Wynnum Wolves FC celebrated its 105th Anniversary season in style at Sirromet over the weekend [Saturday, August 22nd] with celebrated Matilda Clare Polkinghorne OAM attending the 2026 Awards Night as the special guest of honour. It was a privilege to have Clare in the room to present the inaugural CLARE POLKINGHORNE MEDAL to 2026 Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, Charlotte Reid. This is the second year Charlotte has taken out the women’s Players’ Player distinction with her 2026 Award win made all the more special by the presence of the former Wolves’ junior and legendary Matilda at the function.
Wynnum chose its 105th Anniversary Year to pay tribute to two of the club’s most significant female players from the past, Clare Polkinghorne and Gaye Eames, by linking their names to Wynnum’s top female awards. Gaye Eames was the captain of the first Australian team – from Wynnum – to travel overseas to play football back in 1975.
Wynnum’s inaugural GAYE EAMES MEDAL was awarded to the 2026 Player of the Year in our women’s team, Khelistar Murray, who not only had an outstanding year for Wolves but also earned international honours during the year for Samoa in a World Cup qualifying tournament in Honiara. Unfortunately, Gaye was not able to attend the Sirromet function but was at Carmichael Park back in May – during Female Football Week – when the naming of the two new medals was announced.
The third significant women’s winner on the night was youngster Dominique Hepplewhite, who won the women’s Rookie of the Year for 2026.
Wynnum’s popular Japanese Visa player, Masa Yokoyama, dominated the top men’s awards for the year winning both the WAYNE GRACEY MEDAL as the men’s Player of the Year for 2026 and the CLARRIE SHENTON MEDAL as Wolves’ First team Players’ Player this season.
Harry Orford took out the TONY McKINLESS MEDAL as the men’s 2026 Rookie of the Year.
More than 180 people attended Wynnum Wolves’ 2026 Awards night and Anniversary celebrations, including many of the club’s cherished Life Members who were treated to a walk down memory lane during the evening as highlights from Wynnum’s 105-year journey were recounted.
Other significant Player Award winners on the night were:
Golden Boot Awards – Men – Fernando Nash with 11 Goals; Women – Mary-Joy Love with 20 Goals.
50 Game First Team Medals: Zachary Maltby [Round 9, 2026]; Russell Parker [Round 18, 2026]; Kai Partridge [Round 22, 2026].
Eddie Wilkins Senior Team of the Year Award – FQPL Women.
Peter White Perpetual Trophy – U23 Men’s Player of the Year – Nickel Mucabel-Bue; David Thompson Perpetual Trophy – U23 Men’s Players’ Player of the Year – Luke O’Sullivan.
Premier Youth Boys U18 Player of the Year & Players’ Player of the Year – Samuel Noud.
Premier Youth Girls U18 Player of the Year – Isabelle Poulton; Premier Youth Girls U17 Players’ Player of the Year – Taylor Trafford; MJL U17 Girls Player of the Year – Mae Folkes; MJL U17 Girls Players’ Player of the Year – Luca van Gilst.
