She's had four reconstructions on the same knee and is resigned to having arthritis when her career ends, but Canberra United star Caitlin Munoz has no plans to hang up her boots after winning the Capital Football player-of-the-year prize on Thursday night.
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Veteran midfielder Munoz and Cooma Tigers striker Robbie Cattanach were crowned the best women's and men's players in Canberra's Premier League competitions at Capital Football's presentation night in Woden.
Munoz edged out rising Tuggeranong star Alex Lawrence.
It's the perfect boost less than a month out from the start of Canberra United's W-League season. And despite tearing the medial ligament in her left knee eight weeks ago, Munoz insists she's on track for another dominant campaign.
The 30-year-old, who plays for Canberra Olympic in the women's premier league, has had four reconstructions on her right knee.
''My left knee is supposed to be the good one, so that was a bit weird,'' Munoz said. ''I first tore the ACL in my right knee in 1998, tore it again in 1999 and then dealt with it for 10 years. When I was in the Australian team they decided to redo it because it kept giving way and it was tearing bits of cartilage off every time. Then there was a bit of problems with my shin so they did it again and then two years ago I tore a big bit of cartilage off … but now it's OK.
''In 2011 I thought that was it, that it could only take so much. I'll obviously get arthritis later on. But the doctors say if I can do it, then do it. And if I'm still good enough I want to play for as long as I can.''
Cattanach scored 19 goals for Cooma across all competitions and polled 29 points, eight more than runner-up and Golden Boot winner Derek Oelmann. Cattanach and Oelmann were picked in the inaugural Capital Football All Star Premier League team with players from the competition voting for who should be included.
Woden Valley head coach Dean Ugrinic led his team into the finals for the first time in the club's history and was rewarded by being named coach of the year.
Antoni Jagarinec was women's Premier League coach of the year after his Belconnen United side won all 23 of its matches.
David Dillon, the driving force behind Canberra City, was named in the Hall of Fame while Tuggeranong United's John Herd and former Capital Football chair Rachel Harrigan were made life members.
Meanwhile, the Capital Football's Youth United drew with the Central Coast Mariners and lost to the Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend.
Youth United played two games in two days, levelling with the Mariners 1-1 before losing to the Wanderers 4-2.