Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer capped a superb season for both club and country by taking out the first Australian Footballer of the Year award on Thursday night.
The 36-year-old shot stopper accepted the award at the inaugural Australian Football Awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney while Matildas midfielder Joanne Peters was named the female player of the year.
Australian and Everton midfielder Tim Cahill also accepted a major gong after he was chosen by his peers as the Professional Footballers Association’s player of the year.
Schwarzer had arguably the best season of his career after joining Fulham following an 11-year stint with English Premier League rivals Middlesbrough and his form saw many regard him as the league’s goalkeeper of the year.
His form for the Socceroos was equally impressive and he was arguably the best player of the campaign as Australia sealed qualification for next year’s World Cup.
Schwarzer has not conceded a goal in his last seven qualifiers, setting an Australian record, and became the longest serving Australian men’s player of all time in the win over Uzbekistan in April.
“It’s been a fantastic season,” said Schwarzer, whose international career spans close to 16 years.
“Obviously you have dreams and ambitions in life and I’ve been very fortunate to live out my dream and along the way accomplish a lot of my life-long goals.
“Now I’m going to have to keep looking for new ones, which is great. I love being in that position.”
Peters, 30, took out the women’s award to cap a fine international career after calling time on her Matildas commitments in February.
Adelaide United youngster Daniel Mullen and Central Coast striker Kyah Simon took out the male and female under 20 footballer of the year awards.
The award winners were decided by a judging panel comprised of Football Federation Australia board members and representatives from the media.
Cahill earned 378 votes to take out the PFA prize, ahead of Schwarzer (254), while Brisbane Roar captain Craig Moore and Wellington Phoenix striker Shane Smeltz tied for third with 100 votes.
The Everton star overcame several injury setbacks to help the English Premier League club to the FA Cup final, where they were beaten by Chelsea.
“Tim’s football brings together a passion and awareness of the game which makes him one of the English Premier Leagues most influential players,” PFA chief executive Brendan Schwab said.
“His love for the Australian shirt has seen him have an equally profound impact for the Socceroos in a variety of roles.”
Former Perth Glory striker Nikita Rukavytsya, now with Dutch side FC Twente, won the PFA Harry Kewell medal for the best player aged under 23.
Rukavytsya received 218 votes ahead of Adelaide’s Scott Jamieson (173) and Newcastle’s Tarek Elrich (164).
The FFA also recognised volunteers, coaches and referees for their efforts at grass roots level throughout the year.
Captain Random
Guest
"heh, heh - there’s a bit of truth in that!!" I was, of course, being facetious, but when you consider that Mullen got the U-20 award ahead of Kantarovski despite not playing the whole season, you have to wonder. I hope he makes it big. Even though I support the Mariners, I don't mind that he's a Jets player ... I'm a fan of the Socceroos first and foremost and he looks like a future NT regular. If he keeps developing, who knows what club he could end up at?
whiskeymac
Guest
well ets hope so. even if he does play for the jets =) he was nominated by eamonn on his blog for the player most likely to make it big - the next kewell so to speak - and i hoe he does. we'll need at least one new icon player once this "lot" has retired...
The Bear
Guest
Well done to Mark! Just rewards.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
heh, heh - there's a bit of truth in that!! The key question is: how much improvement does he have in him? My limited experience in these sorts of things is that when someone shows the goods at age 17, against senior players, and does so consistently - you can bet the house on them making it big.
Captain Random
Roar Rookie
Kantarovski actually plays with such maturity that I think when people discuss Australia's up-and-coming talent they tend to forget him. I can imagine the discussions ... "What about the guy who plays defensive midfield for the Jets?" "Nah, don't be ridiculous. He's about 27 or 28, surely?" ;)
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Captain Random thanks for the clarification on when Kantarovski debuted - I agree that it is astonishing - as I said above - he blows my mind everytime I see him play.
Captain Random
Roar Rookie
Ben Kantarovski made his debut against the Mariners in Round 1 last season when he was 16 (!), playing at centre back (!), and looking like he'd been playing professional football for a decade. IIRC, he's also played on the left of midfield in addition to his customary defensive midfield position. All this from someone who was born in the 1990s. Just astonishing.
whiskeymac
Guest
My understanding was that the NYL wasnt televised to allow players to develop without pressure - is this true? it's a pity because having watched the adeliade-sydney youth final, which they conceded to being run on tv, i found the game very entertaining. Why arent more kids played? pressure of HAlL's short season... isnt this off set by finals accounting for 60%of teams now? Rooney, fabregas, anelka, owen and fowler etc were all good enough to play in the EPL as precocious teenagers. the old cliche that if they are good enough they are old enough. You would hope that HAL managers would throw the same opportunities to players who were good enough (in saying that NJ and Roar seemed quite good at it. Cynics might say SFC only gave Danning & co game time last year because they had nothng else to show for the season...) despite their age.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Jesic also showed a bit for the Jets last season. This reminds me of a favourite theme of mine - we want our best 17yos playing senior football - we don't want them hidden away in the comfort of a youth league.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Whiskey I'll just say this - everytime I see Kantarovski near a ball on the football pitch, it blows me away how young he is - absolutely blows me away (recalling that I think he was getting game time when he hadn't even turned 17). He shows unbelievable maturity and intelligence - his positioning, his decision-making, his composure - it just can't be faulted - just unbelievable for someone so young. These sorts of things are usually pretty good indicators of where a kid is heading. Yeh - should be interesting to see what the new manager does with the likes of Gan and Danning.
whiskeymac
Guest
not sure how much game time Ruky actually got in Holland or what McClaren actually thought of him. If highly, maybe he will join Ajax.... I did try to watch the 442 aussies abroad posts but he, along with Burns and Holland, seem to have dropped off the radar a bit. i hope i can be proven wrong by someone with better internet access. No idea how SFC did it. CCM are meant to be the grass roots team in NSW! but yes Gan, Danning etc should be very exciting to watch in August. especially if Kisel etc guide them when things go wrong (ie a tiatto or two). Kantarovski seesm to have the medias attention... have yet to see how he shapes up. maybe this season will allow a better look at him. but i assume that given the time afforded to him in the media and by GVE on the pitch, he "must" be good for a 17yo...
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Whiskey I was just about to ask how old Ruka is, because all jokes aside, I was a bit unsure about Mullen winning the U20 gong. He's had an ok season, and no doubt some good ACL performances helped him, but I put this question to everyone: If you had a choice between Mullen and Kantarovski to join your team - who would you choose??? Also, it pains me to say it, but geez, SFC had some fantastic young players come through last season - maybe they're still a touch too young, and Mullen got it by a head. But I'll be honest, he doesn't exactly excite me at the minute.
whiskeymac
Guest
best player aged under 23. Rukavytsya received 218 votes ahead of Adelaide’s Scott Jamieson (173) and Newcastle’s Tarek Elrich (164). Am glad that Ruky won but also glad Elrich was up there too. Like him and his performances in the HAL, and has been good in Asia.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Good call Whiskey! Redb - advice heeded! Congrats to the Schwatter - has been an absolute surprise packet this year (in the sense that we couldn't have expected that he would raise the bar at the age of 36 - and yes, I understand keepers have great longevity, I know all about Dino Zoff, etc) To think it was the Schwatter that kept us alive in a penalty shoot out; no, not 4 years ago, I'm talking 16 years ago, for the 94 qualifiers.
Redb
Roar Guru
Pip,, I know it's Friday and your in a good mood but this can only end in acrimony :-) Redb
whiskeymac
Guest
Sj - good call. he has been sensational in the EPL (saved my fantasy team with my Fabregas folly) but also inspirational for the roos. our best goalie ever? and Pip he is the best goalie in the best league. Not only did Colingwood, West Coast, Geelong and Carlton not score against him but even Barca failed to score against him this season ;) maybe his greatness is enough to unite the codes?
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Australian Football Awards? How did the Schwatter beat Buddy and Gazza??!! And surely Sewell is better than Mullen??!!
Slippery Jim
Guest
Extremely well deserved, well done Schwarz!!!