Magnificent Milanovic's last act in A-League Men
Nicolas Milanovic has signed off from his time in A-League Men in style, the Western Sydney playmaker being crowned the Johnny Warren Medal winner.
Alex Chidiac, meanwhile, scooped the Julie Dolan Medal for best women's player for the second time in her career.
Matildas midfielder Chidiac follows just four other players - Michelle Heyman, Sam Kerr, Clare Polkinghorne and Taryn Rockall - in winning the award twice after helping club side Melbourne Victory reach the A-League Women grand final.
Milanovic, was in influential touch for the Wanderers, banging in 12 goals that earned him a call-up to the Socceroos training camp and a move to Scottish side Aberdeen.
"It's amazing for our club and Nicolas who has had a wonderful couple of years," said Wanderers chief executive Scott Hudson.
"The club is really proud of his achievements, he grew up in Western Sydney and sat in the RBB as a young kid.
"To see him win this accolade and sit alongside some of the greatest names that have played our game, we're super proud of him."
Adelaide's Archie Goodwin claimed the young player-of-the-year award and split the ALM golden boot with Sydney playmaker Adrian Segecic.
Steve Corica was named best coach after helping Auckland claim the premiership in their maiden season in the competition.
Chidiac, though, said she wished she could swap her individual gong for the grand final trophy which eluded Victory after they lost to the Central Coast Mariners in a penalty shootout.
"It's a weird one, I don't deal well with personal awards but it is an honour," Chidiac said.
"I'm still not done yet, I'm hoping for a third."
Adrian Stenta was named coach of the year after taking Adelaide from bottom to third on the table and winning their first-ever finals match.
Melbourne City's Holly McNamara claimed the golden boot with 15 goals in 17 games, while Indiana Dos Santos of Sydney FC scooped the young player prize.
2024-25 DOLAN WARREN AWARDS ROLL OF HONOUR:
A-LEAGUE MEN
*Player of the year: Nicolas Milanovic (Western Sydney)
*Young player of the year: Archie Goodwin (Adelaide)
* Coach of the year: Steve Corica (Auckland)
* Golden boot: Adrian Segecic (Sydney FC) and Archie Goodwin (Adelaide) - 13 goals
A-LEAGUE WOMEN
*Player of the year: Alex Chidiac (Melbourne Victory)
*Young player of the year: Indiana Dos Santos (Sydney FC)
* Coach of the year: Adrian Stenta (Adelaide)
* Golden boot: Holly McNamara (Melbourne City) - 15 goals
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Crows land comeback win against Lions
AFL: The Crows have recorded an epic comeback victory against the Brisbane Lions after not kicking a goal in the first term.
The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
Sling tackles again in the spotlight; Tasmania's AFL saga ‘embarrassing', says Tim Paine
Dawson converted for Adelaide's third goal in six minutes, handing the hosts their first lead since the opening term. Further majors to Josh Rachele and Ben Keays – the recipient of a remarkable 'tunnel-ball' assist from Darcy Fogarty – made it five unanswered for the Crows and an 11-point advantage. Needing a scalp to fully mark their obvious 2025 improvement, Adelaide landed the biggest one there is, knocking the reigning kings of the jungle down to size, while improving their record to 11-2 in fourth quarters. But it wasn't without an almighty fight. Brisbane charged to the finish line, racking up 20-8 fourth-quarter inside-50s at the Cathedral End, including the last 11 of the night. But they let themselves down horribly with shoddy finishing. 'You get lucky because you deserve it,' Nicks said. 'The footy gods work in funny ways. We haven't had any luck in the last three or four years. Things have gone against us – things that you just couldn't believe would. 'We said eventually some will go our way, and tonight we got a little bit of luck to win that game.' Zac Bailey (twice) and Eric Hipwood shanked shots for goal out on the full, while the visitors' scoreboard return for the stanza read an eye-popping 0.8. Neale narrowly missed on the run with a minute to go to make it a six-point ballgame, before Adelaide's desperate defence punched Bailey's last shot through for a rushed behind in the dying stages. 'That was a game we should have won, in my view,' Fagan said. 'We did so many things right and didn't win the game. We were all over them, we just couldn't kick it through the goals.' Led by Will Ashcroft, Jarrod Berry and Neale, the Lions dictated at stoppage and led at every change, but couldn't quite make their buffer insurmountable in the wet, slippery conditions. If Adelaide Oval's scoreboard pocket belongs to the great Eddie Betts, then the opposite one in the south-west is now Rachele's. After catching Noah Answerth holding the footy, Rachele threaded the long-range needle from the boundary line before turning to the crowd and following with his trademark, Dwyane Wade-style 'my house' signature celebration to cut the deficit down before half-time. Tasmania's AFL saga 'embarrassing' for our state, says Tim Paine AAP Former Australia cricket captain Tim Paine has lashed Tasmania as 'self-sabotaging', admitting he's embarrassed by the political upheaval that threatens to kill off the island's planned AFL team. The Tasmania Devils are at risk of extinction before they have even played a game, after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday lost a no-confidence motion. It means Tasmanians are set to return to the polls, likely delaying construction of a new stadium in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue, which is now slated to cost $945 million, is a condition of the Devils entering the AFL in 2028. Devils chief executive Brendon Gale and chairman Grant O'Brien fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club's licence at serious risk. The saga has prompted an emotional response from Devils staff, politicians and public figures. 'It is staggering that we do this to ourselves, we are a self-sabotaging state,' Paine said on SEN. 'I'm as proud as anyone to be a Tasmanian but at times it is embarrassing. 'I was with [Brisbane Lions coach] Chris Fagan the last few days at the football club, everyone you speak to, they ask if it's gonna happen. Even Fages, a proud Tasmanian, you could see in his face and the look in his eye, he was shocked that once again we have gone out of our way to stuff something up that would be great for our state. 'It's a doomsday scenario, but what if the AFL revokes the licence?' Loading The former Test wicketkeeper felt Tasmania would continue to be the butt of jokes if it can't deliver an AFL team. 'Tassie has for a long time been the laughingstock for the other states because of our inability to get stuff done,' Paine said. 'When I was playing cricket people would say, 'Oh you're heading back to 'Slowbart', nothing ever happens'. It's the same as it was 10 years ago, and we keep proving people right. It's embarrassing when you're involved in national or international sports and businesses, and you go to carnivals or Tests and people just continually shit-can us. 'They talk down to us and we continually prove them right.' Rockliff has vowed to fight and win a snap election, but speculation is growing his Tasmanian Liberal colleagues will deny him the chance. The prevailing political wisdom is the Rockliff government will lose an election, with veteran Liberal political operative Brad Stansfield saying they would be 'annihilated' in a winter campaign. However, parliament's dissolution is not due until after Tuesday, given the need to pass a stop-gap budget bill before the campaign. The delay across the King's Birthday long weekend gives the 17 members of the Liberal party room – including 14 who will put their seats at risk in a campaign – plenty of time to rethink their support for Rockliff. 'It's probably 70 to 80 per cent likely that either over the weekend or following the appropriation bill going through on Tuesday, Jeremy won't be leader,' former premier David Bartlett said. 'It won't be a coup. It will be a smooth transition of power to a new leader and Jeremy will be under all sorts of pressure from internal Liberal party people to make that happen. I'm not even convinced Jeremy Rockliff wants to go to another election. He'd probably rather retire to the farm.' After losing the no-confidence vote, Rockliff gave an emotional address where he revealed he fought off internal opponents to stand by the billion-dollar Macquarie Point stadium. 'I've been advised by all the hard-heads in my party not to go down that track. Why? Because it's bad for votes,' he said. 'Well, I've always said, 'Stuff votes' ... I'll say it for the stadium for as long as I damn well live, because I believe in it.' 'Bro can't have fun': Ginnivan's social media post after goal celebration Jon Pierik and Scott Spits Jack Ginnivan made no apologies for showing his Western Bulldogs opponent the ball as he raced in to goal late in Hawthorn's victory at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. In fact, he made it clear that he felt his critics were out of touch. The Hawks forward posted on X about midnight: 'why everyone wanna be so serious, bro can't have fun', and signed off with a couple of dinosaur emojis. Ginnivan was at his provocative best with the showboating goal that extended the Hawks' lead to 27 points. The Hawks won by 22. As he took a couple of bounces, Ginnivan grinned widely and showed the footy to opponent Bailey Dale before booting it into the stands. Teammate Mabior Chol wasn't impressed and simply said afterwards: 'It's Ginnivan. What can you do? It's him. It's his personality.' Chol was at his athletic best and booted four goals himself. He was honest in his appraisal of Ginnivan's celebration. 'Look, I wasn't a fan of it, to be honest,' Chol told Fox Footy. 'I'm just kinda glad [about his form] … he's had a massive two weeks. Hopefully he can carry that into next week, and have a good well-earned rest.' Another teammate, Dylan Moore, was unfazed. 'That's Ginni being Ginni. When he's at his best he's showboating. He's causing frustration for the opposition. I absolutely love that,' Moore told ABC Radio after the game. Ginnivan kicked two goals and had 23 touches, and Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said his antics could be a case of 'winners are grinners'. 'Sometimes I think with the contemporaries these days, it doesn't even go in the memory banks,' Beveridge said. 'Next time we play the Hawks they won't even remember it, and I won't show it. That's what he [Ginnivan] does, that's the way he rolls.' The Hawks needed to find a way to resuscitate their season, having dropped their previous three games. Loading They were without skipper James Sicily and irrepressible forward Nick Watson. The Bulldogs needed to reaffirm why they are seen as legitimate finals contenders. By late Thursday night, with Prime Minister and Hawks fan Anthony Albanese still in the house, the result was clear: the Hawks, stung by a week of criticism, are top-four and premiership threats. The Bulldogs, now 6-6, have much work to do if they are simply to make the eight. Having laid just 74 tackles over the previous fortnight, the Hawks finished this clash with 82. 'It was a clear focus for us coming into the game,' coach Sam Mitchell said. 'Part of it is player attitude, but part of it is the way we set up the game. When you work together on those things and prioritise them at the top of the list, you get that performance, which is going to give you a much better chance to beat good teams, which the Bulldogs are.'
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Comeback Crows' late surge sinks Brisbane in thriller
Adelaide have produced a stunning last-quarter comeback to sink reigning premiers Brisbane by five points in an AFL thriller. Down 17 points at three-quarter time, the Crows then booted five goals to none for a 10.8 (68) to 8.15 (63) triumph at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Friday night. Adelaide retain a hold on third spot - they're just two premiership points behind the second-placed Lions. Adelaide boast nine wins and four losses and appear certain to return to the finals for the first time since 2017. "I know we're we're a good side; we have got a little bit still to do to become a great side," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said. "But tonight is a step in the right direction. It backs up my belief in the group, there's no doubt about that." Adelaide livewire Josh Rachele slotted three goals, as did Ben Keays (20 disposals, seven inside 50s) who was outstanding against his former club. And their captain, Jordan Dawson, took a mark-of-the-year contender - and then goaled - during a final-term flourish which enhances the Crows' status as a genuine contender. Brisbane duo Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron kicked two goals each and Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft was superb with a game-high 31 disposals. Ashcroft's midfield colleagues Hugh McCluggage (27 touches, one goal), Jarrod Berry (28 possessions) and Lachie Neal (22) also revelled in the wet. In slippery conditions, it took until the 21st minute of the game for Brisbane's Rayner to score the opening goal. Just 60 seconds later, the Lions struck again when Callum Ah Chee bounced through a major. The visitors led 2.3 to 0.6 at the end of a first quarter which could land Crows recruit James Peatling in strife for a sling tackle on Neale. The Lions champ wasn't hurt when his head hit the turf but Peatling was penalised for a dangerous tackle certain to attract match review scrutiny. Brisbane scored three goals in nine minutes to create a 21-point advantage midway through the second term. But Adelaide responded to the danger with Rachele threading a remarkable 45m set shot from outside a boundary line to help cut their deficit to eight points at halftime, 5.3 to 3.7. That advantage was reduced to two points early in the third quarter when Rachele snapped his second goal - and 26 minutes into the term, the home side were still within four points. But late strikes from Cameron and Kai Lohmann gave Brisbane a 17-point buffer at three-quarter time. Adelaide then stormed to victory with five goals to none in less than 18 minutes. Tall attacker Riley Thilthorpe triggered the spree with a classy goal on the run from an acute angle - Keays, Dawson - after his soaring mark - Rachele and Keays again followed with majors for an 11-point lead. The Lions pressed late but could add only eight behinds in the final quarter - plus two attempts which sailed out-on-the-full. "In the last quarter - 10 shots to five - and we lose. That was a game we should have won," Lions coach Chris Fagan said. "We did so many things right and didn't win the game." Adelaide have produced a stunning last-quarter comeback to sink reigning premiers Brisbane by five points in an AFL thriller. Down 17 points at three-quarter time, the Crows then booted five goals to none for a 10.8 (68) to 8.15 (63) triumph at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Friday night. Adelaide retain a hold on third spot - they're just two premiership points behind the second-placed Lions. Adelaide boast nine wins and four losses and appear certain to return to the finals for the first time since 2017. "I know we're we're a good side; we have got a little bit still to do to become a great side," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said. "But tonight is a step in the right direction. It backs up my belief in the group, there's no doubt about that." Adelaide livewire Josh Rachele slotted three goals, as did Ben Keays (20 disposals, seven inside 50s) who was outstanding against his former club. And their captain, Jordan Dawson, took a mark-of-the-year contender - and then goaled - during a final-term flourish which enhances the Crows' status as a genuine contender. Brisbane duo Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron kicked two goals each and Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft was superb with a game-high 31 disposals. Ashcroft's midfield colleagues Hugh McCluggage (27 touches, one goal), Jarrod Berry (28 possessions) and Lachie Neal (22) also revelled in the wet. In slippery conditions, it took until the 21st minute of the game for Brisbane's Rayner to score the opening goal. Just 60 seconds later, the Lions struck again when Callum Ah Chee bounced through a major. The visitors led 2.3 to 0.6 at the end of a first quarter which could land Crows recruit James Peatling in strife for a sling tackle on Neale. The Lions champ wasn't hurt when his head hit the turf but Peatling was penalised for a dangerous tackle certain to attract match review scrutiny. Brisbane scored three goals in nine minutes to create a 21-point advantage midway through the second term. But Adelaide responded to the danger with Rachele threading a remarkable 45m set shot from outside a boundary line to help cut their deficit to eight points at halftime, 5.3 to 3.7. That advantage was reduced to two points early in the third quarter when Rachele snapped his second goal - and 26 minutes into the term, the home side were still within four points. But late strikes from Cameron and Kai Lohmann gave Brisbane a 17-point buffer at three-quarter time. Adelaide then stormed to victory with five goals to none in less than 18 minutes. Tall attacker Riley Thilthorpe triggered the spree with a classy goal on the run from an acute angle - Keays, Dawson - after his soaring mark - Rachele and Keays again followed with majors for an 11-point lead. The Lions pressed late but could add only eight behinds in the final quarter - plus two attempts which sailed out-on-the-full. "In the last quarter - 10 shots to five - and we lose. That was a game we should have won," Lions coach Chris Fagan said. "We did so many things right and didn't win the game." Adelaide have produced a stunning last-quarter comeback to sink reigning premiers Brisbane by five points in an AFL thriller. Down 17 points at three-quarter time, the Crows then booted five goals to none for a 10.8 (68) to 8.15 (63) triumph at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Friday night. Adelaide retain a hold on third spot - they're just two premiership points behind the second-placed Lions. Adelaide boast nine wins and four losses and appear certain to return to the finals for the first time since 2017. "I know we're we're a good side; we have got a little bit still to do to become a great side," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said. "But tonight is a step in the right direction. It backs up my belief in the group, there's no doubt about that." Adelaide livewire Josh Rachele slotted three goals, as did Ben Keays (20 disposals, seven inside 50s) who was outstanding against his former club. And their captain, Jordan Dawson, took a mark-of-the-year contender - and then goaled - during a final-term flourish which enhances the Crows' status as a genuine contender. Brisbane duo Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron kicked two goals each and Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft was superb with a game-high 31 disposals. Ashcroft's midfield colleagues Hugh McCluggage (27 touches, one goal), Jarrod Berry (28 possessions) and Lachie Neal (22) also revelled in the wet. In slippery conditions, it took until the 21st minute of the game for Brisbane's Rayner to score the opening goal. Just 60 seconds later, the Lions struck again when Callum Ah Chee bounced through a major. The visitors led 2.3 to 0.6 at the end of a first quarter which could land Crows recruit James Peatling in strife for a sling tackle on Neale. The Lions champ wasn't hurt when his head hit the turf but Peatling was penalised for a dangerous tackle certain to attract match review scrutiny. Brisbane scored three goals in nine minutes to create a 21-point advantage midway through the second term. But Adelaide responded to the danger with Rachele threading a remarkable 45m set shot from outside a boundary line to help cut their deficit to eight points at halftime, 5.3 to 3.7. That advantage was reduced to two points early in the third quarter when Rachele snapped his second goal - and 26 minutes into the term, the home side were still within four points. But late strikes from Cameron and Kai Lohmann gave Brisbane a 17-point buffer at three-quarter time. Adelaide then stormed to victory with five goals to none in less than 18 minutes. Tall attacker Riley Thilthorpe triggered the spree with a classy goal on the run from an acute angle - Keays, Dawson - after his soaring mark - Rachele and Keays again followed with majors for an 11-point lead. The Lions pressed late but could add only eight behinds in the final quarter - plus two attempts which sailed out-on-the-full. "In the last quarter - 10 shots to five - and we lose. That was a game we should have won," Lions coach Chris Fagan said. "We did so many things right and didn't win the game."
