Mooy, Williams take top soccer gongs

Dec 6, 2016 - 5:30 PM Aaron Mooy has crowned his rise from A-League off-cut to Australian football's great hope by winning Professional Footballers Australia's (PFA) player of the year award.

The midfield maestro was honoured in Tuesday night's awards ceremony in Melbourne alongside Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who claimed the women's player of the year prize.

While Williams can put her trophy next to the same prize she won in 2012, Mooy claimed his first peer-voted award and became just the second player to win the award for their A-League exploits, after Matt McKay (2011).

The 26-year-old starred in Melbourne City's run to the semi-finals last season with 11 goals and a competition-record 20 assists.

That form has made him a Socceroos mainstay.

In 2016 he was Ange Postecoglou's most reliable Socceroo; the only player to start all 10 Australian internationals in 2016.

Not bad for a player deemed surplus to requirements by Tony Popovic at Western Sydney in 2014.

Now with English Championship side Huddersfield Town - on loan from English Premier League giants Manchester City - Mooy said he was delighted to be honoured by his teammates and fellow professionals.

"To be chosen by the players makes this award very special," he said.

"To join the likes of Mark Schwarzer and Tim Cahill is an honour and one I am proud of."

Williams won the prize for her glovework at national level, for W-League club Canberra United and NWSL franchise Houston Dash.

She beat out Asian player of the year Caitlin Foord for the prize, thanking her teammates for the accolade.

"Over the past few years we have had a really hectic schedule and a lot of ups and downs. To have the backing of the girls means so much," she said.

"The first time I won the award was when I was breaking into the team.

"This time around there has been a lot of history-making events and I have experienced so many highs with the girls and this is the most rewarding recognition I can imagine."

Jamie Maclaren, the top-scoring Australian striker in last season's A-League, was given the Harry Kewell Medal as the best under-23 player.

Kewell was also honoured at the awards ceremony, becoming the eighth player to be given the Alex Tobin Medal for career-long contribution to the sport.

PFA 2016 PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Male - Aaron Mooy

Female - Lydia Williams

Under-23 Male - Jamie Maclaren

Alex Tobin Medal for outstanding contribution to the sport - Harry Kewell

MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2016 - Aaron Mooy

2015 - Mat Ryan

2014 - Mile Jedinak

2013 - Robbie Kruse

2012 - Brett Holman

2011 - Matt McKay

2010 - Mark Schwarzer

2009 - Tim Cahill

WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2016 - Lydia Williams

2015 - Elise Kellond-Knight

2014 - Katrina Gorry

2013 - Sam Kerr

2012 - Lydia Williams

2011 - Elise Kellond-Knight

2010 - Servet Uzulnar

UNDER-23 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2016 - Jamie Maclaren

2015 - Mat Ryan

2014 - Mat Ryan

2013 - Marco Rojas

2012 - Mat Ryan

2011 - Robbie Kruse

2010 - Mitch Langerak

2009 - Nikita Rukavytsya

* Note: Awards open to all Australian-based players or Australians based overseas.

ALEX TOBIN MEDALISTS

2016 - Harry Kewell

2014 - Mark Schwarzer

2012 - Frank Farina

2011 - Mark Viduka

2009 - Craig Johnston

2008 - Joe Marston, Johnny Warren

Source: AAP