Complete Voting Breakdown: The Remarkable Journey That Earned Milanovic the Johnny Warren Medal

Nicolas Milanovic has claimed the 2024-25 Johnny Warren Medal, capping off a thrilling season with a surge in votes that propelled him to victory as he prepares to join Aberdeen.

The star forward for Western Sydney Wanderers began the final rounds of the season trailing five votes behind the leader, but skillfully climbed from seventh to first place on the leaderboard by the close of the regular season, joining the prestigious ranks of Johnny Warren Medallists.

Here’s how he achieved this remarkable feat.

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JOHNNY WARREN MEDAL: Nicolas Milanovic secures the Johnny Warren Medal following an outstanding campaign with the Wanderers

Strong Start for Milanovic as Adelaide Star Takes the Lead

By the end of Round 12, Milanovic ranked equal-sixth on the Johnny Warren Medal leaderboard, having accumulated 10 votes.

The 23-year-old netted six out of his total 12 goals during the first 12 rounds, including an impressive hat-trick against Newcastle Jets in Round 4.

Milanovic was tied for sixth place with Marin Jakolis, Brian Kaltak, and Reno Piscopo, while Adelaide United’s Zach Clough topped the vote count with 16 points at the conclusion of Round 12.

Round 12 Leaderboard
Player	Club	Votes
Zach Clough	ADE	16
Hiroki Sakai	AKL	15
Joe Lolley	SYD	14
Brandon Borrello	WSW	13
Angus Thurgate	WUN	12
Brian Kaltak	CCM	10
Marin Jakolis	MAC	10
Nicolas Milanovic	WSW	10
Reno Piscopo	MVC	10
Adam Taggart	PER	8

Clough Retains the Lead as Jets Youngster Makes a Push

Following Round 21, Zach Clough maintained his lead in the Johnny Warren Medal tally, while Milanovic slipped from equal-sixth to equal-eighth in the rankings.

During those nine rounds, Milanovic managed only five additional votes, as his goal-scoring dried up. Nonetheless, he netted goals in both Round 19 and Round 20, bringing his season total to eight. However, he struggled to keep pace with the top contenders for the medal.

Younger talent Clayton Taylor from Newcastle Jets emerged as the standout performer between Round 21 and 21, amassing 11 votes over nine rounds to soar to second place, along with Hiroki Sakai, who earned only three points in the same period.

Round 21 Leaderboard
Player	Club	Votes
Zach Clough	ADE	21
Clayton Taylor	NEW	18
Hiroki Sakai	AKL	18
Angus Thurgate	WUN	17
Joe Lolley	SYD	17
Brandon Borrello	WSW	16
Guillermo May	AKL	16
Nicolas Milanovic	WSW	15
Ryan Teague	MVC	15
Brian Kaltak	CCM	13

Sakai Takes the Lead to Set Up an Exciting Finish

As the regular season entered its final five rounds, Auckland captain Hiroki Sakai snatched the top spot on the Johnny Warren Medal leaderboard from Zach Clough.

Sakai’s 23 votes for the season included a remarkable seven votes in the four rounds leading up to Round 24, while Clough, who had scored only five points since Round 12, maintained second place. Meanwhile, jets midfielder Clayton Taylor remained on 18 points, resulting in a congested competition with five players, including Milanovic, all vying for the third spot with five rounds remaining.

Round 24 Leaderboard
Player	Club	Votes
Hiroki Sakai	AKL	23
Zach Clough	ADL	21
Angus Thurgate	WUN	18
Brandon Borrello	WSW	18
Clayton Taylor	NEW	18
Guillermo May	AKL	18
Nicolas Milanovic	WSW	18
Joe Lolley	SYD	17
Ryan Teague	MVC	17
Brian Kaltak	CCM	13

Milanovic’s Incredible Run Secures the Johnny Warren Medal

In a remarkable finish, Milanovic rose from 18 votes in Round 24 to 28 by the end of the regular season, garnering 10 votes from his last five games to ascend to the top of the leaderboard and clinch the Johnny Warren Medal.

Sakai, who led with 23 votes after Round 24, added only one more vote by the season’s end, finishing in third place behind Angus Thurgate, who matched Milanovic’s splendid finish with seven votes over the last five rounds.

Final Johnny Warren Medal Leaderboard
Player	Club	Votes
Nicolas Milanovic	WSW	28
Angus Thurgate	WUN	25
Hiroki Sakai	AKL	24
Zach Clough	ADL	22
Clayton Taylor	NEW	21
Brandon Borrello	WSW	20
Guillermo May	AKL	20
Ryan Teague	MVC	18
Joe Lolley	SYD	17
Marco Tilio	MCY	17
Zinedine Machach	MVC	17

Milanovic was named the best on ground in Rounds 24, 25, and 27, securing three votes in draws against Wellington Phoenix, Auckland FC, and Melbourne City. He completed the regular season with two further two-vote performances in victories against Newcastle Jets and Macarthur Bulls, finishing with a grand total of 28 votes—more than any other player in the Isuzu UTE A-League.