Keeper nets an award
BRISBANE Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young has claimed back-to-back Gary Wilkins Medals.
Despite the Roar having conceded 71 goals this season, an unwanted A-League record, Young was named the club’s A-League player of the year for the second season in succession.
Young became the fourth multiple Gary Wilkins Medallist, joining Thomas Broich (2011, 2012 and 2014), Craig Moore (2008 and 2009), and Matt McKay (2007, 2015).
Kept busy during the Roar’s horror season, which ended with last Thursday’s 5-3 home loss to Adelaide United, Young made 87 saves in the 24 matches he played.
Retiring skipper McKay, who made 302 appearances for the Roar, became the third player inducted in the club’s Hall of Fame, joining Brisbane legend Broich and five-time A-League championship-winning goalkeeper Michael Theo.
Marquee man Eric Bautheac, who is expected to leave the club, won the players’ player award.
Matildas defender and Roar stalwart Clare Polkinghorne was named the club’s W-League player of the year at last night’s awards ceremony at Richlands.
American midfielder Celeste Boureille, last season’s W-League player of the year, won the players’ player award.
In other awards presented last night, striker Dylan Wenzel-Halls was named the
club’s A-League breakthrough player of the year, while Adam Taggart, who left the club in February for South Korean outfit Suwon Samsung Bluewings, won the Roar Golden Boot for his haul of 11 goals.
Teenager Indiah-Paige Riley won the Roar’s WLeague breakthrough player of the year, while striker Allira Toby won Brisbane’s WLeague Golden Boot for a second successive season with five goals.
Roar chief executive officer David Pourre praised all the award winners.
“On behalf of everyone at BRFC, I would like to congratulate all our award winners,” he said. “There was plenty to celebrate this season and we’re looking forward to returning bigger and better in season 2019-20.”