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).

4:26:43

2022 VFL & VFLW Awards

Relive the all the highlights and award winners from the 2022 Smithy's VFL and rebel VFLW seasons.

Published on Sep 12, 2022

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)