The evening began with Brodie McLaughlin claiming the first award of the night, taking home his second Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal after finishing the home-and-away season with 67 goals.
McLaughlin, who has led Williamstown’s goal-kicking for the past two seasons, delivered another standout 2025 campaign, averaging 12.8 disposals, 8.6 score involvements, and 3.7 goals per game.
The two-time ‘Frosty’ Miller Medallist was later recognised in the Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year, earning a forward line position, and also finished joint tenth in the Smithy’s VFL Coaches MVP (56 votes) and sixth in the J.J. Liston Trophy count with 17 votes.
Midfielder Riley Collier-Dawkins was next best for the Seagulls in the Liston count with seven votes, followed by Jake Greiser and Toby Triffett, who both polled three.
2025 Smithy’s VFL J.J. Liston Williamstown Votes
- Brodie McLaughlin – 17 votes
- Riley Collier-Dawkins – 7 votes
- Jake Greiser – 5 votes
- Toby Triffett – 5 votes
- Joel Fitzgerald – 3 votes
- Hugo Hall-Kahan – 3 votes
- Luke Parks – 3 votes
- Jovan Petric – 3 votes
- Blake Coleman – 2 votes
- Tom Downie – 2 votes
- Lachlan Gollant – 2 votes
- Jack Toner – 2 votes
- Harry Minton-Connell – 1 vote
The night was equally memorable on the VFLW side, with Emily Eaves taking home the rebel VFLW Coaches MVP award – sharing the honour with Darebin’s Ange Gogos in the first tie in the award’s history, with both polling 77 votes.
Averaging 17 disposals, 6.9 clearances, and 6.7 tackles across 16 matches, the vice-captain once again demonstrated her consistency and competitiveness in the blue and gold.
Eaves was also named in the 2025 rebel VFLW Team of the Year (interchange) and finished fourth in the Lambert-Pearce Medal count with 17 votes after featuring among the leaders throughout the evening.
Ash Thorneycroft polled strongly with seven votes, while Georgia Howes, Eliza Straford, and Sharnie Whiting each finished on three.
2025 rebel VFLW Lambert-Pearce Williamstown Votes
- Emily Eaves – 17 votes
- Ash Thorneycroft – 7 votes
- Georgia Howes – 3 votes
- Eliza Straford – 3 votes
- Sharnie Whiting – 3 votes
- Neve Crowley – 2 votes
- Megan Williamson – 2 votes
- Laura Blue – 1 vote
