The annual Dolan Warren awards ceremony has been axed, with the A-Leagues set to announce the players of the season at halftime on grand final days.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) have chosen to tone down this season’s Dolan Warren celebrations, which are usually held in the lead-up to A-League Men grand final week at a glitzy ceremony.
It follows significant cuts at head office this year and a restructure overseen by the competitions’ new commissioner, Nick Garcia.
Newsletters: Our top sports news direct to your inbox. Subscribe now
Further complications have arisen, with All Stars games returning in the lead-up to the ALM grand final, which could yet be hosted in New Zealand if the Wellington Phoenix finish top of the table.
The ALM All Stars will face English Premier League club Newcastle United on May 24 at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium as a curtain-raiser to the A-League Women All Stars taking on an Arsenal side boasting three Matildas.
The ALM grand final is due to take place 24 hours later at a venue yet to be determined.
But instead of hosting a swanky soiree, players will be handed the top three awards — player of the season, young player of the season and goal of the season — at halftime in the grand final.
An identical format will be used at the ALW grand final, which is scheduled for May 5.
Other awards will be announced digitally.
Socceroos winger Craig Goodwin, then with Adelaide, won last year’s top prize in the ALM, and Melbourne Victory’s Matildas midfielder Alex Chidiac was crowned the ALW’s best player.
“This year’s Dolan Warren Awards will be presented on our grand final days and across A-Leagues’ owned channels,” an APL spokesman said in a statement provided to AAP.
“We’ve had some fantastic events over the years – of all different variety — but this year we wanted to bring the awards closer to fans and give them a platform to be celebrated during the biggest games of the year.”
Fans have been not impressed by the move.
Young journalist and host of Her Way, Abbie, said: “My favourite moment of last year’s award was Hillary Beal bringing her dad along seeing her win Golden Glove flying out from the US. This is such a shame.”
“It really sucks that it has had to been scrapped,” another fan added.
“Understand times are lean for APL, but feel like announcing the winner of the Dolan and Warren medals at half-time in a Grand Final isn’t the place,” another said.
– With 7NEWS.com.au