Three new nominees, three deserved winners. Voting is now open for the Etihad Player of the Month for November. See the nominees and vote now!
Michael Jakobsen
Defenders may not always get the plaudits they deserve in comparison to their goal-scoring counterparts, but Michael Jakobsen is already shaping up to be one of the most important signings of the season.
The Dane has been imperious in both a three-man and four-man defence over the course of November, breaking up numerous opposition attacks with his excellent positioning and contributing to City’s forward movement with his pin-point distribution.
Jakobsen was an instrumental figure in City’s historic Westfield FFA Cup Final win over Sydney FC, preventing Bobo from levelling the match with a crucial goal-line clearance.
A man who is no stranger to winning silverware throughout his career, Jakobsen’s consistency makes him a strong candidate to take out his first Etihad Player of the Month award.
Neil Kilkenny
Another player who often flies under the radar, Neil Kilkenny displayed his importance to the City engine room with a string of consistent displays throughout November.
The midfielder has been outstanding in the holding midfield role alongside creator-in-chief Luke Brattan, dropping in to cover for his central defenders and providing an effective shield in-front of the back four.
His eye for a pass hasn’t gone unnoticed, either, with a passing accuracy of 86.6 percent displaying his efficiency in recycling possession during City’s most dominant periods.
Kilkenny was pivotal in stifling the threat of Sydney FC midfielder Milos Ninkovic during the Westfield FFA Cup Final, and is well placed to win his maiden Etihad Player of the Month Award.
Dean Bouzanis
A big presence in the City goal, Dean Bouzanis has tightened his grip on the number one jersey with an impressive month between the posts.
The shot-stopper has displayed his all-round ability on a number of occasions this season, with a superb one-on-one save to deny Andrew Nabbout against the Jets and a penalty save from Wellington’s Roy Krishna among the highlights.
A clean sheet in the Westfield FFA Cup Final was just reward for Bouzanis, who is also an integral component in City’s build up with his accurate distribution from the back.
Bouzanis has grown from strength to strength with each appearance, and is a deserved nominee for November’s Etihad Player of the Month Award.
