Garfield’s Ben Ross won the J.J Liston Trophy on Monday night, edging out Casey’s Tom Couch and Port Melbourne’s John Baird. Picture: AFL PHOTOS
By JARROD POTTER
JUST OVER a year since he was delisted from AFL club North Melbourne, former Garfield and Gippsland Power player Ben Ross won the J.J Liston Trophy, the Victorian Football League’s best and fairest, by one vote on Monday night.
Ross, 23 from Garfield, took the lead in round 20 with a three-vote best on ground performance for the Werribee Tigers in their 82-point win over North Ballarat, where the midfielder claimed 21 kicks, seven handballs and five tackles.
It was his fifth best on ground performances for the season, also taking maximum votes against Geelong (Round five), Coburg (Round seven), Collingwood (Round 10) and Casey Scorpions (Round 14).
The football heritage running through Ross’ veins is extremely strong – his brother Michael is currently listed with Essendon and his grandfather Max Papley is a former South Melbourne full forward who played 59 games for the Swans and won their goal-kicking in 1964.
Ross said he was humbled to receive the VFL best and fairest award in what he thought was a consistent season.
“It’s humbling to win this award – so many great players have won it in the past and I’m very honoured to win it,” Ross said.
“On my year, I thought I’ve been pretty consistent, it obviously helps being in a successful side, so I think that’s our number one goal this year.”
With a Liston Trophy around his neck adding to his draft value, Ross said he’d be thrilled if a club gave him a second chance to play in the AFL.
“You always hope to be (drafted), it’s your dream from when you’re a child, so obviously if you ever get that chance you want to take it, and I obviously didn’t take mine the first time round, and if that opportunity comes again I’ll obviously love to grab it with two hands,” Ross said.
To cap off a stellar night for the Tigers’ midfielder, Ross was also named on the wing for the VFL Team of the Year.
Ross vied with Casey Scorpions centre-man Tom Couch and Port Melbourne midfielder John Baird for most of the count, with Couch finishing runner-up on 19 votes and Baird third on 18.
Couch took the lead after an impressive three-vote performance against Frankston in round 18, but his call up to the Melbourne Demons put an end to his Liston contention as he didn’t play the final three matches of the VFL season.
Couch led the count for Casey, with former Beaconsfield midfielder David Collins (nine votes) second in the count for the Scorpions.
Scorpions’ coach Brett Lovett named Coach of the Year and Casey co-captain Evan Panozza (back pocket) and Garfield’s Luke Tynan (interchange) also named to the team after impressive seasons in the Scorpions’ defence.
Casey Scorpions emerging talent Jordan Pollard won the A. Todd Medal for best player in the VFL Development League.
Former Noble Park midfielder Kyle Martin polled six votes in the Liston Trophy and was named on a half-forward flank in the Team of the Year in only his first VFL season.
