Australian youth international and Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Steven Hall has been recognised by Football Australia (FA) and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) by being awarded the Dylan Tombides Medal.
Honouring the memory of the late Dylan Tombides, the Medal is awarded to a player selected from within Australia’s men’s youth international teams - the CommBank Joeys, CommBank Young Socceroos and CommBank Australian U23s – who exemplifies the standards, commitment, and courage of the late Tombides when representing Australia at youth international level.
Hall has been recognised as the recipient of the medal after his performances during the AFC U-20 Asian Cup. Hall and the Young Socceroos were crowned Asian champions after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Saudi Arabia.
The continental triumph came shortly after the tragic passing of Hall’s grandfather.
The 21-year-old made the decisive save during the shootout and celebrated the save by going to a nearby broadcast camera and pointing to his grandfather’s name on the glove to honour his memory.
“It is a huge honour to be the recipient of the 2025 Dylan Tombides Medal. It not only highlights the courage and character Dylan showed in his life, but also the importance of Dylan’s legacy through DT38 Australia and men’s health," Hall said.
“I feel he showcased the passion he had for the game representing Australia and that is definitely a passion I share.
“To be awarded this medal at the age of 20, which is the age Dylan lost his courageous battle with testicular cancer, is humbling. I was nine when Dylan passed and whilst I would never have dreamed of winning this award, I was definitely dreaming of one day playing for Australia.
“The U-20 Asian Cup was a memorable competition, and I especially will never forget the penalty save in the final that clinched it for us. I felt the expectation of the country and my teammates in that moment but especially wanted to make my Grandad - who sadly passed away during the competition - proud of me. I know he was out there on the pitch with us that day.
"I truly thank the selectors for choosing me to be a part of the team that created history, the accolades of that competition were absolutely a team effort of not only the players but the staff as well.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank the PFA, Football Australia and DT38 Australia for this award. I would encourage anyone who is not familiar with Dylan’s story to look it up, he was certainly inspirational and his legacy is an important one.”
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Hall joins Louis D’Arrigo, Harry Souttar and Noah Botic as recipients of the Dylan Tombides Medal – which was first awarded in 2019 by FA and the PFA.
"Steven embodies everything the Dylan Tombides Medal is about,” Football Australia Technical Director and Young Socceroos coach Trevor Morgan said.
"I'm so proud of what Steven was able to achieve during the U-20 Asian Cup last year and join a brilliant list of Australian players who have also won this award.
"To perform at such a level whilst managing such challenging personal circumstances speaks to his love of the game, courage, bravery and ability to focus, especially in the midst of a tournament where the stakes and the pressure is so high. This is exactly why he was the perfect candidate to receive this award.”
Tombides, a former Australian youth international, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2011 after a random drug test at the Under-17 FIFA World Cup.
Tombides courageously fought the illness and played during his cancer treatment for three years, including making his debut for English Premier League side West Ham United against Wigan Athletic in the League Cup in 2012.
Tragically, Tombides passed away with his family by his side on 18 April 2014 at the age of 20.
DT38 Australia, a charity organisation established in Tombides’ memory, continues to honour Dylan’s legacy through its work in the football community.
The charity spreads important messaging and education about testicular cancer and works tirelessly to ensure young men and their families understand the importance of vigilance and regular self-examination.
“Congratulations to Steven Hall on being awarded the DT38 Medal, presented in memory of our hero Dylan Tombides,” Director of DT38 Australia Donna Giuffre said.
“This prestigious honour represents far more than footballing excellence — it recognises the courage, humility and unwavering passion that defined Dylan’s journey.
“Steven is a truly deserving recipient, embodying the character and resilience that sit at the heart of Dylan’s enduring legacy and the spirit he continues to inspire across our football community.”
