Ferguson won the Graham Jennings Medal as the league's player of the year as well as becoming the inaugural players' player award winner on the weekend.

The 32-year-old scored seven goals in as many games as Charlestown made a late charge to grab fourth place and a first finals appearance since 2014.

Before the move up top, Ferguson had also been a standout in the Azzurri defence and midfield in 2020.

The Jennings Medal count had been decided by coaches, who gave up to five points to an opposition player after each game. This year, the award reverted to a 3-2-1 voting system decided by referees. Ferguson finished five votes clear of Maitland striker Braedyn Crowley.

He also won the new players' player award. Each first-team player in the league nominated one rival for the honour after the regular season.

Ferguson said he was "very surprised but stoked" to win the Graham Jennings Medal and the players' player award was "very special".

He dedicated the awards to his grandfather, Boris Beczyszyn, who was also a top local footballer.

"My grandfather passed away this year and he was a huge fan of Azzurri and he loved his football," Ferguson said. "He and my Nan [Colleen] have always been my two biggest fans. They've followed me all through my football and they always wanted me to keep playing, so this one is for him.

"It was probably one of the most emotional games for me when we played Weston after my grandfather passed away and I scored the late winner. My Nan ran down the stairs to me and gave me a huge hug and kiss. It was a super special moment and one I'll never forget."

Ferguson was keen to turn the individual wins into club success next year with Azzurri, who have added Harry Frendo, Dylan Burston, Aaron Oppedisano and Jett White to their squad.

"We've got a good mix of young boys coming into the squad and hopefully they hit their straps again next year and we're in with a shot," he said.

"With the team we've got, I think we can go on and do a job next year and hopefully go a bit further.

"We were a bit unlucky in the finals this year. If we got through Maitland, I think we could have potentially gone all the way. Hopefully we can do that next year. I would love to win a premiership.

"It's been a great year for Azzurri, on and off the park. The club is in a great position and that's a credit to the committee, volunteers, sponsors and supporters and hopefully next year we can get to the grand final and have a crack at that."

Teammate Nate Archbold also claimed a double, winning the Bill Mahoney goalkeeper of the year prize and the inaugural media award. The keepers' award went to the gloveman with the most clean sheets, while media were asked to nominate their 3-2-1 votes for the season's best player.

Edgeworth's Josh Rose was named coach of the year after guiding the Eagles to the title double. Rose was at the helm as player-coach for 12 of their 15 matches after answering an SOS following the exits of Damian Zane and Keelan Hamilton.

Lake Macquarie were named club of the year for their performance on and off the park across a broad criteria. It comes after the first-grade wooden spooners were boosted with the recruitment of former Jet Nick Cowburn.

Young player of the year, which replaced the rookie of the year award, went to Jared Muller (Olympic) and Jarryd Sutherland (Weston). The honour fell to the highest Jennings Medal vote-getter aged 21 years or younger.

Crowley and Kristian Brymora (Edgeworth) were recognised as leading scorers with 13 in the regular season.

Other award winners were Newcastle Olympic (club championship) and Weston (fair play).