HE may have made only 15 starting (4 subs) appearances but Ali al-Hamadi sure made an impact since his signing on a 2.5 year deal from Wycombe Wanderers in the mid-season transfer window.
The Iraqi international forward found the net 10 times and became a firm fans favourite. Such was his popularity that he was used by the club as their poster player for marketing campaigns.
Ali, who was forced to flee Iraq after war broke out and his family was granted asylum in the UK, is a feel-good story.. he is also the winner of the WDSA Player of the Season.
Ali won clearly with 90 votes (which included 14 major votes) and is the focal point of the Dons attack heading into the new season. He was also the recipient of the WISA Allen Batsford Trophy for the Men’s Player of the Year.
“I’ve always had the belief I can score goals if I’m put in situations where I’m allowed to flourish. Of course, I’m doing really well, but I’m always wanting more. To be a good striker at any level you have to want to score more goals.” Words that will be cheered by Wimbledon fans after the disappointments of the last two dismal seasons for the club.
In March al-Hamadi further endeared himself to club supporters when he made the hurried trip back from Russia after playing 74 minutes for his Iraq national team in St Petersburg arriving in London the following day and making himself available for the bench for the next night’s home match against Walsall. He came on as a substitute in the 69th minute and scored one of the goals in a 2-0 win to ecstatic acclaim.
The 21-year-old looms as a key player for the Dons this season. Al-Hamadi won the WDSA award by a whopping 49 votes from Jack Currie (41) with Ethan Chislett (36) third.
Currie, who had a strong first half of the season and attracted interest in the mid-season window from Championship side Bristol City, picked up four major votes while Chislett, who has now left for Port Vale in League One, claimed six majors.
Ayoub Assal, who left the club in January on the back of an influential first-half of the season when Qatari club Al-Wakrah triggered a buyout clause in his Dons contract (thought to be around £2 million), was fourth in the WDSA award with 21 votes.
WDSA Player of the Season 2022-23 voting:
90 — Ali al-Hamadi
41 — Jack Currie
36 — Ethan Chislett
21 — Ayoub Assal
9 — Harry Pell
3 — Hus Biler. Ryley Towler
2 — Paul Kalambayi, Josh Davison
1 — Will Nightingale
PAST WINNERS: 1986-87 JOHN FASHANU; 1987-88 JOHN FASHANU; 1988-89 DENNIS WISE; 1989-90 HANS SEGERS; 1990-91 JOHN FASHANU; 1991-92 ROBBIE EARLE; 1992-93 JOHN SCALES; 1993-94 DEAN HOLDSWORTH; 1994-95 WARREN BARTON; 1995-96 OYVIND LEONHARDSEN; 1996-97 CHRIS PERRY; 1997-98 MICHAEL HUGHES; 1998-99 JASON EUELL; 1999-2000 NEIL SULLIVAN; 2000-01 KELVIN DAVIS; 2001-02 KENNY CUNNINGHAM; 2002-03 KEVIN COOPER (AFCW); 2003-04 MATT EVERARD; 2004-05 RICHARD BUTLER; 2005-06 ANDY LITTLE; 2006-07 ANTONY HOWARD; 2007-08 JASON GOODLIFFE; 2008-09 BEN JUDGE; 2009-10 DANNY KEDWELL; 2010-11 SEB BROWN; 2011-12 JACK MIDSON; 2012-13 JACK MIDSON; 2013-14 BARRY FULLER; 2014-15 JAMES SHEA.; 2015-16 PAUL ROBINSON; 2016-17 TOM ELLIOT; 2017-18 DEJI OSHILAJA; 2018-19 WILL NIGHTINGALE; 2019- 20 MARCUS FORSS; 2020-21 JOE PIGOTT; 2021-22 JACK RUDONI
