Brisbane Lions midfield ace Jarryd Lyons became the second player from a non-Victorian club to win the J.J. Liston Trophy.
Lyons, 31, has been unluckily shuffled out of the Lions’ preliminary final-bound AFL team for most of the season, playing just AFL eight games, five of which have been as substitute, including the qualifying final win over Port Adelaide.
However, he hasn’t let it affect his footy to become the second player from a non-Victorian team to win the VFL best and fairest award, following from Ian Callinan who achieved the feat for Tasmania in 2005.
Lyons racked up 26 votes after polling in 11 of his 14 VFL home-and-away matches to hold off Southport gun Boyd Woodcock by two votes. For Woodcock it was a second runner-up finish in a row.
Lyons garnered best-afield honours on six occasions, plus three twos and two ones in an electric season that saw him average 31.4 disposals, 4.7 marks, 7.6 clearances, 4.6 tackles and 6.1 inside-50 entries.
“It’s an honour to accept this award,” Lyons said in his acceptance speech from Brisbane.
“The VFL has played a massive part in my family for many years. I made my debut back in 2010 at Werribee footy ground. My dad is a 1985 Sandy (Sandringham) premiership player, so this means a lot to him too.
“I’ve loved coming back and playing here. Despite what people might think, it’s been a really great time for me helping coach and growing as a leader in the VFL side.”
Woodcock had a slow start, not hitting the votes until Round 5, but three consecutive triples against Footscray, Northern Bullants and Geelong followed by a two against GWS Giants saw him surge into a share of the lead with dual Cats’ best and fairest Jye Chalcraft at Round 8. He remained in contention until the end of the season.
Back-to-back threes in Rounds 19 and 20 pulled him within two of Lyons heading into a last round where the Lion didn’t play and the Shark had 33 disposals in a loss to Collingwood, but there were no more votes and he had to be content with second spot again.
Dual defending medallist and pre-count favourite Tom Gribble again polled strongly as he prepares for his first Smithy’s VFL Grand Final for Werribee this Sunday.
Gribble polled in 10 games to finish equal third on 21 votes with Footscray captain and rebel Coaches MVP winner Lachie Sullivan. Shaun Mannagh finished fifth on 19 votes.
Carlton’s Paddy Dow, Casey Demons midfielder Luke Dunstan and Lyons’ teammate Rhys Mathieson made the early running, with Mathieson grabbing 10 votes in the first five games before his season was derailed by a hamstring injury.
Dow joined Mathieson on double figures in Round 7 and shared the lead with Lyons with 14 votes at Round 10, but likewise managed just three more votes for the rest of the year as he picked up AFL opportunities.
Dunstan had eight votes after Round 5 but injury again curtailed his influence before he flew home with 10 in the last four games to finish sixth on 18.
Minor premier and Grand Finalist Gold Coast polled the second most votes with 89, but the star-studded nature of its team meant it was going to struggle to win, with Sam Flanders’ 18th placing on 12 votes being its best.
The Suns’ premiership rivals Werribee topped that count with 94 votes as Dom Brew, Jack Henderson and Kye Declase joined Gribble and Mannagh in double figures.
2023 J.J. LISTON TROPHY
26: Jarryd Lyons (Brisbane Lions)
24: Boyd Woodcock (Southport Sharks)
21: Tom Gribble (Werribee)
21: Lachlan Sullivan (Footscray)
19: Shaun Mannagh (Werribee)
18: Luke Dunstan (Casey Demons)
17: Paddy Dow (Carlton)
17: Harvey Hooper (Port Melbourne)
15: Jacob Dawson (Southport Sharks)
14: Callum Brown (Box Hill Hawks)
14: Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
14: Brayden Crossley (Southport Sharks)
CLUB LEADERBOARD: Werribee 94, Gold Coast Suns 89, Box Hill Hawks 75, Brisbane Lions 74, Southport Sharks 72, Footscray Bulldogs 67, Casey Demons 66, North Melbourne 66, Williamstown 60, Carlton 59, Collingwood 55, Richmond 52, Geelong Cats 45, Frankston 43, GWS Giants 41, Port Melbourne 41, Sandringham 41, Sydney Swans 36, Essendon 35, Northern Bullants 19, Coburg 4.
Click here to see the full vote listing.