Football SA would like to congratulate Charlotte Grant and Craig Goodwin, after the SA pair were honoured at the 2023 PFA Oakberry Players’ Awards in Sydney on Monday night.
Matildas Sam Kerr and Charlotte Grant and Socceroos Craig Goodwin and Jordan Bos were revealed as the major winners of the PFA’s prestigious player-voted awards, the 2023 PFA Oakberry Players’ Awards in Sydney on Monday night.
The gala event, which celebrated the significant contribution of football’s established and emerging players, also recognised Matildas and Socceroos greats Melissa Barbieri and Mile Jedinak.
PFA Austraffic Young Women’s Footballer of the Year: Charlotte Grant
Photo: Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline)
One of the Matildas’ most exciting talents, Charlotte Grant, was awarded the PFA Austraffic Young Women’s Footballer of the Year, after a season where the 21-year-old defender developed into a crucial member of the national team.
The young Vittsjö GIK defender from Adelaide has enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence in women’s football and is now a valuable member of Tony Gustavasson’s squad ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday.
Grant said:
“To win an award that has been won by the likes of Mary, Alex and Ellie means so much. It has been a very special twelve months and to receive this recognition on the eve of the World Cup means so much.”
PFA Austraffic Men’s Footballer of the Year: Craig Goodwin
After earning the vote of the A-Leagues panel of experts to win the Jonny Warren Medal after an incredible 2022/23 season with Adelaide United, Socceroos star Craig Goodwin also earned the vote of his peers to win the PFA Austraffic Men’s Footballer of the Year.
Goodwin excelled in the A-League Men competition last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists in 25 regular season matches, before scoring three more times in the finals series.
His form for Adelaide earned him a call up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he opened the Socceroos’ campaign with an early goal against France, before netting a deflected effort against eventual winners Argentina in the Round of 16.
Goodwin said:
“To be voted by the players as the PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year is a great honour and tops off what has been a brilliant 12 months for me personally. For the Socceroos and at Adelaide I get to step onto the pitch with great players and this award is only possible because of their efforts.”
2023 PFA Oakberry Players’ Awards Summary
PFA Alex Tobin Medal: Melissa Barbieri, Mile Jedinak
PFA Austraffic Women’s Footballer of the Year: Sam Kerr
PFA Austraffic Men’s Footballer of the Year: Craig Goodwin
PFA Austraffic Young Women’s Footballer of the Year: Charlotte Grant
PFA Austraffic Harry Kewell Medal: Jordan Bos
PFA Beyond Bank Community Medal: Aivi Luik
PFA Kimon Taliadoros Scholarship: Ben Collins and Scott Neville
PFA Craig Foster Scholarship: Grace Gill and Emma Illajovski