FC Bulleen Lions winger Danella Butrus proved that age is no barrier, becoming the latest teenager to win the NPLW’s highest honour and the first since Mindy Barbieri in 2018.
The 18-year-old finished on 27 votes in a thrilling count, tying with 37-year-old Aleks Sinclair, who also claimed her first Gold Medal after a stellar season.
In her acceptance speech, Butrus called it an “absolute honour” to receive the award alongside Sinclair.
“She is just an incredible player and an incredible person overall,” she said.
Butrus began her NPLW career with FV Emerging/Academy, making 29 appearances and scoring eight goals before moving to Bulleen ahead of the 2025 season, where she has truly made her mark.
“I’d just like to say thank you so much to my girls at Bulleen (Lions), I couldn’t have gotten this without you, so this one’s for you,” she said.
“An absolute honour, thank you so much to everyone.”
This season, Butrus played 22 matches, scoring 11 goals, including a hat-trick in Round 22 against Brunswick Juventus. Across her young career, she has now tallied 52 matches and 19 goals in the league.
What A Goal! 😲
FC Bulleen Lions’ Dani Butrus takes out the 2025 NPLW Goal of the Year for her Round 6 overhead strike against Boroondara Eagles! #VFG25 pic.twitter.com/YbsYoJDwSf— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) September 19, 2025
It was a night to remember for Butrus, who also won the 2025 NPLW Media Player of the Year, voted by commentators, and Goal of the Year for her stunning overhead kick in Round 6 against Boroondara.
To cap off a remarkable season, she was also named in the 2025 NPLW Team of the Season, announced via NPL social channels on Tuesday, September 23.