Graphic: Ajax 55
There were a number of star performers throughout the month of May, with the task of picking a Player of the Month an incredibly tough one.
Names such as South Melbourne pair Natalie Martineau and Alex Gummer were stiff to miss out on selection in the top five picks, while Candela Ferreyra Bas (Southern United) and Sarah Richardson (Heidelberg United) were their club’s best respective players. The incredible defensive record of Alamein FC throughout the month – the club conceding just the once – was reflective of the form of a number of their young defensive brigade, with Marianna Anthony another name unlucky to miss the cut. Galaxy United were one of the league’s better performers, with Jess Tay ousted by a teammate in the final third for a spot in the league’s best five. The task of narrowing down the winner from that list was an unenviable one, with the winner announced below.
***
Kyra Cooney-Cross (Senior NTC)
The young starlet finds herself Player of the Month – and nominated in this category for a second month in 2017 – after registering five goals in the month of May. This was highlighted by her hat-trick in the regional goal-fest against Southern United. Truly one to watch in the coming years.
***
The other five shortlisted:
Rachel Binning (Calder United)
Her animalistic attack on the ball is the stuff of nightmares for opposition strikers, who know they need to prepare for a tough physical contest when matched up against the league’s premier defender. Lead her side to three wins and three clean sheets, with two goals coming in the loss to South Melbourne in Round 12. Calder enjoyed the second best defensive record of the month.
Lisa De Vanna (South Melbourne)
The big name recruit has changed the way that South have operated in the front third, taking away much of their early season dependence on Melina Ayres. Although she featured just three times in the month of May, with two of those appearances as second half subs, that was enough for her to make her mark, appearing in the Team of the Week in every single week she played. De Vanna scored three goals – including a game-changing brace against Bayside United as a substitute – and another sparkling performance against Calder after being introduced in the second half..
Ashleigh Lefevre (Alamein FC)
One of the standout players in the league’s most stringent defence in the month of May. Lefevre helped her side to a month which saw Alamein record a mammoth three clean sheets and just one goal against – coming in a 1-0 loss to Southern United. Played every minute of those four fixtures and stood out with two Team of the Week starts and some nearly run performances to boot.
Laura Spiranovic (Galaxy United)
Galaxy’s skipper wound back the clock with a vintage performance to put Bayside United to the sword with a hat-trick, following that up with one goal in a 4-1 win over Senior NTC. Spiro lead Galaxy through a tricky run of fixtures with distinction and oversaw the transition between coaches. Four goals marks a good return for the forward in one of the best performing teams of the month, with Jess Tay, Annabel Martin and Emily Kenshole all also laying claim for a berth.