Alessandro Diamanti capped off a stellar first season in the A-League by winning the Johnny Warren Medal but the Italian meastro couldn't match Jets defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley in the goal-scoring stakes.
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Diamanti received 34 points to claim the player of the year award ahead of Sydney FC playmaker and 2016-17 winner Milos Ninkovic (28 points) and Melbourne City's golden boot-winner Jamie Maclaren (25).
Perth's Diego Castro, who won in 2015-16, and Wellington's Mexican attacker Ulises Davila rounded out the top five with 23 points apiece.
Diamanti was also a finalist for the goal of the year, with a cheeky left foot chip.
Though a touch of class, it fell short of Topor-Stanley's thunderbolt from 30 metres in the 2-1 win over Perth at home in round 21.
Diamanti, 37, was a marquee signing for Western United and was named captain ahead of the club's inaugural A-League season.
The charismatic Italian playmaker scored seven goals and provided a further seven assists across 25 regular-season games, helping United to fifth on the table.
Diamanti re-signed with United for a further two seasons in July.
Former Melbourne City coach Erick Mombaerts was named coach of the year after leading City to second on the table and a maiden grand final.
Adelaide United playmaker Riley McGree won the young footballer of the year and Sydney shot-stopper Andrew Redmayne won the goalkeeping gong.
