Without further ado, here are the winners:

Best Player of 2007/2008: Joel Griffiths

Percentage of votes: 59.2%
Runner up: Shane Smeltz (18%)
Total votes: 534

For an attacking midfielder, Joel Griffiths has done an incredible job for the Newcastle Jets. With 12 goals for the season, he is this season’s Golden Boot winner – and he holds the record for number of goals scored during any A-League season. His prime form has caught the eye of national coach Pim Verbeek, suggesting that Griffiths may be able to build on his two caps for the Socceroos.

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Best Young Player (U. 23) of 2007/08: James Holland

Percentage of votes: 17.7%
Runners up: Danny Vukovic (15.8%), Robbie Kruse (15.4%), Michael Zullo (12.8%)
Total votes: 531

The Awards’ tightest race was for the best player under 23. In the end, it was 18-year old James Holland who edged ahead. He may have only played a total of 7 games, but Holland has been suitably impressive, scoring 3 and bolstering a Newcastle Jets side which won 4 of its last 5 regular season matches to finish 2nd. Like Joel Griffiths, Holland’s form has attracted the attention of Pim Verbeek, who has added the youngster to his 39-man squad ahead of the match against Qatar on Wednesday.

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Best Foreign Player of 2007/08: Carlos Hernández

Percentage of votes: 31%
Runners up: Daniel (23.9%), Felipe (14.7%), Juninho (10.1%)
Total votes: 552

After being derided for his weight early on in the season, Carlos Hernández gradually rose into form and began making his mark late in the season. The Costa Rican national scored 4 times and set up several goals – most of which happened in the final month of the season. Hernández came with a reputation for being a dead-ball specialist – a specialisation we’re yet to see come to fruition in the A-League – but it is his passing game which has been most impressive.

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Most Sorely Missed Player in 2007/08: Fred

Percentage of votes: 60.8%
Runner up: Nicky Carle (24.5%)
Total votes: 497

No Fred, no Victory. Or so it seemed in the third season of the A-League, as the Melbourne Victory that took the title the previous year re-appeared as a shadow of itself. Many reasons were given for the champions’ failure to reproduce last year’s form, but the most common was Fred’s absence. Without the Brazilian playmaker creating space and opportunities for twin strikers Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp, the Victory were missing a key ingredient.

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A-League Awards