Melbourne City forward Holly McNamara and Central Coast Mariners defender Jacob Farrell have been chosen as the first monthly nominations for the Liberty A-League and Isuzu UTE A-League Young Player of the Year awards.
Farrell is the November/December nominee for the men’s award, whilst McNamara claims the December nomination for the women’s award.
McNamara began December with a bang, curling home a winning goal for City against Canberra United in Round 1 of the Liberty A-League season.
She went on to record a league-high of three assists – a record she shared with Sydney FC’s Remy Siemsen before Mackenzie Hawkesby took sole ownership of top spot on the leaderboard. The 18-year-old has created nine scoring chances and led her team in take-ons (18) after her four December appearances in the 2021/22 season.
Farrell, meanwhile, kicked off his season in similar fashion to McNamara, getting on the scoresheet in a win for his Central Coast Mariners side in Round 1 of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
The 19-year-old left-back scored on his senior debut for the club, and is another shining light produced through the Mariners esteemed academy.
Watch: Farrell and Montgomery on the local’s great start to the season.
“We’re really happy for him,” said Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery. “And for us as a club, to bring an academy player through that’s getting that recognition is superb.
“It’s Faz, he’ll just carry on being the same, he doesn’t really take much on his shoulders.
“He just loves coming in every day and training and playing games.”
The respective Young Player of the Year awards will be chosen from the monthly nominees by two panels of experts as follows:
Isuzu UTE A-League
- Media: Georgia Yeoman-Dale & Simon Hill
- Tech: Alex Brosque & Trevor Morgan/Leo Bertos
Liberty A-League
- Media: Grace Gill & Teo Pellizzeri
- Tech: Leah Blayney & Rae Dower
