The nominees for the February Austraffic PFA Player of the Month award have been revealed, with 12 players across the A-Leagues up for the fourth peer-voted award of the season.
The players were selected by a panel of former players and experts, who nominated the individuals based off their performances during February.
Six players have been nominated across the A-League Men and A-League Women competitions for the award and must be PFA members to be eligible for the award.
PFA Members will receive a link from the PFA to vote on the nominees this week. Take a look at the nominees, below.
A-League Men
Zac Sapsford (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Sapsford has been one of the league’s breakout players this season, staking his claim in the Western Sydney Wanderers attack with a string of top performances. The 22-year-old continued his incredible knack of scoring in Sydney Derbies, firing home a brace in the Wanderers’ 3-3 draw with Sydney FC this month, taking his tally to five goals in Derbies. The Wanderers attacker added another goal in Western Sydney’s resounding 4-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners, along with an assist for Jack Clisby.
Dylan Leonard (Western United)
It’s been nothing short of a meteoric rise to stardom for Leonard, who has quickly emerged as one of the competition’s brightest young players. Leonard – who is still only 17-years-old – has staked his claim in the Western United starting lineup as one of the team’s most important players, showcasing in only 17 games the enormous potential he possesses. Leonard continued to shine throughout February for Western and according to Opta, ranks first for successful launches (18) and is second for possessional passes (1,259) and total carries (353), showcasing his ability as a ball-playing centre-back.
Lachlan Rose (Newcastle Jets)
Rose has been a key contributor to Newcastle’s recent uptick in form. The 25-year-old – who missed most of the start of the season due to injury – has hit his straps in the last few weeks, scoring three goals in February, including in their wins against Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory, along with a goal in their 2-2 draw with Central Coast Mariners.
Noah Botic (Western United)
The in-form striker notches up his second consecutive nomination of the season, after being in the running last month for the peer-voted award. Botic continued his brilliant season in February, bagging three goals during the month and taking the lead in the Golden Boot race with ten goals to his name for the campaign, becoming the first player to reach double figures.
Hiroki Sakai (Auckland FC)
Sakai clinches his second nomination of the season after a string of brilliant performances in February. The Auckland FC defender played a key role in helping the A-League Men’s newest team win each of its three matches this month, along with only conceding two goals in those contests. He capped it off by signing a brand new contract with the club, extending the Japanese international’s stay for another season.
Clayton Taylor (Newcastle Jets)
Another of Newcastle’s key players throughout the last month, Taylor has shot into form with goals in each of his last three matches. The winger’s form up and down the left-flank has been key to the Jets’ five-game unbeaten run, working brilliantly in tandem with the likes of fellow nominee Lachie Rose and new signing Kota Mizunuma.
A-League Women
Holly McNamara (Melbourne City)
The Return of the Mac has been nothing short of special. McNamara picked up right where she left off prior to her season ending knee injury last season, putting together a string of top performances throughout February that sees her among the nominees for Player of the Month. The standout performance came in their 5-1 win over Western United, where she scored a hat-trick, before adding her fourth of the month against Newcastle only three days later. Ultimately, her performances led to a Matildas recall for the SheBelieves Cup.
Rhianna Pollicina (Melbourne City)
Melbourne City maintaining their undefeated start to the 2024-25 A-League Women’s season has been helped along by the recent form of Pollicina. The City attacker had a red hot February, scoring in the 5-1 win over Western United, while adding three assists in four matches, taking her to the top of the assists chart in the competition with five.
Alana Murphy (Melbourne Victory)
Murphy has gone from strength to strength this season for Melbourne Victory, solidifying herself as one of the top midfielders in the competition, The 19-year-old continues to act as the side’s metronome in the middle of the park, acting as a focal point in their build-up from midfield but also as a tenacious presence in defensive phases. Her run of performances led to Murphy earning a maiden call-up to the Matildas squad for the She Believes Cup, coming in as a late replacement for the injured Clare Wheeler.
Zoe Tolland (Adelaide United)
Tolland has been one of the league’s breakout stars this year, playing a central role in Adelaide’s remarkable 10 game unbeaten run. The 22-year-old centre-back has solidified herself in the heart of the Reds defence, helping forge one of the league’s most formidable defensive units alongside Ella Tonkin, Matilda McNamara and January Player of the Month Claudia Jenkins.
Sienna Saveska (Western Sydney Wanderers)
The Wanderers’ renaissance throughout February has been led by another of the league’s breakout stars in Saveska. The 18-year-old attacker now has seven goals for the season, including one in their 2-1 win over Brisbane early in the month, before adding an assist in their come-from-behind victory against Central Coast Mariners. If that wasn’t enough, her performances carried over at international level, with Saveska winning the Golden Boot with six goals in three games for the Young Matildas at the Pacific Aus Four Nations Tournament.
Kayla Morrison (Melbourne Victory)
Morrison’s brilliant campaign continued in February, with the defender playing an integral role in Victory’s six game undefeated run. The centre-back’s form was among the best in the entire competition, helping Victory establish themselves as the equal-best defensive unit in the league, while adding plenty with her ball-playing ability from the back-line.
