National Soccer League Player of the Year

The National Soccer League Player of the Year was an annual soccer award present to the most outstanding player in Australia's National Soccer League. The award was established in the NSL's first season in 1977 and it ran until 1989. The following season it was replaced by the Johnny Warren Medal.

National Soccer League Player of the Year
Awarded forThe best player in each given NSL season
CountryAustralia
First awarded1977
Last awarded1989
Most awardsFrank Farina and Bobby Russell (2)

The inaugural winner was Jimmy Rooney of Marconi, who finished second that season.[1] The last winner of the award was Zlatko Nastevski, who played for table-toppers Marconi when he won the award.[2] Bobby Russell and Frank Farina are the only people to have won the award twice.

From 1977 until 1985 the vote was purely done by referees. Then, between 1986 and 1988, two winners were announced, one voted by the referees and one voted by the players. In 1989, it was only the players voting.[3]

Winners
Season Player Nationality Club Ref
1977 Jimmy Rooney  Australia Marconi [3]
1978 Ken Boden  Australia Newcastle United
1979 Ivo Prskalo  Australia Marconi
1980 Jim Hermiston  Scotland Brisbane Lions
1981 Bobby Russell  Australia Adelaide City
1982 Peter Katholos  Australia Sydney Olympic
1983 Joe Watson  Australia Sydney City
1984 Sergio Melta  Australia Adelaide City
1985 Graham Honeyman  Australia West Adelaide
1986 Bobby Russell (2)  Australia South Melbourne
Graham Arnold*  Australia Sydney Croatia
1987 Andrew Zinni  Australia Brunswick Juventus
Frank Farina*  Australia Marconi
1988 Paul Wade  Australia South Melbourne
Frank Farina* (2)  Australia Marconi
1989 Zlatko Nastevski  Australia Marconi

* Player-voted award Referee-voted award

Multiple winners
Awards Player Team Seasons
2 Bobby Russell Adelaide City / South Melbourne 1981, 1986
2 Frank Farina Marconi 1987, 1988

Awards won by club
Club Wins
Marconi 5
Adelaide City 2
South Melbourne 2
Brisbane Lions 1
Brunswick Juventus 1
Newcastle United 1
Sydney City 1
Sydney Croatia 1
Sydney Olympic 1
West Adelaide 1
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References
  1. "Football's national competition forced other sports to 'wake up' and develop - ABC News". www.abc.net.au. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  2. Les Murray's Football Cafe - with Zlatko Nastevski, retrieved 2020-05-07
  3. "The Australian National Soccer League". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
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