Adelaide United captain Craig Goodwin secures Johnny Warren Medal after stellar season

A hero of the Socceroos’ 2022 World Cup campaign has been named this season’s best A-League player.

Craig Goodwin’s superb season has earned him the Johnny Warren Medal. Picture: by Mark Brake / Getty Images

Socceroos star Craig Goodwin has won the Johnny Warren Medal, easing the disappointment of falling a game short of an A-League grand final appearance with Adelaide United.

The Reds captain claimed the A-League’ s player-of-the-season honour with 41 votes to win the award ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers forward Brandon Borrello (33) and Melbourne City ace Jamie Maclaren (26).
And in further good news for the Adelaide club, Goodwin’s mentor, Carl Veart, has been named the competition’s coach of the year.

Goodwin, who scored for Australia at last year’s World Cup finals tournament in Qatar, was presented the medal at Thursday night’s Dolan Warren Awards in Sydney.

The prize came less than two weeks after Adelaide’s season ended with a semi-final loss to the Central Coast Mariners, who will meet Melbourne City in Saturday night’s grand final at CommBank Stadium.

“We’ve had another good season, but again we’ve just fallen short,” said attacking weapon Goodwin, who finished the season with 15 goals and 11 assists.

“It’s disappointing, but we have to reflect on it, take the positives out of it, come back next year and work hard.”

Craig Goodwin celebrates scoring for Adelaide United. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty Images

Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren was awarded the Golden Boot for a sixth time and a fourth in succession after scoring 24 goals in the regular season.

There was also recognition for Maclaren’s departing City teammate, Jordan Bos, who won the gong for young footballer of the year

Bos will leave City after the grand final for Westerlo, having joined the Belgian club on a record-breaking transfer deal for an A-League player.

The referee-of-the-season prize went to Chris Beath, who will retire after officiating this weekend’s grand final.

“I’ve had such an incredible journey with football over the past 30 years,” Beath said,

“My career wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a huge group of people over the years. Professionally, the team at Football Australia, and closer to home, my long-term coach Ted Kearney, and my entire family, more specifically my wife Sara, and our three kids.

“For now, my focus and preparation are solely on the match coming up on Saturday, which the team and I are very much looking forward to.”

The A-League women’s player-of-the-year award was won by Melbourne Victory’s Alex Chidiac, who despite playing in only 13 of her club’s 20 matches this season, did enough to earn the Julie Dolan Medal.

Western United’s Hannah Keane won the women’s golden boot with 13 goals.

Australian Professional Leagues chief executive officer Danny Townsend said: “Tonight is the

culmination of a great season of football and is a testament to the dedication of our A-Leagues’ players, coaching teams and clubs.
“Julie Dolan and Johnny Warren both represented a unique combination of skill and passion and were true leaders of our sport in Australia.

“We’re honoured to be able to continue their legacy through these awards for our deserving winners.”

List of award winners:

Johnny Warren Medal – Craig Goodwin

Julie Dolan Medal – Alex Chidiac

Men’s Referee of the Year – Chris Beath

Women’s Referee of the Year – Casey Reibelt

Men’s Fair Play Award – Brisbane Roar

Women’s Fair Play Award – Canberra United

Men’s Coach of the Year – Carl Veart

Women’s Coach of the Year – Mark Turcaso

Men’s Fan Player of the Year – Oskar Zawada

Women’s Fan Player of the Year – Maria Rojas

Men’s Golden Glove – Lawrence Thomas

Women’s Golden Glove – Hillary Beall

Women’s Save of the Year Hilary Beall

Men’s Save of the Year Andrew Redmayne

Men’s Golden Boot – Jamie Maclaren

Women’s Golden Boot – Hannah Keane

Men’s Goal of the Year – Giordano Colli

Women’s Goal of the Year – Madison Haley

Men’s Young Footballer of the Year – Jordan Bos

Women’s Young Footballer of the Year – Sarah Hunter