Western United has celebrated another outstanding season for its Senior Academy teams and recognised the standout performers at the end-of-season presentation night.
United’s Under 23’s side clinched the Club’s first ever Academy league title, while the Senior’s ended as the VPL 1 Men top scorers and fell agonisingly short of promotion after an incredible campaign.
For both teams, a Club Champion and a Players’ Player of the Season – the former being voted on by coaches and staff, and the latter selected amongst the players’ peers.
Western United Senior Academy award winners
Senior’s
After superb campaigns, Jordan Lauton took out the Club Champion award and Abel Walatee won the Players’ Player of the Season for the Senior’s.
Lauton also finished runner-up in the Players’ Player award with James York in third, while Dylan Leonard and Walatee rounded out the top three in the Club Champion standings.
Lauton led the side as captain this season and was at his energetic best in midfield. The Ballarat local’s form earned him an Isuzu UTE A-League debut in February followed by a first senior contract in July.
The young midfielder will add this award to his mantlepiece alongside double honours in 2022, when he won the Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season.
Walatee was electric from start to finish, ending the season with 11 goals and three assists after a dominant campaign.
The young winger made a habit of scoring the spectacular amongst his haul and also caught the eye of John Aloisi in the first team, playing three games and scoring a goal last season before securing his first professional deal in May.
Under 23’s
In the Under 23’s, Harry Casci emerged as a standout in midfield and was voted by the coaches and staff as the Club Champion winner, just ahead of Alex Nassiep in second while Joeys star Anthony Didulica finished third.
Scoring four goals and laying on five assists from usually a deeper midfield position, the youngster also featured seven times for the Senior’s and became a key player in Ferreira’s side in the final weeks of the season.
Hasani Lumu was voted the Under 23’s Players’ Player of the Season after as electric a season as Walatee had in the senior side. Oscar Tanic finished second, while Aboudi Omer ranked third.
Immediately recognisable with explosive pace and direct attacking play, Lumu produced absurd numbers for the Under 23’s with 13 goals and nine assists in 19 matches.
That talent also saw the young attacker earn senior opportunities as he featured in six matchday squads over the course of the season.
Each of Western United’s Under 23’s players were also presented with a Premiers medal, trophy and pennant in recognition of their title-winning campaign.
Closing out a remarkable 2024 campaign – just Western United’s third full Senior Academy season – there is plenty more to come from the youth ranks in Green and Black.
