Werribee’s Tom Gribble and Essendon’s Georgia Nanscawen etched their names into the record books by taking out the J.J. Liston Trophy and Lambert-Pearce Medal respectively for the second-successive season.
Gribble, who also won the J.J. Liston Trophy when it was last presented in 2019, was a runaway winner of the Smithy’s VFL best-and-fairest award. He polled 30 votes to finish eight ahead of Southport Sharks teammates Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock.
The prolific midfielder averaged 33.2 disposals, 13.8 contested possessions, 7.3 clearances, 4.3 tackles and 5.6 inside 50s across the 2022 season.
Gribble polled votes in 12 matches, which included eight best-on-ground performances, to become the first Werribee player to win the J.J. Liston Trophy multiple times.
Nanscawen won the Lambert-Pearce Medal as the best-and-fairest player in the rebel VFLW for the second-consecutive year after also winning the award in 2021.
The star midfielder polled votes in every game to finish with 33 of a possible 36 votes in a season she led Essendon to its first VFLW premiership win. Hawthorn’s Tamara Luke was runner-up on 20 votes, while the Southern Saints’ Hannah Stuart and Collingwood’s Matilda Zander tied for third on 14 votes.
Nanscawen averaged 24.9 disposals, 14.6 contested possessions, 8.8 tackles and 4.7 clearances throughout the home-and-away season, before steering the Bombers to the flag in an undefeated campaign.
Her efforts were also recognised by the coaches, who adjudged her the inaugural winner of the rebel Coaches MVP. Nanscawen polled 69 votes to win the award from Hannah Stuart (63) and Geelong Cats midfielder Paige Sheppard (62).
Jacob Dawson was a runaway winner of the rebel Coaches MVP for the Smithy’s VFL. The Southport midfielder polled 120 votes to finish well ahead of runner-up and teammate Boyd Woodcock (87). Carlton’s Paddy Dow and Footscray Bulldogs skipper Lachlan Sullivan were tied in third place with 81 votes.
Port Melbourne defender Ethan Phillips received the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, which is awarded annually to the most promising young talent in the Smithy’s VFL, aged 24 years and under.
The Debbie Lee Medal for most promising young player in the rebel VFLW was awarded to Tahlia Fellows from the Casey Demons.
VFL life membership was awarded to Judith Elliott, Greg Pendlebury and Erica O’Donnell.
Elliott has spent more than 30 years working with the VFL umpires as a trainer, Pendlebury has had a 40-plus years connected to Victorian state league football across many roles with Casey Demons, Springvale and Oakleigh, while O’Donnell has served as a trainer for Port Melbourne since 2006.
Werribee timekeeper Scott Bishop was presented the Alex Gillon Award and Darebin’s Julie Boffa the Ann Rulton Award, which recognise club officials who have provided outstanding service to their club or football in general.
The 2022 Umpires of the Year were Andrew Adair (field), John Cooper (boundary) and Luke Monea (goal).
2022 J.J. LISTON TROPHY
Click here for full vote listing
First Name |
Surname |
Club |
Votes |
Tom |
Gribble |
Werribee |
30 |
Jacob |
Dawson |
Southport |
22 |
Boyd |
Woodcock |
Southport |
22 |
Rhys |
Mathieson |
Brisbane Lions |
21 |
Lachlan |
Sullivan |
Footscray Bulldogs |
20 |
Paddy |
Dow |
Carlton |
18 |
William |
Fordham |
Frankston |
18 |
Luke |
Dunstan |
Casey Demons |
16 |
Brayden |
Fiorini |
Gold Coast Suns |
16 |
Ryan |
Clarke |
Sydney Swans |
15 |
2022 LAMBERT-PEARCE MEDAL
Click here for full vote listing
First Name |
Surname |
Club |
Votes |
Georgia |
Nanscawen |
Essendon |
33 |
Tamara |
Luke |
Hawthorn |
20 |
Hannah |
Stuart |
Southern Saints |
14 |
Matilda |
Zander |
Collingwood |
14 |
Paige |
Sheppard |
Geelong Cats |
12 |
Mia-Rae |
Clifford |
Essendon |
11 |
Samantha |
Johnson |
Casey Demons |
10 |
Nicole |
Callinan |
Darebin Falcons |
9 |
SMITHY’S VFL TEAM OF THE YEAR
rebel VFLW TEAM OF THE YEAR
rebel COACHES MVP – SMITHY’S VFL
Click here for full vote listing
First Name | Surname | Club | Votes |
Jacob | Dawson | Southport Sharks | 120 |
Boyd | Woodcock | Southport Sharks | 87 |
Paddy | Dow | Carlton | 81 |
Lachlan | Sullivan | Footscray Bulldogs | 81 |
Rhys | Mathieson | Brisbane Lions | 72 |
Luke | Dunstan | Casey Demons | 64 |
Tom | Gribble | Werribee | 64 |
Jake | Aarts | Richmond | 55 |
Ethan | Phillips | Port Melbourne | 52 |
rebel COACHES MVP – rebel VFLW
Click here for full vote listing
First Name | Surname | Club | Votes |
Georgia | Nanscawen | Essendon | 69 |
Hannah | Stuart | Southern Saints | 63 |
Paige | Sheppard | Geelong Cats | 62 |
Matilda | Zander | Collingwood | 54 |
Laura | Gardiner | Geelong Cats | 50 |
Nicole | Callinan | Darebin Falcons | 43 |
Tamara | Luke | Hawthorn | 43 |
Annabel | Scott | North Melbourne | 43 |
Ruby | Tripodi | Williamstown | 43 |
Samantha | Johnson | Casey Demons | 40 |
JIM ‘FROSTY’ MILLER MEDAL (Smithy’s VFL Leading Goalkicker)
Chris Burgess (Gold Coast Suns) – 52 goals
ROHENNA YOUNG MEDAL (rebel VFLW Leading Goalkicker)
Federica Frew (Essendon) – 29 goals
FOTHERGILL-ROUND-MITCHELL MEDAL (Smithy’s VFL Rising Star)
Ethan Phillips (Port Melbourne)
Other finalists: Mutaz El Nour (Northern Bullants), Flynn Gentile (Coburg), Tyreece Lieu (Carlton), Corey Preston (Williamstown)
DEBBIE LEE MEDAL (rebel VFLW Rising Star)
Tahlia Fellows (Casey Demons)
Other finalists: Victoria Blackwood (Darebin Falcons), Dom Carbone (Hawthorn), Lily Goss (Carlton), Sophia McCarthy (Williamstown), Kaitlyn O'Keefe (Port Melbourne), Chloe Saultry (Southern Saints), Renee Tierney (Essendon), Ruby Tripodi (Williamstown), Lucy Wales (Casey Demons) and Matilda Zander (Collingwood)
UMPIRES OF THE YEAR
Andrew Adair (field), John Cooper (boundary) and Luke Monea (goal)
ALEX GILLON VFL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Scott Bishop (Werribee)
ANN RULTON VFLW VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Julie Boffa (Darebin Falcons)
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Judith Elliott (VFL Umpires), Greg Pendlebury (Oakleigh, Springvale and Casey Demons) and Erica O’Donnell (Port Melbourne)