Jedinak named Australia footballer of the year

SYDNEY (AP) - Socceroos and Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak has won his second consecutive Australian footballer of the year award.

Football Federation Australia said in a statement Friday that a panel of national team coaching staff awarded Jedinak, a month after the 30-year-old midfielder was recognized as Asian football's international player of the year.

Jedinak is in training camp with Australia as the team prepares for the Asian Cup. It opens the tournament next Friday against Kuwait in Melbourne.

Brisbane Roar's Katrina Gorry, who played a key role in the Matildas reaching the final of the Women's Asian Cup in Vietnam last July, was named Australia's best female footballer.