Hawks Fly High At J.J.Liston Trophy
Tuesday, 15 September 2009

By Daniel Dufty

Last night, the VFL’s highest accolade the J.J.Liston Trophy was handed out among many other awards in a lavish awards ceremony at Etihad Arena.

Annually the J.J.Liston is presented to the VFL Senior grade player voted as the competitions Best and Fairest player.

Inaugurated as the Recorder Cup in 1923, the award has been known as the J.J.Liston Trophy since 1945. 

North Ballarat’s Myles Sewell won the award with Michael Barlow in 2nd place followed by James Podsiadly and the Hawks Sam Iles sharing third position.

Sewell the younger brother of Hawthorn’s Brad Sewell took away the award with a late surge after a great finish polling well in North Ballarat’s final few home and away games.

Box Hill’s players faired extremely well in the J.J.Liston Trophy count with Sam Iles finishing in 3rd position overall with 15 votes, while Co-Captain Steve Kenna was also part of the top 10  finishing in 6th position.

Kenna who made the VFL Team of the Year of 2008 was rewarded once again after another impressive year again making the 2009 team, named at half-back.

The hard-running Box Hill midfielder’s status continues to grow as one of the VFL’s elite group of midfielders after consecutive years finishing in the top ten in the J.J.Liston count.

Kenna last year finished the count with 11 votes after missing the last match of the home and away season to run out in the top ten for the Hawks in 2008.

Cameron Pedersen and Sam Iles also tasted success making the VFL Team of the Year for the 1st time in a fantastic achievement for both players.

Cameron Pedersen played all 20 of the Hawks games in the 2009 VFL Season and was a regular contributor with his ability to play all positions on ground a key part of his make-up.

At 194cm, Pedersen’s work splitting forward and ruck-work particularly has been outstanding, always a perilous task for opposition defenders his work-rate is a standout week in week out, with an additional 35 goals adding to his perfect 2009 season. 

Sam Iles in his 1st year for Box Hill not only has come equal 3rd in the VFL’s most prestigious award but made a real mark on the VFL competition and would now be a real front runner for the Col Austen Trophy.

Iles past success in awards is lengthy, as Runner Up in Williamstown’s Best and Fairest in 2007, and 3rd in Collingwood’s VFL Best and Fairest Count in 2008.

Finishing 3rd in the J.J.Liston Trophy and earning a spot in the 2009 VFL Team Of The Year is the complete season for a player, an outstanding result for Iles.  

Iles 1st debut season at the Box Hill Hawks has been a really rewarding pick-up for the Hawks who picked up one of VFL’s premier midfielders with all the attributes still to play AFL football again. 

Congratulations to Joel Cross who also won the A.Todd Medal which is awarded to the VFL Reserves Best and Fairest Player.

Cross is the 4th Box Hill player to win the award after Gary Woods (1989), Mark Gottliebsen (1995 equal winner) and Ryan Cassidy (2003) all took out the award for the club.

Congratulations to all players involved in the J.J.Liston Trophy Awards Night!


VFL Team Of  The Year 2009

B: Stephen Brewer (Port), James Flaherty (Bend), Alex Silvagni (Casey)

HB: James Wall (Casey), Jarrod Dalton (Port), Steve Kenna (BH)

C: David Gallagher (Sand), Toby Pinwill (Port), Sam Dwyer (Port)

HF: Michael Barlow (Werr), James Podsiadly (Geel), Brodie Moles (Geel)

F: Patrick Rose (Will), Nicholas Sautner (Sand), Matthew Little (Will)

Ruck: Orren Stephenson (NBall), Sam Iles (BH), Myles Sewell (NBall)

Interchange: Michael Hibberd (Fston), Cameron Pedersen (BH), Marcus Marigliani (Fston), Steve Clifton (NBall)

Coach Peter German (Casey)


J.J.Liston Trophy: Final Tally

Myles Sewell (18 votes), Michael Barlow (16), James Podsiadly (15), Sam Iles (15)