Defender Kayla Morrison and midfielder Jordi Valadon have taken out top honours at the 2025 Victory Medal at the Club’s awards night at Crown Palladium.
Awarded to the Club’s best-on-field player across the season, Morrison claimed her third Victory Medal, becoming the first Women’s player in our history to do so and joining Kevin Muscat as only the second player in Club history to win the award three times.
Now a proud Australian citizen and even prouder Victory player, Morrison said being recognised again by the Club she loves means everything.
“I’m so honoured to receive the award. I feel like I worked so hard during the season and that it’s paid off, so it means a lot. I really appreciate it,” Morrison said.
“I had a career before injury and a career after. I’ll never take playing for granted again. Every day I show up and play like it could be my last, because you never know, it could be.
It’s not done yet. I’ll keep striving. It’s an absolute honour.”
After five seasons working closely with Morrison, Head Coach Jeff Hopkins praised not only her footballing ability, but her character and leadership.
“Kayla is a special person and a special player. She’s the inspirational leader of this group, and I’m not just talking about the playing group, the coaches look up to her too.
She’s right up there with the best I’ve ever coached, for her professionalism, her attitude, and her determination to be the best version of herself.”
On the Men’s side, Jordi Valadon claimed his first Victory Medal, edging out Ryan Teague by just three votes after an outstanding breakout season.
The youngest Men’s player in Club history to receive the award, Valadon played every game of the 2024/25 season after graduating from Victory’s senior academy program.
Currently overseas on international duty with the U23 National Team, Valadon shared his gratitude from afar.
“I’m so honoured to receive the award and just want to thank the players, coaches and fans for supporting me on and off the field.
It wouldn’t be possible without them, the players, the brotherhood, helped me every day in training, and the coaches and staff kept pushing me. I’m so grateful.”
Men’s Head Coach Arthur Diles said Valadon’s rise reflected both his personal growth and his potential as a future leader.
“Jordi has developed immensely over the past twelve months. He’s got presence on the pitch and is already a leader, regardless of his age.
He represents his country and our club with pride, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Other winners on the night included Ryan Teague and Kayla Morrison, who were named Player’s Player, while the Richard Smith Young Player of the Year awards went to Kasey Bos and Alana Murphy.
Full Victory Medal winners
Victory Medal – Men’s: Jordi Valadon
Victory Medal – Women’s: Kayla Morrison
AGL Player’s Player – Men’s: Ryan Teague
AGL Player’s Player – Women’s: Kayla Morrison
Sketchers Golden Boot – Men’s: Nishan Velupillay & Nikolaos Vergos
Sketchers Golden Boot – Women’s: Emily Gielnik
Rick Smith Young Player of the Year – Men’s: Kasey Bos
Rick Smith Young Player of the Year – Women’s: Alana Murphy
Men’s Goal of the Season: Nikolaos Vergos – Round 26 v Wellington Phoenix
Women’s Goal of the Season: Alana Jančevski – Round 13 v Sydney FC
Member of the Year: Steven Finocchiaro
Victory Medal Honour Roll – Men’s
2006 – Kevin Muscat
2007 – Kevin Muscat and Danny Allsopp
2008 – Rodrigo Vargas and Archie Thompson
2009 – Kevin Muscat and Danny Allsopp
2010 – Archie Thompson
2011 – Grant Brebner
2012 – Ante Covic
2013 – Mark Milligan
2014 – Adama Traore
2015 – Fahid Ben Khalfalah
2016 – Mattieu Delpierra
2017 – Carl Valeri
2018 – Leroy George
2019 – Leigh Broxham
2020 – Leigh Broxham
2021 – Robbie Kruse
2022 – Jake Brimmer
2023 – Damien Da Silva
2024 – Damien Da Silva
2025 – Jordi Valadon
Victory Medal Honour Roll – Women’s
2009 – Brittany Timko
2010 – Julianne Sitch
2011 – Kendall Fletcher
2012 – Kendall Fletcher
2013 – Petra Larsson
2014 – Jess Fishlock
2015 – Amy Jackson
2016 – Annabel Martin
2017 – Natasha Dowie
2018 – Christina Gibbons
2019 – Christine Nairn
2020 – Hayley Hanson
2021 – Kayla Morrison
2022 – Alex Chidiac
2023 – Beattie Goad
2024 – Kayla Morrison
2025 – Kayla Morrison
