Ayres named Westfield W-League NAB Young Footballer of the Year nominee for January

Staff writer 1518134589,1518134623

Football Federation Australia (FFA) and NAB, together with Melbourne Victory, are proud to announce Melina Ayres as the January nominee for the Westfield W-League, NAB Young Footballer of the Year 2017/18 Award.

Ayres started all four of Melbourne Victory’s Westfield W-League matches in January 2018, and scored two stunning goals. 

In round 10 Ayres scored the opener for her side at Suncorp Stadium as Victory suffered a narrow defeat to the eventual Westfield W-League Premiers, Brisbane Roar.

The following round Ayres brilliantly beat Westfield Matildas custodian Lydia Williams from range to help inspire her team to a comeback win in the Melbourne Derby played at Epping Stadium in Victoria.

In total, Ayres played 11 matches, including nine starts, in Westfield W-League season 10, and made her mark as one of the top young players in the competition alongside November nominee and teammate Kyra Cooney-Cross, and December nominee Ellie Carpenter from Canberra United. 

Melina Ayres.
Victory young gun Melina Ayres

The Westfield W-League NAB Young Footballer of the Year 2017/18 will be announced at the Dolan Warren Awards Night held later this year.

NAB’s Chief Marketing Officer, Andrew Knott, said he is proud to see the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award continue to identify and reward outstanding achievements of talented young footballers.

“We congratulate Melina on her nomination and look forward to watching her development and growth on the football field in the years to come,” said Knott.

“We are also pleased to recognise Melina’s nominated junior club, Glen Eira Phoenix FC in Victoria, and hope that our support will help the club to continue developing the game in communities across Australia.”

Ayres’ nominated junior club will receive a NAB Club Recognition Award, which includes a range of equipment along with $1,000.

The overall winner of the Westfield W-League, NAB Young Footballer of the Year 2017/18 Award will receive a $10,000 personal investment portfolio, along with a NAB Private Client Manager to assist with a range of banking products and services.

“As a supporter of the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award, we are proud to play an important role in identifying and rewarding the future stars of the game. Who knows, we may even see some of the nominees in the green and gold jersey in the future,” concluded Knott.

Each month representatives from the FFA Technical Department vote on a 3-2-1 basis for the most outstanding U-23 players in the Westfield W-League during that period.