We’re 11 rounds into the 2023-24 Liberty A-League season – and for the first time in the competition’s history, the 11-game mark is merely the halfway point of the campaign.
An extended, full home-and-away schedule means that, barring two postponed fixtures, eight of 12 clubs have played 11 games at the midway point of the season.
In recognition of the halfway milestone, the panel of guests on the latest episode of Dub Zone picked their Player and Coach of the Year so far.
Host Niav Owens was joined by Teo Pellizzeri and former Matildas Cath Cannuli and Alicia Ferguson, with the three guests offering Owens some surprising suggestions for who they predict may end the season collecting both the Julie Dolan Medal, and the Coach of the Year Award.
GET YOUR TICKETS TO UNITE ROUND HERE!
Julie Dolan Medal
Cath Cannuli’s pick: Vesna Milivojevic
Cannuli selects joint-Golden Boot leader Vesna Milivojevic as her mid-season pick for the Julie Dolan Medal. The Canberra United star has bagged eight goals and provided two assists in 10 games to date, as the best player by some margin for last-placed Canberra.
“I just love how she’s so unpredictable when she gets on the ball,” Cannuli said. “The ability to be able to score goals, to be able to set up goals. You can see she’s just a real winner, she wants to win games and it’s unfortunate Canberra are sitting where they are sitting (on the table) at the moment.
“Specifically, the way she runs at players, the way she takes on players one-on-one, you can see every time Canberra build up from the back, whenever they are going forward, they’re looking to find Vesna’s feet, or trying to play through her.
“I think she’s a fantastic talent.”
Alicia Ferguson’s pick: Mariana Speckmaier
Alicia Ferguson selects Wellington’s Venezuelan striker Mariana Speckmaier as her Julie Dolan Medal favourite at the midway point of the Liberty A-League season.
Speckmaier has three goals and two assists in 10 appearances for the ‘Nix this season.
“Mariana Speckmaier has really impressed me,” Ferguson said.
“Similar to what (Cannuli) was saying (about Milivojevic), it’s that positivity, always wanting to get the ball, face forward, take players on. She’s always on the shoulder of the opposition looking for those balls in behind.
“She’s a really adaptable player and has so many great attacking skills. I think she’s been wonderful for the ‘Nix this season… loves a niggle, too, which is one of my favourite things about her! I’ve been really impressed with her.”
Teo Pellizzeri’s pick: Wurigumula
Teo Pellizzeri selects Central Coast Mariners striker Wurigumula as the Julie Dolan Medal favourite after Round 11 – but concedes the Chinese international is facing an uphill battle to feature strongly in the running due to Mariners’ lowly position on the table.
Wurigumula has three goals and two assists in seven appearances for the Mariners this season.
“I’m going a little bit outside the square,” Pellizzeri said. “In terms of contribution to good team results, wins and draws, I think Wurigumula from the Mariners is my pick here. When the Mariners do well, it is generally off the back of Wurigumula doing well.
“We’ve seen her quality, the only caveat is a Dolan Medallist has come from the sixth-placed team once – that was Sam Kerr – from the fifth-placed team once – that was Emily van Egmond. Every other Dolan Medallist has come from a team in the top four.
“So you generally do have to be on a team that wins. Mariners are ninth (but) I’m still liking Wurigumula as my smokey pick.”
Coach of the Year
Cath Cannuli and Alicia Ferguson’s pick: Paul Temple
Both Cannuli and Ferguson pick Wellington’s Paul Temple as the Coach of the Year 11 rounds into the season.
Temple won the October/November Coach of the Month award, and his Phoenix side currently sit fourth after 11 rounds with 16 points on the board, earned via five wins and one draw.
“I’ve loved his recruitment, I love the way he’s set up the team,” said Cannuli. “It’s going to be a big challenge for him now coming into the second half of the season.”
“I agree, I think he’s been really impressive,” added Ferguson.
“Whether you fit a system to the players or players to the system, and I think he’s got that nice balance of that.
“(He’s) probably a bit frustrated with recent results but as far as what they’ve brought to this season, I think he’s been excellent.”
Teo Pellizzeri’s pick: Robbie Hooker
Robbie Hooker was appointed as Western Sydney Wanderers head coach just 10 days before the start of the 2023-24 Liberty A-League season, replacing Kat Smith who has since gone on to take the head coach role at Western United.
But after a tough start to the season, with three defeats and one draw coming in their first four games, Hooker has turned it all around for the Wanderers, winning four of six games and losing just once.
Pellizzeri believes the pre-season doubts about Hooker’s appointment have made his subsequent success all the more impressive.
“A half-season is a long time, and think about the level of pessimism around the Wanderers heading into Round 1,” Pellizzeri said.
“The reason I think Robbie Hooker is Coach of the Season to this point is he took a team for which the expectations were low externally – particularly among Wanderers’ own fanbase, that’s probably been the primary group he’s had to win over first, never mind the results he’s got.
“He’s playing to his team’s strengths, I’m so impressed with Robbie Hooker and what he’s done with Western Sydney.”
