Western United players, coaches and families gathered at Club Tarneit last night to celebrate another outstanding season for the Club’s Senior Academy teams.
The night capped off a year of history-making moments, highlighted by the Under 23 side clinching back-to-back league titles, the first team in WUFC Academy history to achieve the feat. The Seniors also had a strong season, finishing fourth in the VPL 1 Men competition.
Academy Director, Anthony Frost, praised the players and staff for continuing to raise the standard and showcase the strength of football in the west. He said, “As we reflect on the 2025 season, it fills me with pride to be able to say that this group of players and coaches continued to display the values of the Academy, strengthening our culture and delivering amazing on-field results.”
Seniors Head Coach Andreas Papanicolaou also addressed the room, thanking the players for the togetherness they had shown during the season and praising the Academy and Club’s Football Department for its connectivity and leadership.
For both teams, a Club Champion and a Players’ Player of the Season were awarded, with the former voted on by coaches and staff and the latter selected by the players themselves.
In the U23 awards, Deng Mayen claimed both the Club Champion and Players’ Player honours, capping off a title-winning year that also saw the young defender earn Senior VPL minutes and a place in the senior academy leadership group.
In his acceptance speech, Deng joyfully thanked the parents of all the players, saying “I especially want to say thank you to the parents. Supporting us all the time, helping us from the sideline, making sure that we stay locked in, it wouldn’t be possible without you.”
In the Seniors, Mark Leonard capped off a sensational season by taking out the Club Champion award after scoring 12 goals during the campaign. Leonard commended the playing group on their talent and wished them well as they take the next steps in their football careers.
Senior VPL Captain Jacob Nasso won the Players’ Player award, recognised by his teammates as a fantastic young leader who consistently demonstrated the behaviours that represent the Club’s values both on and off the pitch.
A big thank you goes to all the players, coaches and families who made the 2025 season a memorable one for the Academy. We’d also like to thank our great partner, Club Tarneit, for hosting the presentation night.
