When Isabel Gomez got an invite to the A-League’s awards night she had no idea what she had been nominated for – she certainly never thought it would be for the prestigious Julie Dolan Medal.
The Central Coast Mariners midfielder said she started to put it together as the ceremony progressed.
“It was a real big shock,” Gomez said.
“I started to realise when all the players started to get up and I was the only player not with an award, I was super excited and it was such a proud moment.”
Her parents were also in attendance at the award ceremony.
“They have been through everything with me, all the highs and lows so it put a cherry on the top that all this hard work I put in and my parents put in for me as well has paid off,” Gomez said.
“It was such a nice feeling.”
It was the first of two big wins for Gomez, who was also named in the Matildas 26-woman squad for the upcoming two-game series with Brazil.
Izzy Gomez goal
While reigning champions Mariners struggled to find consistency on the field this season Gomez did not.
The 23-year-old finished the season with four assists, equal second in the league and four goals.
She was also named in the Professional Footballer’s Australia Team of the Season.
The medal is presented to the best player of the ALW season.
Past winners include Alex Chidiac, Sam Kerr, Michelle Heyman and Clare Polkinghorne.
“It is pretty cool to be one of those players to get the award and to now play alongside some of those players is also awesome,” Gomez said.
The midfielder’s contract with Mariners has ended and Gomez said she was still working out her future plans.
Her ultimate goal is to play overseas, ideally somewhere in Europe.
“If that can’t happen (next season) then I’m happy to stay in the ALW because it’s an amazing league and got some quality players,” Gomez said.
“I’d love to play somewhere in Europe, but anywhere I’m getting minutes and enjoying myself is the main thing.”
Like most ALW players Gomez juggles her football career with a second job – working as a disability support worker.
“It’s actually the best and some of the guys come to my games and support me and are all along on the journey with me,” Gomez said.
She said while she loves the job she knows she could perform even better if she was able to focus on football 24/7 – something ALW players can’t do until full-time contracts are introduced.
Spanish great wins Johnny Warren Medal
– Marco Monteverde
Evergreen Spaniard Juan Mata remains undecided about his playing future but will be forever grateful to Melbourne Victory for giving him the chance to show he is still a great player.
Not valued by Western Sydney, Mata switched to Victory for the 2025-26 season, with his dominance securing him the A-League’s highest individual honour, the Johnny Warren Medal.
“I felt that Victory was the right place to for me to go and play my football,” the 38-year-old former Manchester United and Chelsea playmaker said in reflecting on a superb campaign that included five goals and a competition-high 13 assists.
“When I enjoy playing football I think I can play at my best level, and every week I was looking forward to games and training. and that tells you something about it.”
Mata was adamant he didn’t have a point to prove after his failure to have an on-field impact at the Wanderers, where then coach Alen Stajcic barely gave the 2010 World Cup winner a chance to shine during the 2024-25 season.
“It’s more a feeling within myself than anybody else,” he said.
“I knew I still had football in me, and if I found a place to play where I had the trust of the coach and felt at home at the club, then I knew I could perform and that’s what happened.
Juan Mata chips the keeper in Melbourne derby
“I was not trying to prove a point to anybody, I’m just more happy that I’ve been able to show to myself that I was right about having football still in my legs and in my head.
“I’m really grateful and honoured to get this award. I know the importance of it, the history of it, and the players that have won it before.”
Juan Mata scores brilliant freekick
Despite his joy at being named the A-League’s best player, Mata’s preference would have been team success with Victory.
However, after finishing fourth on the table, the Melbourne club was knocked out in week one of the finals series by a Sydney FC side that has gone on to secure a grand-final date this Saturday night with Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium.
“It’s not the perfect end to the season because I would have liked to have been playing in the grand final,” Mata said.
“I felt we had a fair chance in the playoffs to go on and win it. It felt like during the season that we played very good football in most games but at the important times, we fell short.
“Whether we didn’t score enough, or made little mistakes here and there, we didn’t finish the job. That’s the difference.”
While Victory wants him to return next season, Mata is weighing up whether it’s better to retire at the top of his game.
“I will have some time now to think, relax, and see where my head and my feelings are,” he said.
“It’s nice to keep playing when you are enjoying it and performing, but it’s also maybe a good time to stop when things are going well, so I don’t really know.
“I will make a decision a bit later down the line. The club has been very understanding and they showed their willingness for me to stay, and I really appreciate that.”