So it is fitting the W-League club's captain took out its top awards to cap off an impressive return to the capital this season.

Fletcher was crowned Canberra United's player of the year and the players' player of the year at the club's 2020-21 season awards night on Thursday.

Michelle Heyman's superb comeback to the capital saw her earn the supporters' player of the year gong while a 16-year-old she took under her wing in Jessika Nash won the rising star gong.

Fletcher returned to Canberra to play under Vicki Linton, battling back from an anterior cruciate ligament tear at 36 to guide Canberra back to the finals.

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That alone suggests she was a perfect choice to take the captaincy reins for a club looking to rebuild itself into a W-League force.

"That's a part of who I am as a player. I like to talk, I like to lead, I like developing players around me," Fletcher said on the eve of the season.

"It sharpens me, it makes me a better player so I really enjoy that process. It's an honour and it's really a privilege to do that.

"As a leader you're there to serve everyone else and to bring the group together and figure out what the team and players need, and help the cohesion happen.

"Obviously I've played for the club before so I understand what it is being in green and being part of the Canberra family."

Canberra's season came to a close in a 3-0 semi-final defeat at the hands of Sydney FC this week, with the victors advancing to the grand final against the Melbourne Victory on Sunday.

United were missing Heyman in the do-or-die clash, and were left to rue her absence in their biggest game of the year.

Heyman scored 10 goals in a season that saw her reach 100 games for the club and claim the league's leading goal scorer record.

Her status as a fan favourite was never in doubt. One just had to be in the stands at Viking Park the night she started Canberra's season with a bang in a thrilling comeback win.

"It feels bloody special, not going to lie," Heyman said of her return to Canberra that sparked spine-tingling cheers.

"I definitely needed that year off, I was mentally drained and physically broken. To be able to be back here at Canberra United playing football again, I've been doing it since I was nine years old, it's [for] the love of the game."

As for Nash?

"She's my little star player, I'm going to take that one under my wing. I think she is going to be something special for the W-League and hopefully for the Matildas," Heyman said.

CANBERRA UNITED AWARDS 2020-21

Player of the year: Kendall Fletcher

Players' player of the year: Kendall Fletcher

Supporters' player of the year: Michelle Heyman

Rising Star: Jessika Nash

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