TOM Gribble’s reputation as one of the best footballers outside of the AFL has been further enhanced after the Werribee captain claimed his second J.J. Liston Trophy as VFL best-and-fairest on Monday night.
A product of Geelong league club Geelong West and the Geelong Falcons, Gribble repeated his 2019 success by polling 30 votes to win by eight from Southport Sharks duo Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock.
Fellow former Falcon, Bell Park product Rhys Mathieson, finished fourth on 20 votes despite playing just 12 of a possible 18 home-and-away games for the Brisbane Lions.
Gribble and Mathieson were named in the VFL Team of the Year, along with Williamstown’s Teia Miles (Newtown & Chilwell).
Former South Barwon and Barwon Heads star Mark Corrigan was selected as coach after guiding grand final-bound Casey Demons to the minor premiership.
In the VFLW awards, Geelong midfielder Paige Sheppard finished fifth in the Lambert-Pearce Medal, with Essendon’s Georgia Nanscawen a runaway winner.
The star Bomber polled 33 of a possible 36 votes.
Sheppard, who joined AFLW expansion club Sydney for its inaugural season, was also named in the VFLW Team of the Year along with fellow Cat Laura Gardiner.
Former Geelong Falcon Renee Tierney, who starred as Essendon won the VFLW premiership, was named at centre half-forward.
Twitter: @krockfootball
