Sydney FC A-League Men’s stars Joe Lolley and Anthony Caceres have been recognized for their phenomenal seasons by being voted the Isuzu-Ute Alex Tobin medalist 2023-24 and the A-Leagues eToro Playmaker of the Year 2023-24.
Lolley’s 12 goals and seven assists during the regular season earned him the Tobin award and title of the A-League’s best player, as voted by Network Ten’s panel of experts.
“It was a frustrating way to end the season, but I really, really enjoyed it,” he said.
“Without the staff and the players helping me along the way it wouldn’t have been possible and I feel really honored.”
Lolley adds the Tobin medal to the Mark Viduka Medal he won in the Australia Cup Final as Player of the Match. He also picks up a $10,000 cheque and an Isuzu-UTE which he has donated to local club the Macquarie Dragons.
Despite several man of the match performances across the season, Lolley pinpointed one of them as his best.
“Uffy’s first game, Adelaide away, we won 5-1 and that set the stall out for everyone about how we were going to play.
“Individually a couple of goals and assists in one game is something doesn’t happen too often, so was a really memorable game.
“Of course, the last touch of the my season was also a pretty good one (goal vs Macarthur in Elimination Final in which he sustained his hamstring injury), it’s a shame it ended that way but it was also a nice moment.”
Caceres picked up the eToro Playmaker of the Year award for the best assist of the season voted for by the A-League fans following his backheel to Fabio for his goal away to Newcastle Jets.
“It’s very satisfying,” he said. “I think creating and playmaking is the key part of my game and to be recognized with such an award is extremely pleasing.
“It was quite a pleasing season with a number of assists (10) and playing my natural game.
“I feel that the system we’re playing and the style of football provokes the best in me and I believe that I still have growth to come.”
While the fans voted the assist to Fabio as the best of the season, it wasn’t Caceres’ favourite.
“Without question it has to be the one against the Wanderers in the dying minutes of the game for JK (Kucharski) to win it.
“That’s purely based off the emotion surrounding that goal, what it meant for us in that moment and the way we celebrated it, and to have contributed to such a big moment in our history.
“The season was very special and that stands out as my favorite assist.”
Caceres was presented with the award at the Isuzu-UTE Grand Final and has also scored three goals this season.
