Western United will crown its Player of the Season at the inaugural WUFC Gala Awards Night on Wednesday, along with a host of other awards to celebrate this incredible 2021/22 season.
The Green and Black family will celebrate the Champions at the Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds, with the players and coaches in attendance and the trophy on show.
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Western United won its first piece of silverware in Saturday night’s Grand Final, and the Club will celebrate the season that was with the whole Green and Black family in attendance.
The most coveted prize on offer will be the Player of the Season medal with a number of Western United’s star players in the running to win, as well as Young Player of the Season and some further awards voted for by the fans.
Western United Player of the Season contenders
It will be almost impossible to split a host of top names in the Western United squad when it comes to counting up the votes for the Player of the Season medal, presented by Simonds Homes.
Players both new and existing made a huge impact on the side and on its fortunes on the pitch throughout the season.
Leo Lacroix was immense at the back and earned PFA Team of the Season selection alongside Jamie Young, Ben Garuccio and Neil Kilkenny, all of whom will be challenging at the top of the leaderboard.
Connor Pain and Lachie Wales also had top seasons along with Steven Lustica and Aleksandar Prijovic, making for an incredibly close call for the winner.
All of these players and more will also be in contention for the Forever West Fans’ Player of the Season award, presented by Wyndham City, which was put to the supporters to vote earlier in May.
Western United Young Player of the Season contenders
As much as the experienced players led the team for most of the season, John Aloisi saw major contributions from his young players and the Young Player of the Season award, presented by Victoria University Polytechnic, will also be hotly contested.
Dylan Pierias, Jerry Skotadis, Adisu Bayew and Nicolas Milanovic made 69 appearances between them in the A-League Men, while Ben Collins, Noah Botic and Rhys Bozinovski – who came off the bench in the Grand Final – all made their A-League Men debuts.
Milanovic and Bayew scored their first Western United goals and became the Club’s youngest and second youngest ever goal scorers respectively in a big year for the Club’s academy, with the pathway to the first team becoming increasingly clear.
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Among the other awards presented will be the Fan’s Goal of the Season Award – with Ben Garuccio perhaps a slight favourite to win that one – presented by Werribee & Western Automotive Group and the Club Person of the Season, presented by Foodbank Victoria.
Tickets are priced at $250 per individual or $2000 for a full table of 10, inclusive of a three-course meal, entertainment and the chance to rub shoulders with the Green and Black greats.
Full list of awards on offer at the WUFC Gala Awards Night
- Player of the Season presented by Simonds Homes
- Young Player of the Season presented by Victoria University Polytechnic
- Forever West Award – Fan’s Player of the Season presented by Wyndham City
- Club Person of the Season – Presented by Foodbank Victoria
- Emerald Goal Award – Fans’ Goal of the Season – presented by Werribee & Western Automotive Group
- Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution (Staff) – presented by Tasman Logistics
- Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution (Player) – presented by Tasman Logistics
- Volunteer of the Season – Presented by Happsa Group
- Golden Boot Award – Presented by Kappa
