The nominees are in for February’s Fan Player of the Month award in the Liberty A-League!
Throughout the 2023-24 Liberty A-League season, 10 players will be selected every month on a shortlist for you, the fans, to select from in voting for Player of the Month.
The season kicked off with a conjoined October/November voting process, with Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Rylee Foster earning the honours. Foster continued her stellar start to the season by collecting consecutive Fan Player of the Month awards with the December nod.
The goalkeeper dominance continued in January as Western United custodian Hillary Beall was named January Player of the Month before her return to parent club San Diego Wave.
The 10 nominees are selected via the Opta Index, with the 10 highest-scoring players in the index nominated each month.
You can cast your vote via the A-Leagues social media channels.
Here are the nominees for February…
10th – Sasha Grove (Canberra United)
February form
- Opta index: 72.0
- Position: DEF
- Appearances: 2
- Goals against: 3
- Shots: 2
9th – Izzy Nino (Newcastle Jets)
February form
- Opta index: 72.3
- Position: GKP
- Appearances: 3
- Clean sheets: 1
- Saves: 16
- Goals conceded: 4
8th – Kyah Simon (Central Coast Mariners)
February form
- Opta index: 73.1
- Position: FWD
- Appearances: 3
- Goals: 1
7th – Courtney Newbon (Melbourne Victory)
February form
- Opta index: 73.4
- Position: GKP
- Appearances: 3
- Clean sheets: 1
- Saves: 10
- Goals conceded: 2
6th – Melissa Barbieri (Melbourne City)
February form
- Opta index: 75.9
- Position: GKP
- Appearances: 3
- Clean sheets: 1
- Saves: 13
- Goals conceded: 4
5th – Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC)
February form
- Opta index: 76.0
- Position: FWD
- Appearances: 2
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 1
4th – Nickoletta Flannery (Canberra United)
February form
- Opta index: 76.4
- Position: FWD
- Appearances: 2
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 2
3rd – Michelle Heyman (Canberra United)
February form
- Opta index: 85.3
- Position: FWD
- Appearances: 2
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 2
2nd – Sarina Bolden (Newcastle Jets)
February form
- Opta index: 85.6
- Position: FWD
- Appearances: 3
- Goals: 4
1st – Emily Gielnik (Melbourne Victory)
February form
- Opta index: 87.7
- Position: FWD
- Appearances: 3
- Goals: 3
What is the Opta Index?
The Opta Index is based on totals in a variety of statistics for each player. The index score uses subcomponents (such as shooting, passing, defending), corresponding to different qualitative aspects of a player’s performance.
These component scores are combined to create an overall rating for each player. The formula that works out the overall match rating have been developed by Opta’s own team of data scientists in conjunction with our award-winning Data Editorial team.
A Player is ineligible to win the Fan Player of the Month if, in accordance with the A-League Women Disciplinary Regulations, they receive a Direct Red Card in a Match, or otherwise suspended as a result of a determination of a body under the A- League Women Disciplinary Regulations during the Regular Season for any one of the following offences;
- Serious Foul Play
- Violent Conduct
- Biting or spitting at any person
- any other disciplinary related offence as determined by the APL
- Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
