FFV GOLD MEDAL NIGHT 2014

skjadun
Oct 3, 2014
8 min read

LUJIC, SEAVILL AND ELIADIS CLAIM TOP PLAYER AWARDS AT FFV GOLD MEDAL NIGHT 2014

Milos Lujic and Tiffany Eliadis have won the PS4 National Premier Leagues (NPL) Gold Medal and Sportsmart Women's Premier League (WPL) Gold Medal awards respectively, while Dandenong City's Sean Seavill was crowned the NPL 1 Best and Fairest at the FFV Gold Medal Night 2014 awards ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel tonight.

South Melbourne striker Lujic took all before him, also claiming the PS4 NPL Players' Player of the Year and PS4 NPL Golden Boot awards to add to his championship title this season, while his coach Chris Taylor was voted coach of the year by his peers.

Eliadis, 18, becomes the first player in the history of Victorian women's top-flight football to win back-to-back Gold Medals and Golden Boots, scoring 24 goals for South Melbourne Women's FC to also earn another contract with Melbourne Victory.

Football Federation Victoria wishes to congratulate all award winners listed below from Victorian football's night of nights.

PS4 NPL

PS4 NPL Gold Medal – Milos Lujic (South Melbourne) Voted by referees

Milos Lujic becomes South Melbourne’s second player to win the Gold Medal after Fernando De Moraes took out top honours in 2010.

After switching to South Melbourne from Northcote City this year, the 24-year-old scored 22 goals from 26 games, including a hat-trick against Green Gully in Round 3.

His consistent and damaging performances played an integral part in South Melbourne achieving championship glory.

This is the first time Lujic has won the Gold Medal, adding to a highly decorated CV which also includes two Victorian championships, two Golden Boot awards and a Players' Player of the Year award.

PS4 NPL Gold Medal leaderboard:

25 – Daniel Heffernan (Heidelberg United)* 24 – Milos Lujic (South Melbourne) 23 – Goran Zoric (Oakleigh Cannons) 18 – Jake Nakic (Pascoe Vale) 17 – Matthew Millar (Dandenong Thunder), Wayne Wallace (Bentleigh Greens), Iqbal Jawadi (South Melbourne) 16 – Nick Hegarty (Hume City), Benjamin Clarke (Goulburn Valley Suns)* 15 – Stipo Andrijasevic (Melbourne Knights)

*ineligible due to suspension

PS4 NPL Players’ Player of the Year – Milos Lujic (South Melbourne) Voted by NPL players

PS4 NPL Golden Boot – Milos Lujic (South Melbourne)

Lujic scored 22 goals in 26 games to finish four ahead of Heidelberg United’s Daniel Heffernan.

PS4 NPL Coach of the Year – Chris Taylor (South Melbourne) Voted by NPL coaches

This is the third time Chris Taylor has won been crowned the Coach of the Year, after winning the award with Melbourne Knights in 2008 and with Dandenong Thunder in 2012. The Englishman secured his second Victorian championship this year with one of the youngest squads in the NPL, guiding South Melbourne to its longest ever winning streak when it won its first 11 matches on the way to the NPL title.

PS4 NPL Rising Star – Matthew Millar (Dandenong Thunder) U20 player to receive most votes from referees

Matthew Millar made the switch from defence to midfield for Dandenong Thunder this season, cementing a spot in the starting 11 at the tender age of 18. He showed maturity way beyond his years, winning games off his own boot against Green Gully and Goulburn Valley to finish with seven goals. Millar finished with 17 votes in the NPL Gold Medal count.

PS4 NPL Goalkeeper of the Year – Chris Oldfield (Hume City) Voted by NPL coaches Chris Oldfield capped off a fine season for Hume City with some outstanding performances to see out the campaign. The 23-year-old has been praised highly by his coach Lou Acevski and is part of the reason Hume City managed to finish sixth in the NPL this season. His displays against Heidelberg United and Bentleigh Greens in particular drew lavish praise from opposition coaches. PS4 NPL 1 PS4 NPL 1 Best and Fairest – Sean Seavill (Dandenong City) Voted by referees

Sean Seavill arrived at Dandenong City fresh from a stint in Manly in the New South Wales Premier League, and settled in instantly. Born in Bristol, England, Seavill is equipped with fine vision, nifty dribbling skills and an excellent passing range, which made him stand out among his peers. He drove the midfield for his side throughout the season, scoring three goals in the process.

PS4 NPL 1 Best and Fairest leaderboard:

27 – Matteo Ballan (FC Bulleen Lions)* 26 – Sean Seavill (Dandenong City) 23 – Joseph Katebian (FC Bulleen Lions)*, Vito Cichello (North Geelong Warriors)* 20 – Kenjok Athiu (Box Hill United) 19 – Nicholas Symeoy (Moreland Zebras), Michele Crazia (Avondale Heights), Takanori Nishimoto (FC Bulleen Lions), Tom Cahill (Richmond)* 17 – Matthew Breeze (FC Bendigo)*

*ineligible due to suspension

PS4 NPL Players’ Player of the Year – Tom Cahill (Richmond) Voted by NPL 1 players

Tom Cahill played a starring role in Richmond’s fourth-placed finish, scoring 26 goals in his third season with the club, with the highlight a four-goal haul against Bulleen in Richmond’s 5-2 win. The 28-year-old was a consistent performer in the 2012 and 2013 Victorian Premier League seasons, carrying his strong form into the NPL 1. This award shows just how highly rated the striker is among his peers.

PS4 NPL 1 Golden Boot – Tom Cahill (Richmond) and Joseph Katebian (FC Bulleen Lions)

Despite missing the last two rounds because of Melbourne Victory Youth commitments, Joseph Ketebian held on to tie with Tom Cahill on 26 goals for the Golden Boot. The 18-year-old had a stellar season for Bulleen, twice scoring four goals in a game to finish with an average of just over a goal pet game.

PS4 NPL 1 Coach of the Year – Micky Colina (North Geelong Warriors) and Anthony Barbieri (Avondale Heights) Voted by NPL 1 coaches

After coaching Richmond’s NPL 1 U20 team earlier this year, Micky Colina made the switch to North Geelong Warriors in June, winning 13 of his 16 games in charge to take the team from the lower regions of the table to second position. Colina’s Warriors sealed promotion with two rounds remaining, and will compete in Victoria’s top flight for the first time since 1997.

Anthony Barbieri took the reins at Avondale Heights in 2012, in what was his first coaching gig. The club was tipped to be relegated from old the State League 3 North-West back then, but Anthony guided his team to the title. Avondale Heights wasn’t fancied to win the NPL 1 championship, but once again defied the odds to lift the trophy and secure its third promotion in as many years, in what has been one of the year’s feel-good stories.

PS4 NPL 1 Rising Star – Nicholas Symeoy (Moreland Zebras) U20 player to receive most votes from referees

Nicholas Symeoy has backed up winning Moreland Zebras’ Best and Fairest award last year by winning the NPL 1 Rising Star. He was a constant danger up front for the Zebras, scoring 12 goals this season, and has impressed Melbourne City, having been invited for trials in the Hyundai A-League club’s pre-season.

PS4 NPL 1 Goalkeeper of the Year – Alexander Pavlidis (Box Hill United) Voted by NPL 1 coaches

At just 22, Alex Pavlidis played an integral part in Box Hill finishing with the best defensive record in the NPL 1, having conceded 23 goals in 26 games. He is a good commander of his box and possesses an imposing frame, as well as the ability to pull off eye-catching saves. Pavlidis starred in many of Box Hill’s close encounters, making crucial saves in vital moments.

SPORTSMART WPL

Sportsmart WPL Gold Medal – Tiffany Eliadis (South Melbourne Women’s FC) Voted by referees

Tiffany Eliadis has proved to be a force to be reckoned with in the Sportsmart WPL, becoming the first player ever to claim back-to-back Gold Medals and Golden Boots at the tender age of 18.

Despite missing several of the latter rounds because of selection for Melbourne Victory, Eliadis netted 24 goals to finish with an average of more than a goal a game.

Her hat-tricks against Bundoora United, Sandringham and Cairnlea indicate a player with an extremely bright future ahead of her.

Though she is ineligible for next week’s grand final, Eliadis has played an integral part in South Melbourne’s progression to the big stage.

Sportsmart WPL leaderboard:

31 – Tiffany Eliadis (South Melbourne Women’s FC) 26 – Christine Pfeiffer (Ashburton Women’s SC) 22 – Alexandra Gummer (Boroondara Eagles) 19 – Kendra Jones (Heidelberg United) 17 – Emma Runnalls (Sandringham) 15 – Enza Barilla (Bundoora United), Cindy Lay (FC Bulleen Lions), Beattie Goad (NTC U17 Girls) 14 - Racheal Quigley (Boroondara Eagles), Lia Privitelli (FC Bulleen Lions)

Sportsmart WPL Players’ Player of the Year – Enza Barilla (Bundoora United) Voted by Sportsmart WPL players

Enza Barilla continued to show why she is one of Victorian football’s finest players in 2014, with another stellar season for Bundoora United. Displaying the energy, creativity and drive that saw her amass over 50 appearances for Melbourne Victory, Barilla finished as Bundoora’s leading goalscorer with 16 goals in the regular season from midfield.

Sportsmart WPL Golden Boot – Tiffany Eliadis (South Melbourne Women’s FC)

Eliadis finished with 24 goals from 19 games, eight ahead of next highest Barilla.

Sportsmart WPL Coach of the Year – John Kyrgios (Heidelberg United) Voted by Sportsmart WPL coaches

John Kyrgios has led Heidelberg United to another preliminary final this season in his second year as the club’s senior coach, and is just one step away from a grand final date with South Melbourne Women’s FC when his side takes on FC Bulleen Lions on Sunday. Named as coach of the month for Rounds 9-12, Kyrgios always demands the best from his players and has impressed onlookers with his positive, attacking game plan.

Sportsmart WPL Goalkeeper of the Year – Anna Lanning (Boroondara Eagles) Voted by Sportsmart WPL coaches

For much of the season, Anna Lanning flew under the radar as her teammates took the plaudits during Boroondara Eagles’ stunning rise to the upper echelons of the table. Her displays of aerial ability, smart reflexes and brave goalkeeping certainly won the hearts of her coaches, as Boroondara excelled in its first season in the top flight. She also has a cricket background, having represented Victoria, while her sister - Meg Lanning - is Australia’s one-day international captain.

MEDIA AWARDS

Bill Fleming Award (media’s player of the year) – Wayne Wallace (Bentleigh Greens) and Nathaniel Foster (Oakleigh Cannons) Voted by FFV’s match reporters Wayne Wallace was one of the most consistent performers in the NPL this year in his third season with Bentleigh Greens. The physical, yet polished midfielder pulled the strings in the Bentleigh midfield, while also providing an aerial presence. He also won the Winning Edge Presentations NPL Player of the Month award for Rounds 17-21. Nathaniel Foster provided a constant threat across Oakleigh’s attacking third throughout the season, scoring 13 goals. His pace and power added another dimension to the Cannons’ impressive attacking cavalry, as the Canadian wowed media with eye-catching displays. Les Shorrock Best Football Image – Graeme Furlong Judged by Herald Sun sports photographer George Salpigtidis Graeme Furlong’s winning photo captured the moment South Springvale advanced to the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16, with goalkeeper Rani Dowisha making a stunning save in penalties to spark wild celebrations on a cold and frosty winter’s night in Cheltenham. Best News Article – David Manuca (FourFourTwo Australia) Selected by FFV’s media team David Manuca wrote the spine-tingling article “Silver linings: Bahraini international's life in Melbourne as a refugee”, which provided a candid insight into the hardships Bahraini international footballer Hakeem Alaraibi had to overcome before leaving his country and finding his way to Lakeside Stadium, where he trained with South Melbourne’s senior squad. OTHER AWARDS Victorian Referee of the Year - Patrick Chaplin Having pulled out of the Hyundai A-League Assistant Referee Panel in February to progress as an official, Patrick Chaplin has excelled in all his NPL and NPL 1 appointments, and also produced an exemplary performance in the Dockerty Cup Final. In a boost for his hopes to getting back to the A-League, he has now been appointed as the main referee for Saturday’s PS4 NPL Grand Final.