Western United midfield star Jordan Lauton took out the Isuzu UTE Goal of the Year at the Dolan Warren Awards on Monday night.
Lauton received the honour for his sensational bicycle kick against Perth Glory in January.
It was the perfect way to start off the new year for Western United, capping off one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent years in the A-Leagues.
WATCH: Jordan Lauton’s incredible reaction after scoring the ‘goal of a lifetime’
Tate Russell’s equaliser at the beginning of stoppage time was exciting enough, but Lauton took centre stage just minutes later.
In just his sixth professional appearance at the time, Lauton ghosted into the box as Angus Thurgate’s cross arced his way in the dying seconds.
According to the man himself, he simply closed his eyes and thumped his boot through the ball before watching it flash beyond Oli Sail and into the net.
Only adding to the legend of the goal, Lauton removed his shirt in celebration and received his first professional red card just seconds after scoring his first goal, one that he will never forget.
“It’s a bit surreal. Everyone wants to score that goal, so to score it is just mental,” Lauton said.
“Hearing that I won it, I can’t even put it into words. It’s just unreal.”
Angus Thurgate places second in Johnny Warren Medal
Emerging as one of the best midfielders and best players in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men this season, Thurgate was ever so close to claiming the competition’s top honour.
After winning the Western United Player of the Season and Fans’ Player of the Season awards last week, the 25-year-old finished just shy of Nicolas Milanovic in the Johnny Warren Medal count.
United’s No.32 played in every game bar one, scoring two goals and laying five assists while leading the team with his energy and class in the middle of the pitch.
Western United stars feature in nominations across the awards
A number of other Western United heroes were in the running for awards on the night, including John Aloisi who was a finalist for the Isuzu UTE A-League Coach of the Year.
The boss engineered an outstanding season with the Green and Black, shattering the record books with the Club’s most ever wins, points and goals scored in a single season.
A 21-point swing from last season was by far the biggest across the league as United rocketed from 11th place into third, booking a return to the finals and setting up a thrilling future with young talents dominating across the year.
In the Ninja A-League Women, Western United Player of the Season winner Catherine Zimmerman was in the final three for the Goal of the Year award.
The American scored a long-range screamer against Canberra United in March, the best of her five goals across season 2024/25.
Western United star Grace Maher featured prominently in the Julie Dolan Medal count across the season, as did Kahli Johnson before her landmark transfer to Calgary Wild FC.
