The 12 nominees for the Austraffic PFA Player of the Month award have been locked in for December.

All 12 players were selected by a panel of former players and experts, who nominated the individuals based off their performances during the final month of 2025.

Across each of the A-League Men and A-League Women competitions six players have been nominated for the award. Nominees 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

Juan Mata (Melbourne Victory)

Mata announced himself to the Melbourne Victory faithful with an outstanding block of form in December. The former Chelsea and Manchester United put together a series of impressive performances to help his side return to winning ways after a difficult start to the campaign, playing a central role in all three of Victory’s wins in the final month of the calendar year. The numbers don’t lie either, as he currently leads the league in chances created (35) and is equal-first in assists (four).

Lachlan Brook (Auckland FC)

Reigning premiers Auckland FC ended the calendar year top of the league and the form of Brook went a long way towards their three December victories. The attacker had a goal contribution in each of Auckland’s three December games, scoring in the Kiwi Classico against Wellington Phoenix and at his former club Western Sydney Wanderers while helping himself to an assist against Central Coast Mariners.

Dean Bouzanis (Brisbane Roar)

Bouzanis has been a rock since signing for Brisbane Roar in the off-season. The veteran goalkeeper helped Brisbane to three consecutive clean sheets in December, showcasing fantastic shot-stopping throughout the entirety of the month and is equal-first in clean sheets (six). However, Bouzanis’ work as a shot-stopper wasn’t the only part of his game to catch the eye, after teeing up Chris Long with a piercing through-ball from deep which led to the Englishman scoring a dramatic late winner against Adelaide United.

Harrison Sawyer (Macarthur FC)

Sawyer’s rise to prominence continued in December. The towering striker was deadly in-front of goals for Macarthur FC and didn’t need a lot of time on the pitch to make an impact, scoring all of his three goals after coming on as a substitute against Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets. His current tally of five goals has him equal-first in the A-League Men Golden Boot race and added another goal to help Macarthur secure top spot in their AFC Champions League Two group by scoring the decisive penalty away to Beijing Guoan.

Will Dobson (Newcastle Jets)

Newcastle have been catching the eye in the early months of the season and Dobson has played a key part in turning the Jets into box office viewing. The 18-year-old starred in December alongside the slew of youngsters turning heads in the Hunter, with the pick of those performances coming in their 2-0 victory over Sydney FC where he scored the opening goal.

Louis Verstraete (Auckland FC)

Verstraete continues to flourish in the A-Leagues, building off an impressive first campaign with Auckland FC throughout the early weeks of the season. The Belgian midfielder has been the metronome in the heart of Steve Corica’s side’s midfield and has been one of their most consistent performers on a week-to-week basis. Verstraete currently sits second in the league for interceptions per 90 (2.5) according to FotMob and made an impact going forward too, adding an assist against Western Sydney Wanderers.

A-League Women

Annalise Rasmussen (Central Coast Mariners)

Rasmussen had a breakout month in December, scoring all seven of her goals this season in the final few weeks of the calendar year. The Central Coast Mariners striker fired home three seperate braces against Newcastle Jets, Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar, along with adding another goal in their 1-1 draw with Canberra United. Her seven goals puts her equal-first in the Golden Boot race alongside Holly McNamara as she looks to build off an incredible end to 2025.

Holly McNamara (Melbourne City)

McNamara is back among the nominees again this month following a fantastic end to 2025. The Melbourne City attacker was at her brilliant best, firing home five goals including a hat-trick against Perth Glory, taking her tally to seven goals in seven games to start the season. Incredibly, McNamara has 10 goal contributions throughout those seven appearances and is hitting form at the perfect time with the Asian Cup right around the corner.

Rhianna Pollicina (Melbourne Victory)

Pollicina is flourishing in her new home across town at Melbourne Victory with an impressive run of form to bring the year to a close. The Victory attacking midfielder scored in back-to-back-to-back games to end the year, including Melbourne’s remarkable come-from-behind draw against Central Coast Mariners, where they reeled in a three-goal deficit in second-half stoppage time to draw 3-3. Pollicina’s three goals took her tally to six goals for the campaign, forging a formidable attacking tandem with fellow off-season arrival Kennedy White who has also six goals to her name.

Sasha Grove (Canberra United)

Grove has hit the ground running since her return to Canberra United, helping her side to an impressive start to the season. The versatile full-back has been ever-present up and down the left-hand side for Canberra and played a key role in their undefeated stretch to end the calendar year, scoring twice and also adding an assist in their win over Sydney FC.

Sabita ‘Samba’ Bhandari (Wellington Phoenix)

It’s fair to say, Samba is taking the A-League Women by storm. The Nepal international – who has been willed on by passionate support in almost every stadium across the opening rounds of the season by the local Nepali community – got off the mark for Wellington Phoenix in their 7-0 thrashing of Sydney FC, scoring a brace and adding an assist before getting on the scoresheet yet again the following against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Anna Leat (Newcastle Jets)

Leat has been on fire since arriving at Newcastle, returning to her brilliant best since a long layoff with concussion. The New Zealand international put together another impressive month of performances, continuing a very solid star to life in the Hunter. According to FotMob, Leat ranks first for save percentage (77.6%), saves per 90 (4.8) and goals prevented (1.0), showcasing just how important she’s been to the Jets since arriving at the club.

Featured images: Imago/Action Plus and ZUMA Press Wire