Football West News

On a dramatic night at the WA Football Awards at Optus Stadium, Daryl Nicol became a back-to-back Men’s Gold Medal winner while there was a three-way tie in the race for the Women’s award.

Nicol, who took the medal while with ECU Joondalup in 2018, did it again now he is in Bayswater City colours.

Floreat Athena skipper Dean Evans finished top of the count with 28 votes but was ineligible after collecting a red card during the season. This meant Nicol was crowned Player of the Year with 26 votes, three ahead of Rockingham City’s James Harmer.

In the Women’s Gold Medal count, there was a tie between Northern Redbacks skipper Shawn Billam and Fremantle City duo Laura Waltman and Gemma Craine. All three finished on 16 votes, one more than Balcatta’s Liana Cook.

Gemma received the winner’s cheque for the Women’s Gold Medal on countback as she had the most amount of three votes.

Women’s Gold Medal winners Gemma Craine, Laura Waltman and Shawn Billam with Football West Chairman Sherif Andrawes

Inglewood United’s Chok Dau won the Dylan Tombides Young Player of the Year Award.

Angel Andres of Fremantle City was named State League Division One Player of the Year, while Richard Howles, whose goals helped fire Quinns to the title, claimed the Division Two Player of the Year award.

Perth SC’s Ramon Falzon was named Ron Tindall NPL WA Coach of the Year for the second successive year after his side retained their league title, while Conrad McKelvie of Women’s Premier League winners Northern Redbacks was named Women’s Coach of the Year.

Gwelup Croatia’s Taki Nicolaidis took the State League Division One Coach of the Year award after his side won the title and promotion to the NPL WA, while Quinns’ Ian Ferguson was named Division Two Coach of the Year.

Former WA Soccer Federation President and Secretary Julius Re, who has served football in Western Australia for the past seven decades, received the Football West Life Member Award.

Gwelup Croatia’s Ilija Mihalj was named David Schrandt Administrator and Volunteer of the Year, while the David Cantoni Disabilities in Football Player Achievement Award went to Emily Casella.

The winner of the Hyundai Community Football Raffle was Melanie Torrance, who bought her ticket through Sorrento FC. Thanks to Hyundai, Melanie receives a brand new Hyundai Santa Fe Active seven-seater, worth over $52,000.

– Football West acknowledges the Men’s Gold Medal winner received a cheque showing an incorrect prize money amount.

Football West apologises for the error and since 2017 has ensured that there is equal prize money for both the male and female player of the year.

In good faith, both the Men’s Gold Medal and Women’s Gold Medal winner will receive the equal prize money of $10,000.

Gender equality in football and the broader community is a key issue and Football West has been and will continue to focus on improving the opportunity and support for female footballers across WA.

Awards

Gold Medal Winners

Men’s Player of the Year: Daryl Nicol (Bayswater City)
Women’s Player of the Year: Shawn Billam (Northern Redbacks), Laura Waltman (Fremantle City) and Gemma Craine* (Fremantle City)

Dylan Tombides Young Player of the Year
Chok Dau (Inglewood United)

State League Players of the Year
Division One: Angel Andres (Fremantle City)
Division Two: Richard Howles (Quinns FC)

Coaches of the Year
NPL WA: Ramon Falzon (Perth SC)
Women’s Premier League: Conrad McKelvie (Northern Redbacks)
State League Division One: Taki Nicolaidis (Gwelup Croatia)
State League Division Two: Ian Ferguson (Quinns FC)

NPL WA Golden Boot
Michael Domfeh (Perth SC)

Women’s Premier League Golden Boot
Sarah Carroll (Northern Redbacks)

State League Division One Golden Boot
Ellis Healing (Gwelup Croatia)

State League Division Two Golden Boot
Richard Howles (Quinns FC)

NPL WA Goalkeeper of the Year
Jason Saldaris (Floreat Athena) and Alex Dunn (Inglewood United)

Women’s State Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year
Morgan Aquino (Northern Redbacks)

Football West Life Member Award
Julius Re

NPL WA U18 Player of the Year
Daniel Mackenzie (Bayswater City)

NPL WA U20 Player of the Year
Charlie Betts (Bayswater City)

David Schrandt Administrator and Volunteer of the Year
Ilija Mihalj (Gwelup Croatia)

David Cantoni Disabilities in Football Player Achievement Award
Emily Casella

All Flags Golden Whistle Referee of the Year
Matthew Southern

Assistant Referee of the Year
Harry Bolan

Encouragement Award
Christopher Johnstone

*Gemma Craine received the winner’s cheque for the Women’s Gold Medal on countback as she had the most three votes