Brisbane Lions midfielder Jarryd Lyons claimed the J.J. Liston Trophy while Box Hill Hawks teammates Jordan Mifsud and Akayla Peterson and Geelong Cats on-baller Charlotte Simpson tied for the Lambert-Pearce Medal.

Lyons became the second player from a non-Victorian club to win the VFL best and fairest, following Ian Callinan who tied for the award in 2005 while playing for Tasmania.

The 31-year-old midfielder averaged 32.6 disposals, 8.2 score involvements and 7.6 clearances across 14 home-and-away matches to help guide the Lions to another preliminary final appearance.

He received votes in 11 matches, which included six best-on-ground performances.

Lyons polled 26 votes to finish two ahead of Southport Sharks midfielder/forward Boyd Woodcock. Two-time J.J. Liston Trophy winner Tom Gribble from Werribee finished in a tie for third with Footscray Bulldogs skipper Lachlan Sullivan.

The Lambert-Pearce Medal was shared for the first time in the award’s history, with Mifsud, Peterson and Simpson finishing tied on 14 votes in a thrilling count where all three winners polled votes in the final round of the season.

Mifsud polled votes in eight matches which was the most of any player in the competition. Simpson featured in the umpires’ votes seven times, while Peterson’s received votes in six matches which included polling the maximum three votes on four occasions.

Collingwood midfielder Jessica Bates was runner-up on 13 votes, with Williamstown’s Emily Eaves in third place on 12 votes.

Despite narrowly missing out on the best and fairest, Bates was the runaway winner of the rebel Coaches MVP. She polled 101 votes to win the award from Eaves (61) and Carlton midfielder Madeleine Di Cosmo (58).

Lachlan Sullivan took out the rebel Coaches MVP in the Smithy’s VFL. The Bulldogs midfielder polled 102 votes to finish ten ahead of last year’s winner Jacob Dawson from the Southport Sharks. Williamstown defender Marty Hore was third with 84 votes.

Werribee defender Sam Clohesy received the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, which is awarded to the most promising young talent in the Smithy’s VFL aged 24 years and under.

After sharing the best and fairest, Charlotte Simpson also claimed the Debbie Lee Medal as the most promising young player in the rebel VFLW.

VFL life membership was awarded to Adam Bell, John Cooper, Tom Gribble, Eddie Hillgrove, Sam Mounajed and the late Graeme Crocker.

Bell and Cooper qualified for life membership having umpired 175 VFL games, while Gribble qualified as a two-time winner of the J.J. Liston Trophy.

Mounajed was recognised for his service to the game having spent more than 30 years involved as a trainer, including the past 15 with the VFL umpiring department.

Hillgrove and Crocker were recognised for their long-time dedication to the Collingwood and Williamstown Football Clubs respectively. Crocker received his life membership at a celebration at Williamstown Football Club last week before his passing on Saturday.

Port Melbourne’s Ben Smith was presented the Alex Gillon Award and Collingwood’s Meagan Lee the Ann Rulton Award, which recognise volunteers who have provided outstanding service to their club or football in general.

The 2023 Umpires of the Year were Sam Nippress (field), Will Morris (boundary) and John Varker (goal).

J.J. LISTON TROPHY

Click here for full vote listing

LAMBERT-PEARCE MEDAL

Click here for full vote listing

 SMITHY’S VFL TEAM OF THE YEAR

rebel VFLW TEAM OF THE YEAR

rebel COACHES MVP – SMITHY’S VFL
Lachlan Sullivan (Footscray Bulldogs)
Click here for full vote listing

rebel COACHES MVP – rebel VFLW
Jessica Bates (Collingwood)
Click here for full vote listing

JIM ‘FROSTY’ MILLER MEDAL (Smithy’s VFL Leading Goalkicker)
Chris Burgess and Brodie McLaughlin (Gold Coast Suns) – 51 goals

ROHENNA YOUNG MEDAL (rebel VFLW Leading Goalkicker)
Sarah Cameron (Williamstown) – 18 goals

FOTHERGILL-ROUND-MITCHELL MEDAL (Smithy’s VFL Rising Star)
Sam Clohesy (Werribee)
Other finalists: Mutaz El Nour (Richmond), Ben Jepson (Coburg), Kai Owens (Frankston) and Jack Toner (Williamstown)

DEBBIE LEE MEDAL (rebel VFLW Rising Star)
Charlotte Simpson (Geelong Cats)
Other finalists: Madeleine Di Cosmo (Carlton), Nyakoat Dojiok (Collingwood), Emily Eaves (Williamstown) and Kaitlyn O’Keefe (Port Melbourne)

UMPIRES OF THE YEAR
Sam Nippress (field), Will Morris (boundary) and John Varker (goal)

ALEX GILLON VFL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Ben Smith (Port Melbourne)

ANN RULTON VFLW VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Meagan Lee (Collingwood)

LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Adam Bell (VFL Umpire – 175 games), John Cooper (VFL Umpire – 175 games), Tom Gribble (2 x J.J. Liston Trophy winner), Graeme Crocker (Williamstown), Eddie Hillgrove (Collingwood) and Sam Mounajed (State League & Talent Pathway Umpiring Departments)