A-Leagues star Alex Paulsen and CommBank Matildas favourite Mary Fowler have been named 2024 Austraffic PFA Young Footballers of the Year following stellar seasons.
As voted by their peers, the pair were considered by PFA members as the outstanding performers among a strong shortlist of candidates, which included a list of A-Leagues products – the likes Kyra Cooney-Cross, Charlotte Grant, Kaitlyn Torpey, Nestory Irankuda, Jordan Bos and Alessandro Circati.
The player-voted PFA Young Men’s Footballer of the Year and PFA Young Women’s Football of the Year consider the performances of professionals playing in the A-Leagues, as well as Australian players based overseas between June 2023 and June 2024, who are under the age of 23 at the time.
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Paulsen is third New Zealander to win the PFA Young Men’s Football of the Year after a breakout season with Wellington Phoenix in the Isuzu UTE A-League, which saw the talented goalkeeper earn a life-changing transfer to Premier League side Bournemouth.
The 22-year-old, who is now on loan at incoming A-Leagues side Auckland FC, helped the Phoenix enjoyed an historic campaign and a memorable run to the 2023-24 Semi-Finals.
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The 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League Goalkeeper of the Year among other honours, Paulsen joins Marco Rojas and Liberato Cacace as the only Kiwis to win the Harry Kewell Medal.
Paulsen is also the third keeper to be awarded the honour, following in the footsteps of A-Leagues products Mat Ryan (2012, 2014, 2015) and Mitch Langerak (2010), and the first since 2015.
“I’m proud to receive such a prestigious award,” Paulsen said. “Only two Kiwis have won this award (previously) so to be up in that bracket is amazing and I’m really proud of receiving such an accolade.
“It means more to be voted by my peers and my teammates. I feel very honoured to receive this award.
“Twelve months ago, I wasn’t really – with regards to Wellington Phoenix – in the picture to be considered the No.1, and to be given an opportunity by ‘Chiefy’ (Italiano) to be involved with the Wellington Phoenix and to be the No.1 was fantastic.”
As for A-Leagues graduate and Manchester City star Fowler, it is the second time she has been named the PFA Young Women’s Footballer of the Year.
The Australia international and former Adelaide United attacker – who also reigned supreme in 2022 – scored four goals and supplied six assists as City finished second behind Sam Kerr’s Chelsea on goal difference in the Women’s Super League (WSL) last season.
Fowler also played a key role in the CommBank Matildas’ memorable 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil, as well as the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The 21-year-old joins Melbourne Victory’s Alex Chidiac (2017, 2018) and A-Leagues great Ellie Carpenter (2020, 2021) as players who have won the award twice.
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“It means a lot to me,” Fowler said. “I think it’s one of the best awards I can receive because getting something from the players I play alongside, and play against, it means a lot to me to see that they think I’m doing well and give me that kind of recognition.
“I just feel super grateful for that.”
