The nominees for the LUCRF Super PFA Player of the Month for December and January have been revealed, with four players nominated across both the W-League and A-League after an enthralling start to the domestic season. The nominees are selected by a panel of former players and leading media figures, with the winner voted on by the players of each respective league, with matches played in December 2020 and January 2021 considered. Check out the nominees below.

A-League 

Alou Kuol – Central Coast Mariners

Since his first A-League goal in the Mariners’ opening round win over Newcastle Jets on New Years Eve, Alou Kuol hasn’t looked back. His incredible start to this season continued into January where the 19-year-old netted two further goals to steer the Mariners to a shock win over reigning Champions Sydney FC and to the A-League summit. An energetic, enthusiastic and confident forward, Kuol has been unfazed by his introduction to top-flight football and offers the Mariners a creative attacking outlet deserving of a place among the nominees.

Valentino Yuel – Newcastle Jets

A talent unearthed from the National Premier Leagues, 26-year-old Valentino Yuel has found his feet at Newcastle Jets after his release from Western United. At United, Yuel was goalless in nine matches, but since his move to New South Wales Yuel scored three of his four season goals in January, netting in losses against Macarthur and Brisbane, but lifting the Jets to a vital win over Wellington.

Dylan Wenzel-Halls – Brisbane Roar

Brisbane Roar’s Dylan Wenzel-Halls’ has made a blistering start to this A-League season, with the 23-year-old attacker scoring four times in three wins for the Queensland side, including an inspiring brace in a 3-1 win over Adelaide United. Crucial to Roar’s early-season form, Wenzel-Halls has been equally impressive supplying his teammates for the A-League’s second-highest scorers.

Adam Federici – Macarthur FC

Returning to Australia to feature for A-League debutants Macarthur FC, Federici demonstrated his class from the outset, with the experienced goalkeeper registering a stunning display against Western Sydney Wanderers in the club’s first A-League game. Federici has since been critical to Macarthur’s form, which has seen them edge into the competition’s top three. 

W-League 

Michelle Heyman – Canberra United

Reinvented after an 18-month sabbatical from the game, Michelle Heyman has returned to the type of glittering form she experienced at the height of her career. Her first match back produced an inspiring brace in a thrilling 4-3 win over Adelaide United, before the former Matildas midfielder added three more goals in a dominant January.

Teresa Polias – Sydney FC

A Sydney FC ever-present, Polias not only celebrated her record 150th W-League game in January but helped rocket the Sky Blues to top of the W-League. The industrious captain has been outstanding in her six consecutive season as skipper, dominating Sydney’s midfield, feeding her free-flowing forward-line.

Teagan Micah – Melbourne City FC

Despite her team’s unexpected form, Melbourne City FC’s goalkeeper has been a shining light for the defending champions. The 23-year-old was outstanding on debut, earning Player of the Match accolades with seven saves in a 0-0 draw with Brisbane Roar. Micah has been called into action on the regular, having made 31 saves; 11 more than the next best keeper in the W-League and has a save percentage of 64.6%.

Lily Alfeld – Perth Glory FC

Despite her side languishing at the foot of the W-League ladder, New Zealand goalkeeper Lily Alfeld has made an instant impact for her new club Glory, producing 13 saves in just 270 minutes of football. The most impressive was the W-League’s Round 3 save of the week, when Alfeld acrobatically tipped over Emily Condon’s clever half volley with a finger-tip effort. With a disrupted start to the season due to match rescheduling, Alfeld is likely to prove critical to Glory’s remaining fixtures.

LUCRF Super has been the major partner of the PFA since 2009. They play a key role in providing superannuation and financial education to PFA members. As a result of the partnership, hundreds of the PFA’s members have joined LUCRF Super. Many have taken advantage of benefits that are open to all of our members, such as personalised financial advice and a secure mobile app