Matildas star Mary Fowler and New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen have been voted by their peers as the 2024 Austraffic PFA Young Footballers of the Year.
The duo were considered by PFA members as the outstanding performers among a strong shortlist of candidates, which included the likes of Kyra Cooney-Cross, Charlotte Grant, Kaitlyn Torpey, Nestory Irankuda, Jordan Bos and Alessandro Circati.
It is the second time Fowler has won the player-voted award, while Paulsen is the third New Zealand international to win the accolade, following in the footsteps of Marco Rojas and Liberato Cacace.
The awards consider the performances of professionals playing in the A-Leagues, as well as Australian players plying their trade overseas between June 2023 and June 2024, who are under the age of 23 at the time.
The PFA will reveal the 2024 Austraffic Men’s and Women’s Footballers of the Year next week.
Austraffic PFA Young Women’s Footballer of the Year: Mary Fowler
Fowler starred in the English Women’s Super League last season for Manchester City, with the attacking midfielder scoring four times and adding six assists as City secured second-place, behind champions Chelsea on goal difference.
The 21-year-old also delivered strong performances on the international stage. Fowler was an integral figure in six of seven of the Matildas’ 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches and played a key role for the Matildas in the lead-up to, and at, the 2024 Paris Olympics. The former Montpellier and Adelaide United player scored four goals in five appearances during Olympic qualifying.
Fowler joins Alex Chidiac (2017, 2018) and Ellie Carpenter (2020, 2021) as players who have won the Young Women’s Footballer of the Year twice. Fowler last won the award in 2022.
“It means a lot to me,” Fowler said. “I think it’s one of the best awards I can receive because getting something from the players I play alongside, and play against, it means a lot to me to see that they think I’m doing well and give me that kind of recognition. I just feel super grateful for that.”
Austraffic PFA Young Men’s Footballer of the Year (PFA Harry Kewell Medal): Alex Paulsen
Paulsen has been awarded the PFA Harry Kewell Medal after a breakout season in the A-League Men with Wellington Phoenix.
The 22-year-old secured the No.1 spot with Wellington during the 2023-24 pre-season, before helping Giancarlo Italiano’s side secure a finals berth with a string of incredible performances in goals.
Paulsen claimed several accolades last season: he was named the A-League Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, the competition’s Fan Player of the Year and shared the A-League Men’s Young Footballer of the Year honours with Nestory Irankunda.
Paulsen’s form throughout the campaign earned him a place in the 2023-24 PFA A-League Men Team of the Season. He was named captain of the player-voted team, having received the most votes from his peers.
“I’m proud to receive such a prestigious award,” Paulsen said. “Only two Kiwis have won this award (previously) so to be up in that bracket is amazing and I’m really proud of receiving such an accolade.
“It means more to be voted by my peers and my teammates. I feel very honoured to receive this award. Twelve months ago, I wasn’t really – with regards to Wellington Phoenix – in the picture to be considered the No.1, and to be given an opportunity by ‘Chiefy’ (Italiano) to be involved with the Wellington Phoenix and to be the No.1 was fantastic.”
At the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, Paulsen signed with English Premier League side Bournemouth, before returning to the A-League Men on loan with new expansion team Auckland FC.
Paulsen becomes the third New Zealander to win the Young Men’s Footballer of the Year after fellow All-Whites Marco Rojas (2013) and Liberato Cacace (2020). Paulsen is also the third goalkeeper to be awarded the honour, following in the footsteps of Socceroos shot-stoppers Mat Ryan (2012, 2014, 2015) and Mitch Langerak (2010).
Young Footballer of the Year honour roll
Young Women’s Footballer of the Year: Mary Fowler (2024, 2022), Charlotte Grant (2023), Ellie Carpenter (2021, 2020), Karly Roestbakken (2019), Alex Chidiac (2018, 2017)
Young Men’s Footballer of the Year (Harry Kewell Medal): Alex Paulsen (2024), Jordan Bos (2023), Denis Genreau (2022), Connor Metcalfe (2021), Liberato Cacace (2020), Chris Ikonomidis (2019), Daniel Arzani (2018), Alex Gersbach (2017), Jamie Maclaren (2016), Mat Ryan (2015, 2014, 2012), Marco Rojas (2013), Robbie Kruse (2011), Mitch Langerak (2010), Nikita Rukavytska (2009)
About the Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards
The Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards have been awarded annually since 2009, when former Socceroo Tim Cahill won the inaugural PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year. The PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year was introduced the following season, which was won by Servet Uzunlar in 2010.
About Austraffic
Founded in 1983 (as Australasian Traffic Surveys), Austraffic has undertaken thousands of traffic, transport and pedestrian studies in all states and territories of Australia and New Zealand. Austraffic’s systems and expertise delivers quality data that meets the customer’s needs. Their offices are located throughout Australia, and their traffic engineering and information technology specialists assist customers with the design, analysis and presentation of surveys. For more information visit austraffic.com.au
