After being announced as a Liberty A-League Women player at Western United, Natasha Dakic has won the Calder United Best and Fairest at the club’s end of season awards night.
The 23-year-old was instrumental at centre-back, featuring on the team sheet in all 21 regular season matches this season as Calder won the Premier’s Plate.
Dakic led the back line to the best defensive record that the NPLW Victoria competition has seen, with just seven goals conceded across the 21 games. The No.14 also chipped in with a goal in a 1-1 draw at Bulleen Lions early in the campaign.
Playing in her first full season at Calder after joining right before the pandemic began in 2020, Dakic finally got the opportunity to showcase her talents, and did so with aplomb.
Dakic’s exploits were not the only ones recognised on the night, with Western United’s inaugural A-League Women signing Alana Cerne claiming the Coaches Award.
In her first season as a fully-fledged senior player, Cerne enjoyed a breakout campaign with five goals in 19 matches, all of which came from outside the box.
As well as her performances on the pitch, Cerne emerged as a key presence within the group in just her first full season among the senior team.
Calder United striker Raquel Deralas also took home an award, with her seven goals handing her the Golden Boot award.
Mark Torcaso’s side will enter the NPLW Victoria Finals this weekend, with a semi-final against FV Emerging on Saturday.
The side is out to complete back-to-back Premiership, Championship and NIKE F.C. Cup trebles after picking up all three honours in 2019, the last time a full Victorian football season was completed.
The semi-final will be held at the Veneto Club in Bulleen, with kick-off at 1:00pm AEST.
