Moore Skippers PFA Team Of The Year

Members of the players' union have voted on their outstanding XI over the course of the campaign with Moore the choice as skipper.

The team is a unique peer selected honour and provides a rare insight into the style of
football valued by A-League players.

Pace, creativity and attacking flair feature heavily in a 4-3-3 formation that includes some of the biggest names in the Australian game.

Moore said: "A-League players have chosen this side and that makes this award a great honour. I returned to Australia determined to perform and give something back to the game in this country and selection in the side is a nice indication that this has been a success."

Recently capped Socceroo and Adelaide United custodian Eugene Galekovic is the players' overwhelming choice as goalkeeper.

The attacking talents of A-League Rising Star Scott Jamieson and Newcastle Jet Tarek Elrich have been recognised in a back four that also includes skipper Moore and Adelaide United colossus Sasa Ognenovski.

The midfield engine room features Adelaide United skipper  Travis Dodd who is selected alongside Queensland Roar's Charlie Miller and former Central Coast Mariner Mile Jedinak.

The starting XI is completed with a front three that exudes pace, creativity and goal scoring ability with Ivorian Eugene Dadi, Socceroo Archie Thompson and Johnny Warren Medalist Shane Smeltz combining to provide the team's collective fire power.

Melbourne Victory trio Kevin Muscat, Billy Celeski, Michael Theoklitos, former Perth forward
Nikita Rukavytsya and Adelaide's Paul Reid give the squad phenomenal depth from
the substitutes' bench.

PFA Chief Executive Brendan Schwab congratulated all members of the PFA's first Team
of the Year.

He said: "Based on peer recognition, the PFA A-League Team of the Year is sure to become
one of the highest accolades that a professional footballer can receive in Australia.

"All A-League players were asked to vote on the players that do not play for their club. Selection reflects the respect in which a player's footballing talent, professionalism and camaraderie are held by his fellow professionals."
Schwab also paid tribute to Craig Moore, the team's inaugural captain.

He said: "Craig is the model professional footballer who his fellow professionals turn to for leadership. His appointment as the skipper is a fitting acknowledgement for a remarkable season in which he has overcome personal adversity to set the example for both club and country."

The players also voted on the Coach of the Year and the Referee of the Year.
Adelaide United's Aurelio Vidmar was recognised as A-League Coach of the Year for his role in steering Adelaide to the brink of Asian Champions League supremacy and Strebre Delovski was the players' choice as Referee of the Year.

PFA 2008/2009 A-League Team of the Season:
Goalkeeper: Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United); Defenders: Tarek Elrich
(Newcastle Jets), Craig Moore (Queensland Roar), Sasa Ognenovski (Adelaide
United), Scott Jamieson (Adelaide United); Midfielders: Travis Dodd (Adelaide
United), Mile Jedinak (Central Coast Mariners), Charlie Miller (Queensland Roar);
Forwards: Shane Smeltz (Wellington Phoenix), Eugene Dadi (Perth Glory), Archie
Thompson (Melbourne Victory).
Substitutes: Michael Theoklitos (Melbourne Victory), Kevin Muscat (Melbourne
Victory), Paul Reid (Adelaide United), Billy Celeski (Melbourne Victory), Nikita
Rukavytsya (Perth Glory).
Coach of the Year: Aurelio Vidmar (Adelaide United)
Referee of the Year: Strebre Delovski