Joel Griffiths is tipped to sweep the board but we'll try to add spice with some pics of players and WAGs, and gossip from the event itself at Doltone House and the after-party party that FourFourTwo is hosting at Sydney Casino.

None of the FourFourTwo team will be dressed as God or Hitler. Probably.

Players, coaches, sponsors and various unidentified people have started arriving here. Ernie Merrick is back from Hawaii with a suntan and John Kosmina's turned up as almost the sole Sydney representative with the rest of the squd believed to be in Vegas.

Ahmed Elrich is here and it looks like he'll be off from Wellington and joining his brother at Newcastle. "My brother wants to stay in Newcastle," he says, so draw your own conclusion...

Pics coming in a min...

WICKED WHISPER: Who said: "Mark Shield's had two Grand Finals and he's fucked them both up..."

Olyroos have turned up WITH their luggage - they're going straight from the ceremony to the airport and their flight to the US.

Kosmina's more interested in his phone conversation than anything else so far.

First pics are up - click on the link on the right to see 'em.

The awards are now under way and i am updating by phone so expect some odd typos...

Adam griffiths has just rubbed archie's head for luck...

Simon hill is mc'ing and frank lowy is doing a speech. League is expanding...

Joel griffiths told us he has no speech prepared and just here to enjoy the day. Yeah, right...

Rising star award - djite, burns, tarek, kruse nikita nominated - djite wins...

I'm shocked, he says and thanks his teammates.

First award handed out early to let olyroos get away. Lunch is served... I'm having the beef, thanks for asking... Oh and some red cordial. Ish.

I ended up with salmon - not happy...

Ernie just told us he was a bit awestruck by watching gamba and their $80m squad in hawaii - "we're going to have a battle... "

Burns, felipe and djite topped voting for first round of johnny warren medal.

Joel has won golden boot - no surprise there then.

"biggest achievement in my career etc ... "

Ref of the year now... Was there one?? Oh, apparently there was - mark shield, he's not here so ben buckley took it for him. This isn't the only thing he's missed this week...

Goalie of the year now... And it's victory's theo ...

"back to back is a tough gig - .good luck to the jets... "

Newcastle contingent getting a bit concerned - they thought they had a clean sweep lined up...

Chocolate pudding was lush but i really wanted the panna cotta. Ah well.

Last four awards coming up now. Whisky cocktails are an abomination before god - but going down suprisingly well. Vanilla, apple and whiskey ffs.

Goal of the year... Zullo, pantelis, ahmed, griffiths, santa. Winner is ... Santa

Kossie collects for him - squad is in vegas. "i was suprised he hit the target... "

Fair play award - jets. Durante collects.

"we pride ourselves on fair play..,, "

Second round of warren medal voting... Top three are brosque, griffiths, burns.

Manager of the year award tape set to the theme tune of the office.

Pim presents - winner is gary van egmond,

"it took a lot of hard work..."

Just the johnny warren left now. Omen-like music blasting out... Could it be damien Brown??

The winner is... Joel

"it's been a great year... " thanks team mates, coaching staff for putting up with him, and his brother who asked if if was going to regret coming back from europe to play with him.

So here is the list of winners in full:

The prestigious Johnny Warren Medal, which is a peer award, has been presented to Newcastle Jets’ striker, Joel Griffiths, at the Hyundai A-League 2008 Awards Lunch held in Sydney today.

Griffiths received an overwhelming 394 votes from his playing peers, 140 votes ahead of his nearest rivals Alex Brosque of Sydney FC (254 votes) and Shane Smeltz from the Wellington Phoenix (157).

The Johnny Warren Medal was Griffiths’ second award of the day having earlier picked up the Reebok Golden Boot Award for the 12 goals he scored during the Hyundai A-League 2007-08 season.

Having claimed their first Hyundai A-League Championship Trophy, the Newcastle Jets also picked up two other awards with Gary Van Egmond named the Hyundai A-League Coach of the Year Award, while his team collected the Hyundai A-League Fair Play Award.

Adelaide United’s Bruce Djite received the Rising Star Award for the most outstanding Under-20 player in the Hyundai A-League, and Melbourne Victory’s Michael Theoklitos took out the inaugural Hyundai A-League Goalkeeper of the year award.

Sydney FC’s Brendon Sanatalab won the FOXTEL Goal of the Season award, as voted online by the fans, for his memorable strike against Adelaide United in round 18 at the Adelaide Oval.

Mark Shield was named the Zurich Referee of the Year for the third time in the past three seasons of the Hyundai A-League.

More to follow...