It’s that time of year where the red carpet is unrolled, the medals are counted and players are recognised by their clubs for Hyundai A-League brilliance.
While Sydney FC have landed the major prize after their Hyundai A-League Grand Final win over Perth Glory, there are some other awards up for grabs across every team in the competition, recognising their best performers of 2018/19.
Who picked up individual honours at your club? Let’s find out.
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Sydney FC
Influential midfielder Brandon O’Neill was worthy recipient of Sydney FC’s Player of the Year award at the club’s Sky Blue Ball.
O’Neill scooped top honours after commanding Steve Corica’s side to a second-place finish and ultimate Grand Final victory over Perth Glory, in which the Western Australian netted a penalty.
English striker Adam Le Fondre capped off a glorious debut campaign Down Under by earning Golden Boot honours with his eighteen goals, while industrious fullback Rhyan Grant was named Member’s Player of the Year.
Finally, retiring skipper Alex Brosque became the tenth player inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.
Brosque led the Sky Blues’s most successful period in club history, in which they won two Hyundai A-League Premierships, two Hyundai A-League Championships and an FFA Cup in 2017.
Click HERE to see which Sydney FC players took out Westfield W-League honours
Melbourne Victory
Victory’s ‘Mr Fix-it’ Leigh Broxham capped another consistent campaign by taking out the club’s prestigious Victory Medal.
It’s the first time the 31-year-old has claimed Victory’s top prize in all his years at the club.
Despite not generating the same headlines as some of Victory’s biggest stars, Broxham is a key cog in their squad, playing at right-back, centre-back, left-back and central midfield throughout the 2018/19 Season.
On a big night for Broxham, he also claimed the Players’ Player of the Year award.
Attackers Kosta Barbarouses and Ola Toivonen were jointly awarded the TAC Victoria Golden Boot after scoring 15 goals each throughout the campaign.
Swedish hit-man Toivonen also secured the Goal of the Season for his sublime free-kick in the 2-1 win over Sydney FC on Australia Day.
Click HERE to see which Victory players took out Westfield W-League honours
Wellington Phoenix
A wonderful season for Phoenix’s star striker Roy Krishna has reached even greater heights after picking up three awards at the club’s end-of-season ceremony.
Krishna – who took out the Johnny Warren Medal as the Hyundai A-League’s best player earlier this month – was named Phoenix’s Players’ Player Of The Year, the Huawei Player Of The Year and the Golden Boot winner for his 18 goals.
Midfielder Alex Rufer picked up two awards, including the inaugural ‘Bandage Award’ for his tireless efforts and determination, while also getting his hands on the coveted Lloyd Morrison Award presented by Wellington Phoenix Chairman Rob Morrison.
David Williams was a popular winner of the Cloud Creator Goal of The Year, for his sublime effort against Newcastle Jets in Round 23.
The U-23 Player of the Year went to wing-back Liberato Cacace, who played more minutes and had more touches than any other Phoenix player this season.
GALLERY | 📸 Fantastic way to close out the 2018/19 @ALeague season with our Awards night on Wednesday night.
Thanks to @NZPhotomac for capturing all the moments on the night!
View the full album here 👉 https://t.co/pVOvWR6Em6#StandUpWithYourNix #CreateHistory #NixAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/UejTZhYo02
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) May 24, 2019
Adelaide United
The Reds skipper continued to lead from the front as Spanish midfielder Isaias took out the Aurelio Vidmar Club Champion Award for a third straight season.
The 32-year-old, who played every minute of every match in 2018/19, has now claimed the top prize a record four times since joining the club in 2013.
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On a special night for Isaias, he was also presented the Members’ Player of the Year award.
Other winners included young right-back Ryan Strain, who was named the Hyundai A-League Rising Star.
Craig Goodwin claimed the Golden Boot for his 10 goals during the regular season, while the 27-year-old’s stunning half-volley in the FFA Cup final win over Sydney FC was voted the Goal of the Year.
Click HERE to see which Reds players won Westfield W-League honours
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Perth Glory
El Maestro reigned supreme again in West Australia, as Perth Glory’s Spanish attacker Diego Castro was anointed Player of the Year, winning the ‘Most Glorious Player’ for the third time in four years.
Elsewhere, Neil Kilkenny picked up Members Player of the Year and Goal of the Year honours for his curling effort against Newcastle Jets in January.
Kilkenny’s midfield partner Juande was announced Player’s Player, and striker Andy Keogh clinched the Bobby Despotovski Golden Boot with 15 goals.
Click HERE to see which Glory players won Westfield W-League honours
Western Sydney Wanderers
In a roller-coaster season for the Wanderers, young midfielder Keanu Baccus was a model of consistency and became a key cog for coach Markus Babbel.
So, the 21-year-old deservedly took out the major prize at the club’s awards night, voted by his peers as the winner of the Wanderers Medal.
It capped a fantastic season for Baccus, who scored three goals in the Hyundai A-League and earned selection in Australia’s U-23 squad.
Playmaker Roly Bonevacica, who along with Oriol Riera revealed he would be leaving the club now the season is over, was voted as the Wanderers’ Members’ Player of the Year, while he also captured the Rod Allen: Media Player of the Year Award, voted on by media representatives.
For the second year running, Spanish striker Riera took out the Golden Boot Award, with 10 goals for the campaign.
Click HERE to see which Wanderers took out the Westfield W-League honours
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Newcastle Jets
Nikolai Topor-Stanley didn’t miss a minute of football across the Hyundai A-League, AFC Champions League and the FFA Cup for Newcastle Jets this season.
Fittingly, the defender’s incredible feat of durability was rewarded with Player of the Year and Ray Baartz Medal honours.
With that double swoop the 34-year-old became the first outfield player in club history to win Player of the Year twice, having previously won the prize in 2010/11.
Veteran goalkeeper Glen Moss picked up Members Player of the Year and Community Player of the Year awards, and Irish striker Roy O’Donovan claimed the Golden Boot with 11 goals.
Meanwhile, Dimitri Petratos’ thunderbolt against Melbourne Victory in Round 11 was voted Goal of the Year.
Click HERE to see which Jets took out the Westfield W-League honours
Melbourne City
He may be 37 but Eugene Galekovic showed no signs of dropping his level of performance for Warren Joyce’s side.
The excellent shot-stopper took out the coveted Player of the Year award, which was voted on by the club’s coaches.
Galekovic also took home the Clubman of the Year award, which recognises the player that has best embodied the spirit, character and values of the club on and off the field.
Belgian defender Ritchie De Laet earned the fans vote to clinch the Etihad Supporters’ Player of the Year, while he also collected the Golden Boot jointly with Riley McGree with seven goals apiece.
Playmaker Luke Brattan made a habit of scoring stunning goals so it was no surprise he received the Goal of the Season.
It was for his exquisite nutmeg of Nick Fitzgerald followed by a 35-metre rocket which flew into the top corner against Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 15.
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Brisbane Roar
You tend to shudder at the thought of how Brisbane Roar’s season may have panned out if it were not for the heroics of Jamie Young.
Unsurprisingly, the veteran goalkeeper scooped the club’s Player of the Year award – taking out the Gary Wilkins Medal for the second year running.
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Young, 33, was so often the saviour for the Queensland club, playing 24 matches in total for the Roar and producing some truly spectacular saves.
Rookie forward Dylan Wenzel-Halls crowned his step up from the NPL Queensland by winning Breakthrough Player of the Year, and Adam Taggart finished Golden Boot winner (11 goals) despite leaving for K-League outfit Suwon Bluewings in February.
Eric Bautheac was dubbed Player’s Player of the Year, while retiring legend Matt McKay became the third player inducted to the Brisbane Roar Hall of Fame, joining triple-Championship winners Michael Theo and Thomas Broich.
Click HERE to see which Brisbane players collected Westfield W-League honours
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Central Coast Mariners
There may have been few highlights in a Hyundai A-League season to forget for Mariners fans. However, those few bright sparks were celebrated at the Gosford club’s annual awards night with the main prizes swept up by Aidan O’Neill and Matt Millar.
O’Neill consistently featured across the Mariners midfield and backline, racking up 24 appearances, and the Burnley loanee collected the two main awards on the night.
The 20-year-old collected the 2019 Mariners Medal, awarded to Central Coast’s best player of the season, and also picked up the Player’s Player gong.
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Millar shined for the Mariners after coming straight out of the National Premier Leagues in 2018 and was recognised in three categories decided by supporters.
The 22-year-old won three fan awards – the McDonald’s Fans’ Player of the Year, the Central Coast Mariners Official Supporters Club Player of the Year and the Men of Football Damien Brown Medal.
After signing from South Melbourne in 2018, Millar’s stay in Gosford will be a short one. The former Melbourne City player will be turning out for F3 derby rivals the Newcastle Jets in 2019/20.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6011937950001
Jack Clisby’s strike against Wellington Phoenix in Round 21 was deemed the goal strike of the season, while Matt Simon took home the Golden Boot after firing seven goals in 2018/19.
Jordan Murray was rewarded for his impressive debut Hyundai A-League season by being presented as the Yellow & Navy Newcomer of the Year, and Josh Nisbet won the club’s Foxtel Y-League Player of the Year award.
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