Joe Guest, Aleksandra Sinclair and Danella Butrus crowned NPL Victoria Gold Medallists

The Oakleigh Cannons captain was bestowed NPL Victoria’s highest honour, the Gold Medal, for the second time in his career.

Guest, whio last won the coveted award in 2019, polled an incredible 33 votes across the season.

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He joins Preston Lions’ Chris Emsovski and Hume City’s Nick Hegarty as the only men to win the gong twice this century.

There was also a remarkable finish in the NPLW Gold Medal count with Spring Hills’ Aleksandra Sinclair and Bulleen Lions’ young gun Danella Butrus sharing the award.

While there was an emotional moment as Heidelberg United’s Keely Lockhart was named NPLW Player’s Player after her death during the season.

For the only time of the night, the 1000 people in the Palladium Room were silent as Lockhart’s father took the stage to accept the award on her behalf.

Lockhart passed away in July, shocking the entire football community.

Cameron Lockhart, a former president of Eltham Redbacks, gave a moving speech, telling the crowd how proud his daughter was of the game and would be for the award.

“Keely loved football and loved the women’s game,” he said.

“The amount of times her and I would talk about what’s happening around the leagues, who’s doing what, who’s going well, she revelled in other people’s success.

“She was so proud of how the women’s game was developing.

“A couple of weeks before we lost her, she was talking about how she wanted to be the mentor for the girls coming through that she didn’t have when she was a junior.

“She wanted to take on coaching after she gave up her playing career.

“I think she’d be so proud of he recognition that she’s getting from her fellow players around the league.”

Guest won the league medal ahead of Heidelberg’s Golden Boot and NPL Player’s Player Bul Juach and 2024 Gold Medallist Aamir Abdullah.

He was also named the Bill Fleming Medallist, voted on by Football Victoria Commentators, tying with Dandenong Thunder forward Yuki Uchida.

He scored 15 scores, the second most in the competition, and had 13 assists in 26 matches.

The Englishman felt it was his best season.

“It wasn’t bad. It was one of my best seasons,” Guest said.

“Every year has been quite consistent but this is definitely up there.

“It was a nice end to a disappointing season, we didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve as a team and that’s the main priority.

“But to finish with an individual award is obviously nice.”

Winning a second Gold Medal is especially humbling.

“It’s something I can look back on and be really proud of,” he said.

“I’ll remember it for a long time and it’s something that will stay with me for a long time.

“Hopefully, I can add to it and make it three at some point.”

Champions Heidelberg United swept the Coach and Goalkeeper of the Year awards, won by John Anastasiadis and Yaren Sozer.

In the Women’s, evergreen 37-year-old midfielder Sinclair and 18-year-old rising star Butrus could not be separated.

Heidelberg United’s Asuka Miyata rounded out the podium.

Both said it was a privilege to share the stage with the other.

“It means everything, it’s an absolute honour to be standing here with Danella – she’s a legend,” Sinclair said.

“I reckon she’s half my age, so to have one of the oldest players in the league and one of the youngest receiving an award together it’s a massive achievement for me and I’m honoured to do it with her.

Butrus was similarly effusive.

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“It means the world, especially to get this award with a player like Aleks Sinclair herself,” he said.

“I’m speechless, I can’t put into words how honoured I am and how grateful I am to all my teammates and everyone who helped me achieve this.

“I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me, I’ll take it one step at a time.”

Heidelberg premiership-winner Dennis Georgakopoulos and Brunswick Juventus’ Payton Woodward were named the NPLW Coach and Goalkeeper of the Year.

NPL VICTORIA AWARDS

Gold Medal: Joe Guest (Oakleigh Cannons)

Players’ Player: Bul Juach (Heidelberg United)

Golden Boot: Bul Juach (Heidelberg United)

Goalkeeper of the Year: Yaren Sozer (Heidelberg United)

Coach of the Year: John Anastadiadis (Heidelberg United)

Goal of the Year: Luka Kolic (Melbourne Victory)

NPLW AWARDS

Gold Medal: Aleksandra Sinclair (Spring Hills), Danella Butrus (Bulleen Lions)

Players’ Player: Keely Lockhart (Heidelberg United)

Golden Boot: Sawa Matsuda (Heidelberg United)

Goalkeeper of the Year: Peyton Woodward (Brunswick Juventus)

Coach of the Year: Dennis Georgakopoulos (Heidelberg United)

Goal of the Year: Danella Butrus (Bulleen Lions)

VPL1 AWARDS

Best-and-Fairest: Dylan Allshorn (Brunswick City)

Players’ Player: Luke Lofts (Caroline Springs George Cross)

Goalkeeper of the Year: Lachlan Charles (Melbourne City)

Coach of the Year: George Katsakis (Bentleigh Greens)

Golden Boot: Luke Lofts (Caroline Springs George Cross)

VPL2 AWARDS

Best-and-Fairest: Anthony Banovac (North Geelong Warriors)

Players’ Player: Josh Dennett (Eltham Redbacks)

Goalkeeper of the Year: Abdulkerim Koc (Eltham Redbacks)

Coach of the Year: Stuart Begg (North Geelong Warriors)

Golden Boot: Sonny Brimmer (North Geelong Warriors)

VPLW AWARDS

Best-and-Fairest: Jada Colbert (Keilor Park)

Goalkeeper of the Year: Lilianna Berg (Geelong Galaxy United)

Coach of the Year: Del Donnelly (Avondale)

Golden Boot: Addison Steiner (Avondale)

COMMUNITY AWARDS

Community Inclusion Award: Robin Walker (Armstrong United)

Female Coach of the Year: Madelaine Breakspear (Sale United)

Male Coach of the Year: Ramnish Mankotia (Bundoora United)

Volunteer of the Year: Megan Roussel (Maribyrnong Swifts), Phillip Berry (Colts United)

Futsal Club of the Year: East City Wolves

Regional Club of the Year: Surf Coast

Metropolitan Club of the Year: Glen Eira

Female Football Champion of the Year: Ella Healy (Dynamo Melbourne)

Originally published as Joe Guest, Aleksandra Sinclair and Danella Butrus crowned NPL Victoria Gold Medallists