apostolakis was a key member of the Wanderers defence that kept a clean sheet in their win over Western United, before missing their clash with Central Coast Mariners as a result of Young Matildas duty – where she scored in the second of two games against China.
The defender returned off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar.
Liberty Next Gen tracker: Season tally
1st: Vesna Milivojevic (Canberra United) – 9 votes
2nd: Holly McNamara (Melbourne City) – 5 votes
3rd: Cushla Rue (Western Sydney Wanderers) – 4 votes
4th (equal): Alana Murphy (Melbourne Victory) – 3 votes
4th (equal): Macey Fraser (Wellington Phoenix) – 3 votes
