Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler receive top honours at the PFA Awards

Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler have been named the PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year and PFA Young Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2022 at the Dolan-Warren Awards tonight. 

  • Sam Kerr has been voted by her peers as the PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year for a record fifth time after an incredible campaign for Chelsea and the Matildas
  • Montpellier-based Matilda Mary Fowler won the PFA Young Women’s Footballer of the Year 

PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year: Sam Kerr

Kerr, a previous winner of the PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year on four occasions (2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019), won her fifth medal after another remarkable season for both club and country. 

In the space of the past season, Kerr won her 100th cap for the Matildas, equalled and then surpassed Tim Cahill’s goal-scoring record in Australian internationals, won the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Golden Boot and became the second Australian female footballer to receive the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to football, following in the footsteps of Julie Dolan.

Sam kerr nz


Capping off an incredible season with Chelsea, Kerr lifted the FA Women’s Super League trophy for the third consecutive time, the FA Women’s Cup for the second consecutive time, and secured her first FAWSL, Golden Boot, with 22 league goals in England.

Kerr said: “It’s an absolute honour to win this award. To be recognised by my peers is the biggest compliment I could ever receive. It’s been an incredible year for the Matildas, myself and Chelsea. I couldn’t have done it without all of my teammates so I am very grateful to be part of two amazing teams.”

PFA Young Women’s Footballer of the Year: Mary Fowler

Fowler continued her meteoric rise in Australian football this season, recently completing her second campaign at Montpellier in the top flight of French football, the Division 1 Féminine.

The teenager, who turned 19 in February, also impressed on the international stage, cementing herself in the Matildas set-up ahead of next year’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 

Mary Fowler celebrates her goal against the Philippines at the 2022 AFC Asian Cup (Photo by Ann Odong/Football Australia)
Mary Fowler celebrates her goal against the Philippines at the 2022 AFC Asian Cup (Photo by Ann Odong/Football Australia)

Possessing speed, tight ball control, creativity and vision, Fowler continues to grow as an emerging star of Australian football and earned the vote of her peers for the first time. 

Fowler said: “It’s a special honour for me to win this award, it’s really special and means a lot to me and I’m so grateful. To my teammates and coaching staff, I’d like to say thank you for making it so easy for me to be myself on and off the field.”

Previous Winners: 

Women’s Footballer of the Year Winners: Sam Kerr (2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013), Ellie Carpenter (2021), Steph Catley (2020), Lydia Williams (2016, 2012), Katrina Gorry (2014), Elise Kellond-Knight (2011), Servet Uzunlar (2010)

Young Women’s Footballer of the Year: Mary Fowler (2022), Ellie Carpenter (2021, 2020), Karly Roestbakken (2019), Alex Chidiac (2018, 2017)