1986 - Bobby Russell (South Melbourne)
Graham Arnold (Sydney Croatia) *
1987 - Andrew Zinni (Brunswick Juventus)
Frank Farina (Marconi) *
1988 - Paul Wade (South Melbourne)
Frank Farina (Marconi) *
1989 - Zlatko Nastveski (Marconi)
1989/1990 - Zeljko Adzic (Melbourne Croatia)
1990/1991 - Milan Ivanovic (Adelaide City)
1991/1992 - Josip Biskic (Melbourne CSC)
1992/1993 - Paul Trimboli (South Melbourne)
1993/1994 - Mark Viduka (Melbourne Knights)
1994/1995 - Mark Viduka (Melbourne Knights)
1995/1996 - Damian Mori (Adelaide City)
1996/1997 - Kresimir Marusic (Sydney United)
1997/1998 - Paul Trimboli (South Melbourne)
1998/1999 - Brad Maloney (Marconi-Fairfield)
1999/2000 - Scott Chipperfield (Wollongong)
2000/2001 - Scott Chipperfield (Wollongong)
2001/2002 - Fernando Rech (Brisbane Strikers)
2002/2003 - Damian Mori (Perth Glory)
2003/2004 - Ante Milicic (Parramatta Power)
Note : Until 1988 The vote for player of the year was made by the
referees. In 1986 (asterisk marks for these) the players
began voting and from 1986 to 1988 both awards were in
operation.