Frankston skipper Trent Mynott and Geelong midfielder George Stevens have shared the 2026 JJ Liston Trophy despite tying for third on votes at the end of the count.
The VFL and VFLW’s best were crowned on Monday night, with Williamstown ball-winner Emily Eaves taking home the Lambert-Pearce Medal.
But the VFL’s count ended in drama when two ineligible players finished first and second in the votes.
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Port Melbourne midfielder and former first-round Essendon draft pick Ben Hobbs finished on 26 votes, one ahead of Southport star Jacob Dawson on 25, but neither were crowned the winner due to suspensions during the season.
That left Mynott and Stevens, tied on 22 votes, as the joint winners.
Mynott held on to win the award despite missing the final four games of the season with a calf injury, while Stevens drew level with a best-on-ground performance in Geelong’s last game.
It’s the first time since 2003 that the Liston Trophy has not been awarded to the highest vote-getter.
“I kind of snuck in like Steven Bradbury,” Stevens joked during his acceptance speech.
Mynott is the first Frankston player since Aaron Edwards in 2006 to win the VFL’s top gong, while Stevens becomes Geelong’s first Liston Trophy winner since Jordan Schroder in 2013.
George Stevens, Emily Eaves and Trent Mynott took out the VFL and VFLW’s top gongs. Credit: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images Mynott is set to return to local footy in 2027, having announced he would retire from state-league competitions at the end of the season.
Stevens, meantime, has bigger fish to fry, with the Cats preparing for the VFL grand final with Box Hill on Sunday.
Eaves stormed home in the second half of the VFLW season to finish the Lambert-Pearce count on 21 votes.
The Seagulls star credited coach Paul Groves for her stellar season.
“He’s such a calm head and he’s been able to bring this calmness and sense of confidence in me that I didn’t probably have before,” Eaves aid.
“He’s brought out this different aspect of my game and then obviously just a really hard off-season putting in the work.
“I’ve rotated a bit more into the forward line this year which has been different and it’s brought a different aspect to my game.”
Eaves will be crucial to Williamstown’s premiership hopes when she lines up in the decider against North Melbourne Werribee on Sunday.
Earlier, AFL draft hopeful Brady Wright won the Fothergill-Round Medal and will hope to follow in the footsteps of 21 former winners who have gone on to the next level.
Collingwood’s Stella Huxtable took home the Debbie Lee Medal as the VFLW’s most promising player.