Australian Football Awards Winners

McKay was named Male Footballer of the Year after a stellar 12 months which saw the 28-year-old a key member of Australia's squad that narrowly failed to lift January's AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.

Two months later McKay captained his home-town club Brisbane Roar to their maiden A-League championship before signing for Scottish giants Rangers in the off-season.

"It's been a stellar year, I have really been enjoying my football, my time with the Socceroos and now I'm hoping to continue to improve my game further," said McKay after receiving his award.

"Ange (Postecoglou) and Holger (Osieck) have given me opportunities, and I guess it shows what a bit of confidence can do for a player."

Fellow Brisbane native Kellond-Knight has made the left full-back role her own in the Matildas line-up, being a virtual ever-present throughout both the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany and last month's Olympic Games qualifiers in China.

Kellond-Knight was named in the FIFA World All-Star team at Germany 2011, having also been an integral member of Brisbane Roar's second championship win in three seasons.

In the U-20 Footballer of the Year category, Young Matilda Caitlin Foord and Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Matt Ryan took out the female and male categories respectively.

Foord's rise to football stardom was meteoric with the 16-year-old Year 11 student named the Best Young Player at Germany 2011, just two months after making her national team debut.

Sydney-raised Ryan enjoyed a breakthrough A-League season with a number of stunning performances helping his team to within a whisker of being crowned national champions.

The awards night in Sydney also incorporated the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and Football Media Association of Australia (FMA) awards.

McKay made it a double when he also collected the PFA Footballer of the Year receiving 329 votes from his fellow professionals, ahead of Socceroos team-mate and AZ Alkmaar midfielder Brett Holman (194), Tim Cahill (185) and 2010/11 Johnny Warren Medallist, Marcos Flores (109).

The PFA Harry Kewell Medal for Australia's best young player under the age of 23 was awarded to former Melbourne Victory forward Robbie Kruse who, like McKay, established himself as a genuine international at the AFC Asian Cup 2011 in Qatar.

Kruse, now based in Germany with Fortuna Dusseldorf, dominated the voting for the award with 310 votes, ahead of Young Socceroos and FC Utrecht forward Tommy Oar (165) and Kosta Barbarouses (162).

Meanwhile, Kellond-Knight also bagged the PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year Award receiving 39 votes from her fellow Matildas. Foord finished second with 25 votes, whilst goalkeeper Lydia Williams was third with 19.

The Football Media Association Australian International Player of the Year went to Brett Holman, as voted by the Australian football media.

"We received a record number of nominations for this year’s award’s from all around Australia," said Football Federation Australia CEO, Ben Buckley.

“It is humbling to see the diversity of people that contribute so much of their lives to this sport that we all love.

“This year’s nominees and winners are truly outstanding and rightfully deserve recognition for their achievements.”

The winners of the 2011 Australian Football Awards were announced at the gala Awards ceremony in the ballroom of the Sheraton on the Park Hotel in Sydney.

In the non professional category teams, volunteers, coaches and referees from around the nation were all vying for the top prize.

Teams from the ACT took out both the Senior and Youth team of the Year Awards with Canberra Street Soccer and the Under 14 girls from the Woden Valley Soccer Club.

The male coach of the year award went to Brett Wallin who coached the Illawarra Stingray’s to the NSW Women’s Premier League championship and the female coach of the year went to Victorian Jamara Maza who also recently won the Victorian Coach of the Year award.

The referee of the year went to Richard Naumovski from Canberra and the volunteer of the year award was presented to Mark Roden from the Maroochydore Football Club in Queensland.

Professional awards

Footballer of the Year (Male) - Matt McKay (Brisbane, Queensland)

One of Brisbane’s favourite sons, Matt McKay will always hold a special place in the hearts of all Queenslanders as the Hyundai A-League 2011 Grand Final winning captain of Brisbane Roar. 

Born in Brisbane, Matt was a student at Brisbane Grammar School and played his junior football with Sunnybank Saints and Mt Gravatt. Later he went to the Queensland Academy of Sport and later the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to develop his talent.  After graduating from the AIS, Matt was signed by the Brisbane Strikers in the former National Soccer League in 2001 playing 51 games and scoring two goals in three seasons with the club.  In 2004 he joined local club Eastern Suburbs in the Queensland State League competition.  When the Hyundai A-League was launched in 2005 he was signed as a foundation player and over the past six seasons with the Roar he became the club captain with 131 games and 18 goals to his name.

On the international stage, Matt represented Australia at Under 20 and Under 23 level before making his Qantas Socceroos debut on the 16^th August 2006 against Kuwait in an AFC Asian Cup Qualification match at the Sydney Football Stadium. Since then he has made 19 appearances for the Qantas Socceroos which includes his stellar performances at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 which was helped cement his place in the starting line-up.

Recently Matt received an offer to join Scottish Premier League giants Glasgow Rangers and, although it was a difficult decision to leave his home town, he took the opportunity to challenge himself in Europe this coming season.

In the prime of his football career, Matt McKay will be an important player in Holger Osieck’s plans for the Qantas Socceroos to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Footballer of the Year (Female) – Elise Kellond-Knight (Brisbane, Queensland)

One of the most dynamic and tenacious players coming through in an impressive crop of Westfield Matildas, Elise or KK to her teammates,  has owned the left back position for the Westfield Matildas for the past two years putting in a series of commanding performances for both the Brisbane Roar and the Westfield Matildas.

At the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011 Elise was a standout performer for the Westfield Matildas as the team reached the quarter-finals with her performances acknowledged when she was announced in the World All-star team at the end of the tournament. Elise is currently playing UEFA Champions League and Club football in Denmark for Fortuna Hjorring.

Under 20 Footballer of the Year (Male) - Matt Ryan (Blacktown, NSW)

Born on 8^th April 1992, Matt started his football career at the tender age of 5with the Plumpton/Oakhurst Eagles club in Western Sydney. He later attended the famous Westfield Sports High where he trained under the current Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper coach John Crawley. In 2009 Mat was drafted into the Central Coast Mariners National Youth League squad as a 17-year-old. Then In 2010 he earned himself a senior first team contract and, following a season ending injury to fellow custodian Jess Vanstrattan, was thrown into the white hot action of the Hyundai A-League in round four against Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium. Mat took full advantage of his opportunity playing  31 games and keeping 14 clean sheets for the remainder of the season and along the way also collected the NAB Young Footballer of the Year award and the Joe Marston Medal as the best player of the Hyundai A-League 2011 Grand Final.  Unfortunately a serious knee injury prevented Mat from being available for selection for the recent FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, but following an exhaustive rehabilitation program, Mat will hopefully be back between the sticks sooner rather than later.

Under 20 Footballer of the Year (Female) – Caitlin Foord (Wollongong, NSW)

2010/11 has been a whirlwind breakthrough season for Caitlin Foord. The gifted striker-come-wing back not only helped Sydney FC to consecutive Westfield W-League Grand Final appearances but also firmly established herself in the Westfield Matildas squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 where, with only one cap to her name prior to leaving for Germany, found herself starting against Brazil in the opening match at right back and marking five time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year - Marta. In doing so, Caitlin also became the youngest ever Australian to play at a FIFA World Cup at the age of 16 years and 230 days

After starting the next three more games in the tournament, including the quarter final loss to Sweden, Caitlin’s outstanding performances were recognised when she was named the first ever Hyundai Best Young Footballer at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011  tournament.

Non professional awards

Junior Team of The Year: Woden Valley Soccer Club Redbacks (Canberra, ACT)

The Under 14 Redbacks and their families raised $90,000 selling raffle tickets with the dream of competing in two of the world’s largest junior club football tournaments in Europe. During the Gothia Cup in Sweden this year they competed against 80 teams in their age group, eventually losing the final of Group B in a penalty shootout and only conceding two goals in normal time during the tournament. Moving on to the Dana Cup in Denmark the girls from Canberra were up against 33 other Under 14 teams and were undefeated in their eight games to claim the championship. During their entire tour the girls the girls won 12 games, had two draws and two losses. In their last 15 games they only conceded one goal in normal time. Importantly their sportsmanship was acknowledged by all of their opponents, many of whom became supporters for later games. Fifteen of the girls have gone on to represent the ACT in futsal and outdoor and they have now set their sights returning for the Gothia Cup as under 16s and competing in the prestigious Dallas Cup next year.

Senior Team of the Year: Canberra Street Soccer (Canberra, ACT)

Beginning in February 2009, Canberra Street Soccer has grown to more than 100 players, many of them still training each week. The program is made up of homeless or marginalised people and uses football, camaraderie and mutual support to transform the lives of all. Mainly relying on challenge matches against government and community agencies and individuals the competition allows the team members to test their skills and build their self esteem. The Canberra program was rewarded with two major community awards this year and won the annual Street Soccer National Championships in Sydney in June. Those selected to represent the Canberra program were a strong group who encouraged each other by focussing on their abilities rather than their personal disabilities.

Male Coach of the Year – Brett Wallin (Wollongong, NSW)

Brett Wallin started his NSW Premier League coaching career at the Macarthur Rams and took them to the grand final in 2004 and the semi finals in 2005. In 2006 he became the head coach of the Illawarra Stingrays and won the Waratah Shield and took them to the grand final. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, Wallin’s Stingrays were both premiers and grand final winners. Despite the impressive record, Wallin is not only a great coach but a fantastic mentor and many of his players have gone on to Westfield W-League careers. However, his most testing role was supporting his players and friends through the tragic death of striker Ash Connor earlier this year who died in a car accident following a team meeting. Connor had gone to the club to be coached by Wallin.

Female Coach of the Year – Jamara Maza (Melbourne, Victoria)

Jamara Maza holds a Youth Certificate 2 and is the current Victorian Female Coach of the Year. She delivered the Indigenous Football Development Program at Worawa Aboriginal College and coached the Victorian Girls team at the National Indigenous Football Festival in Alice Springs. Maza, who also plays in the Victorian Premier League for Heidelberg United, has shown an amazing dedication and an ability to engage the Victorian Aboriginal community. She has consistently demonstrated her dedication to the game and assisted Football Federation Victoria with its important community programs. This year she attended the FIFA Grassroots Program to continue her development.

Referee of the Year – Richard Naumovski (Canberra, ACT)

Richard Naumovski has been the leading referee in the Australian Capital Territory for many years and his record is outstanding. He is the only referee in Capital Football history to referee three Premier League grand finals in a row, win all four referee awards in one year, win Referee Of The Year (voted by the clubs) and Referees’ Referee Of The Year (voted by his peers) three times in row. Despite being the leading referee, Naumovski regularly puts up his hand when there is a shortage of referees and in the State leagues and dedicates his weekends to refereeing multiple games. He has also worked as a referee administrator allocating referees to games all while balancing his work and parenting duties. He assists in conducting referee courses and seminars, has just become a Level 2 Instructor and is in the process of completing his Level 2 Assessors course.

Volunteer of the Year – Mark Roden (Maroochydore Football Club, Queensland)

Mark Roden has been a volunteer for the Maroochydore Football Club in Queensland for more than 30 years. He joined the committee in 1984 and was president in 1986 for several years. He became honorary groundsman and still marks the field to this very day. Roden has been instrumental in several complicated location changes of the club facilities and fields and his skills with working with councils and other stakeholders have been a fantastic asset for the club. He has served on several committees over the years giving up countless hours of his time and currently serves as Chairman of the Sunshine Coast Disciplinary Committee. Never has he sought a reward and will not even accept a free drink.