MIND-numbing.

That is how Tom Gribble described his second successive dominant win in the VFL’s highest individual honour, the J.J. Liston Trophy, at Crown Palladium on Monday night.

The Werribee champion, who played his 100th VFL match last year and reached the same milestone for his beloved Tigers early this season, was humbled for a second time in three years after polling 30 votes to successfully defend his 2019 medal in style.

He won by eight votes from superstar Southport pair Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock, who tallied 22 votes each to finish in equal second spot.

FINAL J.J. LISTON TROPHY LEADERBOARD

Gribble, 27, had eight threes, two twos and two ones to become Werribee’s first multiple Liston medallist and the fifth player to do so in the VFL era after Williamstown’s Michael Gibbons (2016, 2018), Port Melbourne’s Shane Valenti (2010, 2011), North Ballarat’s Steve Clifton (2010, 2013) and David Robbins, who won for Springvale in 2000 and Sandringham in 2003.

Werribee's Tom Gribble receives his second J.J. Liston Trophy from his coach Michael Barlow at the Crown Palladium on Monday night. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

This win was even more special, coming after a challenging two years for everyone, but particularly so for Gribble, who lost his father and best mate Andrew in late 2020, which affected his form in the abandoned 2021 season.

But he used it as a spur into 2022, with the full-time arrival of his little brother Noah and the ascension into the co-captaincy with Dom Brew being other drivers.

“It’s hard to put into words really, it’s a bit mind-numbing. I thought 2019 was a bit mind-numbing but this is just as amazing ... it’s a great honour,” he said on Monday night.

“Last year was really challenging for me, coming off a year off and with Dad’s passing – it didn’t rock the boat a little bit with me but I didn’t play as well as I would have liked, even though it was only a nine-game season.

“It spurred me on to get back into it early in pre-season after the lockdowns, so the whips were cracking in August for me because I was very disappointed with how I went, especially with the expectations that came from the year before (2019).

“It was a challenge but it made the fire burn a little bit stronger to perform and go again and chase the ultimate success.”

Tom Gribble of Werribee runs with the ball during the Round 7 VFL match between Werribee and Sydney Swans at Avalon Airport Oval on May 07, 2022. Picture: Mike Owen/AFL Photos

Gribble said he had moved on from his AFL dream as his 28th birthday approaches (although he’d still love the opportunity), with his motivation now being to take on and beat his AFL-listed opponents and achieve the ultimate goal of Werribee’s first premiership since 1993.

“My (AFL) ship has sailed, I’m 27 going on 28 but harbouring the ambition to go on and play AFL footy has held me in good stead in wanting to find improvements in my game,” he said.

“Whether that happens or not I’m not really all that fussed to be honest – the dream is there and it would obviously be incredible but it’s not the be-and-end-all (any more).

VFL CLUB-BY-CLUB VOTES

“Part of the reason why I play in the VFL is to challenge myself against those guys who are on AFL lists – you never know what the competition is going to present … you might have a Josh Kennedy playing for the Sydney Swans, he didn’t play against us but that’s an opportunity to really put your name out there and show what you can do.

“Conversely I think I was pretty lucky Rhys Mathieson only did play 12 games before Chris Fagan recalled him to the ones because I think he might have got away with it (the medal).

“That’s the uniqueness of the competition. It doesn’t make this accomplishment any less and it is a big part of the reason we do play – the increase in the talent pool from a 15-team comp to a 21-team comp, I think it adds to this achievement.”

Tom Gribble breaks through the banner in his 100th game for Werribee Tigers against Southport Sharks at Avalon Airport Oval on April 09, 2022. Picture: werribeefc.com.au

Gribble averaged 33.2 disposals, 13.8 contested possessions, 7.3 clearances, 4.3 tackles and 5.6 inside-50s for his 30 votes this year, whereas he picked up 25 votes in 2019 with similar numbers of 29.5 disposals, 14.6 contested possessions, 6.5 clearances, 4.8 tackles, 4.9 inside-50s, booting nine goals in each season.

He said the two wins were different in their own way and hopes this one helps lift his standing in the competition even further.

“(In 2019) I had Michael Barlow beside me as a player and now he’s the coach,” Gribble said.

“He did a lot of the grunt work inside and I was a bit more forward of the footy putting the ball inside-50 and having more impact in that way, but with him going out I had to step up a bit more and win a bit more contested ball and develop my game so both years have presented something different.

“It’s incredibly humbling. To win one is a bit of a blur and it’s still a blur now, but growing up and watching greats of the competition like Toby Pinwill and Ben Jolley, who I looked up to, and playing against them, they didn’t win one and it highlights the quality of the competition … they were enormous figures for VFL footy when I was growing up.

“When I didn’t get drafted I wanted to be a figure like that and hopefully if I’m not already there I can get there in the future.”

As Liston host Nigel Carmody said on stage – mission accomplished.

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

Werribee star Tom Gribble proudly shows off his Liston Medal in 2019.

THIS WEEK

2022 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final
Sunday, September 18
Casey Demons v Southport Sharks (IKON Park, 12.50pm)

Tickets: $20 adults, $15 concession, U15 free. Available at the gate or via www.intix.com.au/events/vflgrandfinal2022
Live on Channel 7, 7plus, AFL.com.au, the AFL Live Official App and Casey Radio 97.7FM and caseyradio.com.au from 12.30pm.
To access live scores, results, ladder, stats and to link to live streams/replays, download the VFL/W Official App from the Apple or Google Play stores.

Tom Gribble is all smiles as he realises he has won his second successive Liston Medal. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

J.J. LISTON TROPHY HONOURBOARD

2022: Tom Gribble (Werribee)
2019: Tom Gribble (Werribee)
2018: Anthony Miles (Richmond), Michael Gibbons (Williamstown)
2017: Jacob Townsend (Richmond)
2016: Michael Gibbons (Williamstown)
2015: Nick Rippon (North Ballarat)
2014: Alex Woodward (Box Hill Hawks)
2013: Mitch Hallahan (Box Hill Hawks), Steve Clifton (North Ballarat), Jordan Schroeder (Geelong)
2012: Ben Ross (Werribee)
2011: Shane Valenti (Port Melbourne)
2010: Steve Clifton (North Ballarat), Shane Valenti (Port Melbourne)
2009: Myles Sewell (North Ballarat)
2008: James Podsiadly (Werribee)
2007: James Byrne (Geelong)
2006: Aaron Edwards (Frankston)
2005: Ian Callinan (Tasmania), Paul Johnson (Sandringham)
2004: Julian Field (North Ballarat)
2003: David Robbins (Sandringham)
2002: Sam Mitchell (Box Hill Hawks)
2001: Brett Backwell (Carlton), Ezra Poyas (Coburg)
2000: David Robbins (Springvale)
1999: John Georgiou (Frankston)
1998: Michael Frost (Werribee)
1997: Justin Crough (Sandringham)
1996: Paul Dooley (Williamstown)
1995: Paul Satterley (Werribee)
1994: Cory Young (Oakleigh)
1993: Michael Sinni (Prahran)
1992: Joe Rugoli (Sandringham)
1991: Anthony Eames (Werribee)
1990: Joe Garbiuo (Oakleigh), Steven Harkins (Port Melbourne), Matthew Burrows (Preston), Stuart Nichol (Springvale)
1989: Saade Ghazi (Williamstown)
1988: Gary Sheldon (Coburg), Brett McTaggart (Williamstown)
1987: Barry Round (Williamstown)
1986: Tony West (Brunswick)
1985: Neil McLeod (Sandringham)
1984: Peter Geddes (Frankston)
1983: Bill Swan (Port Melbourne)
1982: Geoff Austen (Preston), Bill Swan (Port Melbourne), David Wenn (Dandenong)
1981: Vic Aanensen (Port Melbourne)
1980: Stephen Allender (Port Melbourne)
1979: Vic Aanensen (Port Melbourne)
1978: Barry Nolan (Brunswick), Trevor Durward (Preston)
1977: Bill Thompson (Dandenong)
1976: Danny Hibbert (Dandenong)
1975: Derek King (Oakleigh)
1974: Ray Goold (Sunshine)
1973: Ray Shaw (Preston)
1972: Don McKenzie (Sunshine)
1971: Laurie Hill (Preston)
1970: Fred Cook (Yarraville)
1969: Laurie Hill (Preston)
1968: Dick Telford (Preston)
1967: Jim Sullivan (Coburg)
1966: Alan Poore (Waverley)
1965: Alan Poore (Waverley)
1964: Bill Jones (Oakleigh)
1963: John Clegg (Yarraville)
1962: Keith Burns (Sandringham)
1961: Doug Beasy (Box Hill)
1960: Don Brown (Box Hill)
1959: Bryan Waters (Dandenong)
1958: Keith Woonough (Northcote)
1957: Ken Ross (Camberwell)
1956: Johnny Martin (Williamstown)
1955: Les Moroney (Moorabbin)
1954: Ted Turner (Brighton)
1953: Ted Henrys (Preston)
1952: Frank Johnson (Port Melbourne)
1951: Cec Hiscox (Northcote)
1950: Frank Stubbs (Camberwell)
1949: Jack Blackman (Preston)
1948: Russ McIndoe (Brighton)
1947: Stan Tomlins (Sandringham)
1946: Bill Findlay (Port Melbourne)
1945: Eric Beard (Oakleigh)

RECORDER CUP/WOODHAM CUP
--- (VFA MEDAL in italics)

1941: Des Fothergill (Williamstown) --- Fothergill
1940: Jack Davis (Brighton) --- Davis
1939: Pat Hartnett (Brighton) --- Arthur Cutting (Williamstown)
1938: Arthur Cutting (Williamstown), Bill Downie (Northcote) --- Cutting
1937: Neville Huggins (Williamstown) --- Huggins, Jack Lowry (Prahran)
1936: Bert Hyde (Preston), Peter Reville (Coburg) --- Neville Huggins (Williamstown)
1935: Les White (Prahran) --- Fred Brooks (Williamstown), Jim Dowling (Prahran)
1934: Danny Warr (Preston) --- Jim Dowling (Brunswick)
1933: Charlie Stanbridge (Williamstown) --- Stanbridge; Dave Withers (Oakleigh)
1932: Bob Ross (Northcote)
1931: Bill Koop (Prahran)
1930: Edward Hyde (Port Melbourne)
1929: Ted Bourke (Sandringham)
1928: Frank Smith (Prahran)
1927: Ernie Martin (Coburg)
1926: William “Bluey” Summers (Preston)
1925: Tommy Downs (Northcote)
1924: Bob Johnson (Northcote)
1923: Con McCarthy (Footscray)