MetroStars midfielder Liam Wooding wins Sergio Melta Medal for SA Premier League player of the year

FORMER Adelaide United midfielder Liam Wooding has strengthened his claims for a second chance at A-League level by winning SA soccer’s highest individual honour – the Sergio Melta Medal.

MetroStars midfielder Liam Wooding has won the Sergio Melta Medal.

FORMER Adelaide United midfielder Liam Wooding has strengthened his claims for a second chance at A-League level by winning SA soccer’s highest individual honour.

The MetroStars vice-captain was recognised for an outstanding campaign when he was awarded the Sergio Melta Medal for Premier League player of the year on Saturday night.

Wooding claimed 29 votes at the Football Federation SA awards evening after helping the Klemzig club to the preliminary final and its second-straight FFA Cup SA this past season.

The 24-year-old playmaker scored 13 goals in 30 matches in all competitions, five years on from his release by Adelaide United following just one A-League appearance.

Liam Wooding scored 13 goals in 30 matches for MetroStars to claim the Sergio Melta Medal. Picture: Sam Wundke

Para Hills midfielder Alex Mullen, who was awarded supporters’ player of the year at the Adelaide Convention Centre function, was second in the count with 27 votes.

Adelaide Comets duo Andreas Wiens and last season’s joint medallist Allan Welsh (21 votes), along with Adelaide City’s Golden Boot winner Anthony Costa (19) rounded out the top five.

Croydon Kings title-winners Nick Munro (goalkeeper of the year) and teenage centre back Hosine Bility (John Aloisi Rising Star) were recognised for impressive campaigns.

The pair was joined in the top flight team of the year defence by Adelaide City’s Matthew Halliday and Joel Allwright, as well as West Torrens Birkalla’s Adam Le Cornu.

Wooding, Mullen and Welsh made up the select XI midfield, while Wiens, Costa and MetroStars forward Christian Esposito were the attackers.

Adelaide City mentor Damian Mori was Premier League coach of the season.

Western Strikers’ ex-national league midfielder Adriano Pellegrino scooped State League One player of the year, while Eastern United’s Daniel Solari was named State League Two’s best.

Nicole Tilley was rewarded for her 25 goals in West Adelaide’s march to the minor premiership when she claimed the Shirley Brown Medal for Women’s Premier League player of the season.

Para Hills’ Alex Mullen was named the SA Premier League supporters’ player of the year. Picture: Adam Butler

Tilley polled 23 votes to edge out Metro United’s Chrissy Panagaris (18) as well as Adelaide University duo Laura Johns and golden boot winner Maria Jose Rojas (both 17).

Matildas youngster Alex Chidiac (15 votes) was fifth despite only playing nine matches for Adelaide City.

West Adelaide coach Kevin McCormack and goalkeeper Sarah Willacy were voted the women’s league’s best mentor and shot-stopper. SA NTC’s Georgia Iannella was named rising star.

Former Adelaide United W-League captain Kristy Moore was inducted into the FFSA Hall of Fame for a playing career which included international appearances for Australia and England.

Women’s player, coach and administrator Lia Augimeri along with ex-Adelaide United and FFSA board member Tony Henshaw were also inducted.

FFSA AWARDS

Premier League

Sergio Melta Medal: Liam Wooding (MetroStars)

Supporters’ player of the year: Alex Mullen (Para Hills)

Coach of the year: Damian Mori (Adelaide City)

Golden Boot: Anthony Costa (Adelaide City)

Goalkeeper of the year: Nick Munro (Croydon Kings)

John Aloisi Rising Star: Hosine Bility (Croydon Kings)

Team of the year: Nick Munro, Hosine Bility (Croydon Kings), Matthew Halliday, Joel Allwright, Anthony Costa (Adelaide City), Adam Le Cornu (West Torrens Birkalla), Alex Mullen (Para Hills), Liam Wooding, Christian Esposito (MetroStars), Allan Welsh, Andreas Wiens (Adelaide Comets).

State League One

Player of the year: Adriano Pellegrino (Western Strikers)

Coach of the year: Brenton Hiern (Western Strikers)

Golden Boot: Adam Thurston (South Adelaide)

Goalkeeper of the year: James Klappers (Sturt Lions)

State League Two

Player of the year: Daniel Solari (Eastern United)

Coach of the year: Milan Ivanovic (Adelaide University)

Golden Boot: Sanjin Julardzija (Fulham United)

Goalkeeper of the year: Marc Talbot (Seaford Rangers)

Women’s Premier League

Player of the year: Nicole Tilley (West Adelaide)

Coach of the year: Kevin McCormack (West Adelaide)

Golden Boot: Maria Jose Rojas (Adelaide University)

Goalkeeper of the year: Sarah Willacy (West Adelaide)

Female rising star: Georgia Iannella (SA NTC)

Team of the year: Sarah Willacy, Nicole Tilley (West Adelaide), Daphne McLeod,

Grace Abbey, Alex Chidiac, Dylan Holmes, Tiarn Powell (Adelaide City), Laura Johns, Maria Jose Rojas (Adelaide University), Kristy Moore (Metro United), Kelsey Zafiridis (Campbelltown City)

Referee of the year: Daniel Elder

Young referee of the year: Nick Elagin

Hall of Fame inductees: Lia Augimeri, Tony Henshaw, Kristy Moore

Originally published as MetroStars midfielder Liam Wooding wins Sergio Melta Medal for SA Premier League player of the year