The nominees for the Austraffic PFA Player of the Month awards for January have been revealed.

Two players from Adelaide United and two from Sydney FC are among the candidates across the A-League Men’s and Women’s competitions, while Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City have one nominee each.

The six nominees across the A-Leagues were selected by the PFA’s Nominations Committee – comprising former players and media personalities – with the winners to be voted on by PFA members this month. Check out the nominees below.

A-League Womens

Rachel Lowe – Sydney FC

With Sydney FC sitting at A-League Women’s summit, the Sky Blues have been the in-form team this season. With Cortnee Vine named as December’s player of the month, it’s no surprise that another Sydney star is up for the award for their impressive performances in January. While Sydney’s established stars continue to shine, it’s the Sky Blues youngest, such as 20-year-old Lowe, who are catching the eye. In her three matches Lowe netted on three occasions; a brace in a 3-0 win over Melbourne City and a strike in Sydney’s 6-0 drubbing of Canberra.

Rhianna Pollicina – Melbourne City FC

Having been awarded the Liberty A-League Women’s goal of the week in late December with a curling strike into the top corner against Adelaide United, Pollicina continued her fine form in January, scoring twice for City in wins over Adelaide and Brisbane Roar. The 24-year-old attacker has been a crucial outlet for City this campaign, and also provided an assist for a return of two goals and an assist in her four appearances.

Chelsie Dawber – Adelaide United 

With five goals in five matches in January, Chelsie Dawber caught the eye of the nominations committee with a prolific month in front of goal for Adelaide. With braces against Western Sydney and Perth Glory and a single strike against Canberra, the 22-year-old is in career-best form, having scored six goals in her eight appearances this season – her best goal haul in any A-League Women’s season for the Reds so far.

A-League Mens

Ben Folami – Melbourne Victory 

Despite playing fewer matches than his fellow nominees for the January accolade, Ben Folami impressed in his two matches for Victory last month. The former Ipswich Town talent made an impact for Victory with a goal and one assist, but has been influential as a creative outlet for Tony Popovic’s side.

Craig Goodwin – Adelaide United

When your form plays you into national team contention, you know you’ve hit a purple patch. And that was the case for Craig Goodwin in January, with the Adelaide United striker scoring five goals in his five appearances in the A-League Mens. Goodwin was called into the Socceroos squad to face Vietnam in Melbourne, and scored his first goal for the green and gold in the 4-0 win. 

Goodwin’s five league goals came in three games, with the 30-year-old scoring two doubles – in wins over Wellington and Brisbane Roar – and scoring against Victory in a 1-1 draw away from home.

Anthony Caceres – Sydney FC

There was no doubting Caceres’ fine form in January. The Sky Blues’ creative midfielder formed an inspiring partnership with Elvis Kamsoba, but equally provided goals from midfield. With a double against his former club Central Coast Mariners and singles against Brisbane and Perth, Caceres finished the month with a return of four goals and one assist in four outings.