Season 2026 - VFL Competition

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

The squad of 48 from which the VFL Team of the Year will be selected has been announced here:

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1606968/2026-smithys-vfl-team-of-the-year-squad

From the article:

"The full list of club representation is: Box Hill Hawks (four), Brisbane Lions (two), Carlton (one), Casey Demons (one), Coburg (six, including Mitch Podhajski), Collingwood (two, including Harrison Coe and Mitch Podhajski), Essendon (two), Footscray (two), Frankston (six, including Harrison Coe), Geelong Cats (four), Gold Coast Suns (one), GWS Giants (two), Port Melbourne (two), Richmond (one), Southport Sharks (two), Sydney Swans (two), Tasmania (three), Werribee (four) and Williamstown (three). North Melbourne, Sandringham and St Kilda do not have a representative named."

Box Hill: Stu Horner, Henry Hustwaite, Finn Maginness, Brodie McLaughlin

Brisbane: Darragh Joyce, Will McLachlan

Carlton: Lachie Fogarty

Casey: Riley Bonner

Coburg: Jack Bytel, Ingo Dammersmith, Cooper Keogh, Jaidyn Stephenson, Donovan Toohey

Collingwood/Coburg: Mitch Podhajski

Collingwood/Frankston: Harrison Coe

Essendon: Tyler Sellers, Elijah Tsatas

Footscray: Jack Billings, Cooper Craig-Peters

Frankston: Corey Ellison, Darby Hipwell, Tyson Milne, Trent Mynott, Jackson Voss

Geelong: Nathan Kreuger, Mitch Knevitt, Jesse Mellor, George Stevens

Gold Coast: Ben Jepson

GWS: Harvey Hooper, Jack Ough

Port Melbourne: Kaine Baldwin, Ben Hobbs

Richmond: Mutaz El Nour

Southport: Jacob Dawson, Zac Foot

Sydney: Joel Hamling, Mitch Mellis

Tasmania: Hugh Dixon, Jed Hagan, Jye Menzie

Werribee: Ajang Kuol Mun, Louis Pinnuck, Jack Riding, Brady Wright

Williamstown: Jake Greiser, Luke Parks, Jack Toner

Bit surprised Brayden Crossley didn't make the squad. I did think AJ Kuol Mun had a narrow win over him when Werribee played Southport, and perhaps the games he missed cost him the squad spot. Two in the squad seems a bit low for Port Melbourne given the sixth-placed finish, but to some extent we did have different players excelling at different points in the season. From Werribee I had expected to see Dom Brew and Charlie Lazzaro in the squad, but there is always a lot of competition for the midfield spots. Sandringham's Nathan Philactides perhaps a bit unlucky. In any case the selectors should certainly be able to pick a strong team out of this squad.

Saturday, September 12

Second Preliminary Final: Box Hill Hawks vs Essendon

Box Hill City Oval, 11:05am AEST

Broadcaster: ABC (ABC in Victoria, ABC iview nationally)

Sunday, September 13

First Preliminary Final: Geelong Cats vs Port Melbourne

GMHBA Stadium, 1:35pm AEST

Broadcaster: ABC (ABC in Victoria, ABC iview nationally)

Saturday September 5

2nd Semi Final

11:05am AEST - Tasmania v Essendon

North Hobart, Hobart • Palawa

1st Semi Final

12:05pm AEST - Werribee v Port Melbourne

Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee • Wadawurrung/Boon Wurrung

Saturday August 29

12:05pm - Geelong Cats v Tasmania - GMHBA Stadium, Geelong • Wadawurrung 

12:05pm - Essendon v Williamstown - Windy Hill, Melbourne • Wurundjeri

12:35pm - Port Melbourne v Sydney Swans - ETU Stadium, Melbourne • Wurundjeri

2:05pm - Werribee v Box Hill Hawks - Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee • Wadawurrung/Boon Wurrung

Saturday 22nd August 2026

Game 1 - Sydney vs Frankston - 11.05am - Blacktown International Sportspark

Game 2 - Williamstown vs Carlton - 11.05am - DSV Stadium Williamstown. 

Friday, 24th July - Sunday, 26th July

Collingwood vs St Kilda - 24/07 - 12:05pm - La Trobe University

Carlton vs Gold Coast Suns - 25/07 - 10:00am - Ikon Park 

Box Hill vs Essendon - 25/07 - 10:00am - Box Hill City Oval

Brisbane Lions vs North Melbourne - 25/07 - 10:45am - Brighton Homes Arena

Casey Demons vs Geelong - 25/07 - 12:05pm - Casey Fields

Southport vs Frankston - 25/07 - 12:05pm - Fankhauser Reserve

GWS Giants vs Sydney Swans - 25/07 - 12:35pm - ENGIE Stadium

Footscray Bulldogs vs Richmond - 25/07 - 3:05pm - Mission Whitten Oval

Coburg vs Sandringham - 26/07 - 1:05pm - Barry Plant Park

BYE: Port Melbourne, Werribee, Williamstown, Tasmania

A lot of crucial games going into the last few rounds of the season. Carlton, Essendon, and North Melbourne will all be looking to keep their finals hopes alive while Frankston and Coburg will strength their positions inside the top 10 if they win. Sydney and GWS currently sit in 4th and 5th place, respectively, so their game should be a competitive one. 

For those with access to the Herald-Sun website, a bit of argy-bargy in a Port Melbourne pub after Sunday's game, allegedly ....

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/former-afl-ruckman-braydon-prues…

Saturday June 6

10:50am AEST Tasmania v North Melbourne - North Hobart Oval, Hobart • Palawa

12:05PM AEST Frankston v Southport Sharks - Kinetic Stadium, Frankston • Boon Wurrung/Bunerong

12:05PM AEST Collingwood v Casey Demons - Casey Fields, Melbourne • Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung

1:30pm AEST Gold Coast SUNS v Brisbane Lions - People First Stadium, Gold Coast • Yugambeh

2:05PM AEST Box Hill Hawks v Footscray Bulldogs - Box Hill City Oval, Box Hill • Wurundjeri

2:05PM AEST Werribee v Coburg - Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee • Wadawurrung/Boon Wurrung

2:35pm AEST Sandringham v Geelong Cats - Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sandringham • Boon Wurrung/Bunerong

Sunday June 7

12:10pm AEST Sydney Swans v St Kilda - Tramway Oval, Sydney • Gadigal

2:05PM AEST Essendon v Carlton - Windy Hill, Melbourne • Wurundjeri

2:05PM AEST Port Melbourne v Williamstown - ETU Stadium, Melbourne • Wurundjeri