Hamish McCabe wins 2021 NPL SA Sergio Melta Medal but leaves Adelaide Blue Eagles

He’s just won SA soccer’s highest individual honour and now Hamish McCabe will sensationally leave NPL club Adelaide Blue Eagles alongside his twin brother.

Adelaide Blue Eagles midfielder Hamish McCabe – in action during a NPL SA match against Adelaide Olympic earlier this year – took out the 2021 Sergio Melta Medal. Picture: Adam Butler

Adelaide Blue Eagles captain Hamish McCabe has revealed he has quit the club just days after claiming state soccer’s highest individual honour.

The midfielder said he was “lost for words” after being awarded the Sergio Melta Medal for the National Premier Leagues SA player of the year in a thrilling count on Saturday night.

It capped an outstanding individual season for McCabe as he polled 24 votes to finish one ahead of Campbelltown City’s Alex Mullen.

But the 22-year-old told The Messenger he and twin brother Liam have left Blue Eagles, who finished bottom of the NPL ladder with just three wins and were relegated to State League One.

The pair have signed with second tier club Modbury Jets for 2022 following offers from a host of rival sides.

Congratulations @Hamish_McCabe! #cof2021🥂 #RAANPLSApic.twitter.com/uSXLwV2oUT

— Football South Australia (@FootballSouthAu) November 6, 2021

“Liam and I have told the club we won’t be staying at Blue Eagles next year,” McCabe said.

“It’s a great club with a great history and I was very thankful they installed me as captain this year but we just didn’t agree with some of the decisions were made.

“Modbury being close to home travel-wise as well as starting full-time work next year it was the most suitable fit.

“They gave us the best offer and there’s a challenge there as well, to help them get back up to where they should be.”

While McCabe was pleased with his season on a personal level, he said the team’s results “weren’t really acceptable” and Blue Eagles needed more experience to guide its young players.

Saturday night’s count came down to the final game between ABE and Campbelltown before McCabe edged out Red Devils midfielder Mullen to claim the honour.

Hamish McCabe – under pressure from Adelaide Comets’ Allan Welsh – has left Blue Eagles with brother Liam to play at Modbury Jets next season. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

McCabe, who was not named in the team of the year despite winning the top individual honour, said the prestigious medal was a great reward for a long period of hard work and thanked his family for their support.

“My heart was racing – I reckon it was above 180 beats per minute to be honest – because it was chopping and changing at the top of the leaderboard and it came down to the last game,” he said.

“I’m over the moon with the award. I was shocked, lost for words.

“It’s the one everyone wants and players play for each year trying to win it because of Sergio Melta and the career he had.”

McCabe said he still harboured ambitions of an opportunity at the next level in the A-League.

In the meantime, he and twin Liam will remain inseparable as they both finish their physiotherapy degrees this year and move into full-time work with Leading Therapies in 2022.

“I was to thank anyone for the award it would be my brother,” McCabe said.

“We have a great relationship, we both work really hard, put the same amount of effort in, have the same skill level, knowledge base and we’re basically the same sort of player.

“I think this award goes to both of us, even though it was under my name.”

That. Was. Tense. Chelsie Dawber is your Shirley Brown Medal Winner for 2021! #cof2021🥂 #WNPLSApic.twitter.com/WzKgSW9357

— Football South Australia (@FootballSouthAu) November 6, 2021

MEN’S NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE AWARDS

Sergio Melta Medal – Hamish McCabe (Adelaide Blue Eagles)

Martyn Crook Trophy – Coach of the Year – Paul Pezos (Adelaide City)

Golden Boot Award – Marc Marino (Campbelltown City)

Peter Nikolich Trophy – Goalkeeper of the Year – Lewis Moss (Adelaide Olympic)

John Aloisi Rising Star – Thomas Giannakopoulos (Adelaide Comets)

WOMEN’S NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE AWARDS

Shirley Brown Medal – Chelsie Dawber (Adelaide City)

Bob Bush Trophy – Coach of the Year – Michele Lastella (Football SA NTC)

Golden Boot Award – Maria Jose Rojas Pino (Salisbury Inter)

Goalkeeper of the Year – Sarah Willacy (West Adelaide)

Female Rising Star – Emilia Murray (Football SA NTC)