VFA-VFL - HONOURS & AWARDS

Throughout its history the VFA has presented a number of individual awards to recognise the achievements of its players. The earliest awards such as the Woodham Cup, Todd Medal, and Liston Trophy were named in honour of long-serving administrators. In recent times awards have been named after legendary players such as Frank Johnson, Jim 'Frosty' Miller, and Barry Round.

Below are details of the current and former awards presented to VFA-VFL players, along with lists of all winners at senior level.

BEST & FAIREST PLAYER

Since 1923 the VFA has presented four different Best & Fairest awards to senior players:

RECORDER CUP (1923-41)
Originally known as the Woodham Cup in 1923-24

VFA MEDAL (1933-41)
A separate award that ran parallel to the Recorder Cup

J.J. LISTON TROPHY (1945-present)
The most well-known of these awards, first presented in 1945 and continues to be awarded today.

J.FIELD MEDAL (1961-88)
In 1961 the senior competition was split into two divisions and this new award was presented to the best player in Second Division. It has not been presented since 1988 when the final season of divisional football was played.
Click below for a full list of VFA-VFL Best & Fairest winners:

LEADING GOALKICKER

VFA-VFL LEADING GOALKICKER (1877-1998)

Prior to 1999 there was no official award, players merely earned the honour of being referred to as the Association's leading goalkicker for that season.

The title went to the player who kicked the most goals for the season, including finals.

"FROSTY" MILLER MEDAL (1999-)

Named in honour of former Dandenong full-forward, Jim "Frosty"' Miller, who kicked 885 goals in 183 games and was the VFA's leading goalkicker on six occasions.

The medal is awarded to the player who kicks the most goals during the home-and-away rounds (goals kicked in finals are not included).
Click below for a full list of VFA-VFL leading goalkickers:

BEST ON GROUND IN THE VFA-VFL GRAND FINAL


NORM GOSS MEMORIAL MEDAL (1983-)

Named in honour of Norm Goss senior, who played 85 games for Port Melbourne before and after World War II (plus 8 games for VFL-AFL club Hawthorn during the war), then served as Port Melbourne club secretary 1947-76, VFA vice-president 1976-81, and Port Melbourne president from 1981 until the time of his death in 1983.

Click below for a full list of winners:

BEST ON GROUND IN VFA-VFL REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES

FRANK JOHNSON MEDAL (1990-)

Named in honour of Frank Johnson, former VFA representative team captain, two-time All-Australian selection in 1953 and 1956 (captain), youngest winner of the J.J. Liston Trophy, winner of Port Melbourne's best and fairest award a record five times, and winner of South Melbourne's best and fairest award in his first season in the VFL-AFL.

Click below for a full list of winners:

BEST VFA-VFL PLAYER (U'23)

FOTHERGILL-ROUND MEDAL (1989-2017)
FOTHERGILL-ROUND-MITCHELL MEDAL (2018-)

Named in honour of Des Fothergill, Barry Round, and Sam Mitchell; the only players to win the best & fairest awards of both the VFA-VFL and the VFL-AFL.

The criteria for the award has changed over the years: originally it was presented to the best young talent in the Association, then during the early-2000s it was presented to the young player most likely to be drafted to the AFL. It is currently awarded to the best VFA-VFL player under 23 years of age.
Click below for a full list of winners:

VFA SECONDS (RESERVE GRADE)

A.TODD MEDAL (1938-2017)
Best & Fairest player in VFA Reserve Grade/VFL Development League
Named in honour of Archie Todd, long-serving Port Melbourne committee member and chairman of the VFA Reserves Tribunal for over 20 years.

DOUG DISHER MEDAL (1961-88)
Best & Fairest player in VFA Reserve Grade (2nd Division)
Details about Doug Disher unknown at this time (please contact me if you have information about Disher's role with the VFA).

FRED HILL MEMORIAL MEDAL (1991-2017)
Best on ground in the VFA Reserve Grade/VFL Development League Grand Final
Named in honour of Fred Hill, who served as the VFA Secretary 1954-74.

VFA THIRDS

A.G. GILLON MEDAL (1961-94)
Best & Fairest player in VFA Thirds
Named in honour of Alex Gillon, who served as VFA President from 1954 until 1980.

F. GOMEZ MEDAL (1961-88)
Best & Fairest player in VFA Thirds (2nd Division)
Named in honour of Frank Gomez, a former Port Melbourne Thirds coach and senior committee member.

Last updated 4/11/2018