Frankston captain Trent Mynott and Geelong Cats midfielder George Stevens tied for the J.J. Liston Trophy, while Williamstown star Emily Eaves was crowned the Lambert-Pearce Medal winner
Sep 14, 2026
2026 J.J. Liston Trophy winners George Stevens and Trent Mynott and Lambert-Pearce Medal winner Emily Eaves. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos
Frankston captain Trent Mynott and Geelong Cats midfielder George Stevens tied for the J.J. Liston Trophy, while Williamstown star Emily Eaves was crowned the Lambert-Pearce Medal winner at the 2026 VFL and VFLW Awards.
Mynott and Stevens each polled 22 votes to claim the VFL best and fairest in the tenth tie in the award’s history. Mynott became the first Frankston player to win the award since Aaron Edwards in 2006, while Stevens was the first Cat since Jordan Schroder in 2013.
Both polled votes from the umpires in 10 matches during the home and away season, with each receiving best on ground honours on five occasions.
The triumph capped a great end to Mynott’s VFL career after announcing his retirement from state league football at the end of the season. Meanwhile for Stevens it added to an already big week ahead of representing Geelong in the VFL Grand Final against the Box Hill Hawks at IKON Park on Sunday.
For the first time since 2003, the J.J. Liston Trophy wasn’t awarded to the highest vote winner.
Port Melbourne midfielder Ben Hobbs topped the count with 26 votes but was ineligible to win the award after being suspended during the home and away season. Last year’s winner Jacob Dawson finished one vote behind Hobbs but was also ineligible due to suspension
What an amazing effort from Ben Hobbs to poll 26 votes despite missing with suspension.
He's a very strong chance to be back on an AFL list next year.
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
Stoked for Mynott to win it, even if it is a bittersweet exit for him.
Only the 4th Frankston player to win it (Geddes, Georgiou, Edwards, and now Mynott) and the first winner from Frankston since 2006.
I can't recall ever seeing a JJ Liston count where the two highest vote getters were ineligible. Maybe its time that the suspension (and games missed) should not rule you out, and being seen as a relevant penalty due to votes missed during those games?
In years past I had always been happy with suspended players being ruled out, but now that incidental and accidental/reckless conduct can see you rubbed out (although I don't think that was the case with HOBBS suspension) for minor incidents, I think perhaps some re-thinking needs to be done.
* It's time to restore the VFA name.
With the incidents that players get suspended for now I'd also be more open to that change. My first reaction to a suspension, when I missed the original incident, is generally to suspect it's unreasonable. From what Hobbs himself said recently about it, his suspension sounds legitimate; I don't know anything about Dawson's. I doubt the rule will actually change since admitting that a player can be suspended and still be the best and fairest would amount to conceding that some suspensions are unreasonable!