Melbourne Heart FC striker David Williams has completed a clean-sweep of accolades at the Club’s Player of the Year awards at tonight’s gala event at Palladium at Crown.
Melbourne Heart FC striker David Williams has completed a clean-sweep of accolades at the Club-s Player of the Year awards at tonight-s gala event at Palladium at Crown.
Williams claimed three of the Club-s prestigious awards, including Player of the Year, the fan-voted Supporters- Player of the Year and the John Aloisi Golden Boot Award.
The 26-year-old scored 12 goals during the Hyundai A-League 2013-14 season – the highest tally of any Melbourne Heart player in the Club-s history – and as a result claimed the mantle of the Club-s all-time goal scorer with 18 career goals with Melbourne Heart.
Williams featured in 26 matches throughout the season, starting in 22, with his performance and hat trick in Melbourne Heart-s 5-0 win over Wellington Phoenix a standout. The three-goal haul was also the first hat trick for a Melbourne Heart player.
Williams also made an impact as a substitute, securing dramatic late winners from the bench in Round 17 and 18 – the first a memorable solo effort against Sydney FC, before the striker clinched the winner against Perth Glory in Albury.
Williams edged out Jason Hoffman and Robbie Wielaert (equal fifth), Mate Dugandzic (fourth), Massimo Murdocca (third) and Orlando Engelaar (second) in the voting.
Head Coach John van-t Schip said Williams- awards were reflective of the striker-s immense promise.
“David was an enthusiastic contributor in a difficult campaign,” van-t Schip said. “He scored important goals for us and to score 12 goals playing in varying attacking roles, demonstrates he is an important player for us.
“We have great faith in David and the coaching staff believe that he still has plenty of potential to become one of the A-League-s best goal scorers.”
Williams, who is known to the Melbourne Heart faithful as ‘Super Dave-, was also named the Supporters- Player of the Year, while he earned the John Aloisi Golden Boot Award for his goal-scoring exploits.
The Clubman Award, which honours the player who has best embodied the spirit, character and values of the Club, both on and off the field, was awarded to Jason Hoffman.
Ross Archibald was named Melbourne Heart-s Foxtel National Youth League Player of the Year, while Alexander Dao was awarded the Coach-s Award.
Over 100 volunteers donate their time to Melbourne Heart throughout the season, and the Volunteer of the Year award is a prize of particular significance, recognising the contribution of an individual who has made an indelible impact throughout the season.
This year, the prize was awarded to Earl Michelle for his industrious work with the football department.
2013/14 Awards Summary
Player of the Year – David Williams
Supporters- Player of the Year – David Williams
John Aloisi Golden Boot Award – David Williams (12 goals)
Clubman Award – Jason Hoffman
Volunteer of the Year – Earl Michelle
Employee of the Year – Julius Ross
National Youth League Coach-s Award – Alex Dao
National Youth League Player of the Year – Ross Archibald
