Werribee star Dom Brew polls 31 votes to streak off with VFL’s JJ Liston Trophy
Before the start of the season, a driven Dom Brew told his Werribee coach that he would win the VFL best and fairest, the JJ Liston Trophy. Last night he did exactly that, matching a famous name with his bumper vote tally.
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At Werribee’s first pre-season training session last November, Dom Brew told new coach Jimmy Allan that he would win the VFL’s JJ Liston Trophy.
Last night, he did, emphatically and brilliantly.
In fact, Brew was so far ahead after 17 rounds that officials decided not to bother reading the last four rounds of voting and declared him the winner.
At that stage he was on 29 votes, 11 clear of Southport’s Boyd Woodcock. Home, Brew.
He finished on 31 votes, matching Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell’s bumper tally when he swept to the 2002 Liston for Box Hill Hawks.
Gold Coast Suns half back Rory Atkins was runner-up with 22 and Woodcock was third with 20, gaining his third consecutive top-three finish.
Brew was only one vote shy of Michael Frost’s record 32 votes in 1998; little wonder the VFL called the count a “DOMination’’ for the left-footer.
Earlier in the VFL/VFLW awards night at Crown Palladium, he had also won the Coaches’ MVP and been selected in the VFL team of the year, as captain.
On Sunday, in the absence of the injured Nick Coughlan, he’ll lead Werribee out in the grand final against Southport as the Bees attempt to win their first premiership since 1993.
Brew averaged 28.8 disposals, 17.6 contested possessions, 9.9 clearances, 9.4 tackles and 5.5 inside 50m entries in the home-and-away season to help lift his club to the minor premiership.
He polled votes in 14 of his 18 matches, grabbing seven best-on-ground performances, to become the seventh Werribee player to win the Liston Trophy.
In the MVP he polled coaches’ votes in 15 games to finish on 103 votes, ahead of Cat Mitch Hardie (91) and 2022 winner Jacob Dawson (86) of Southport.
Interviewed by count host Nigel Carmody after his win, Brew, recruited to Werribee from North Albury in the strong Ovens and Murray league, said he told Allan he would win the Liston.
“I was having a few set-shots at training in pre-season and he said, ‘What are you kicking goals for?’ And I said, ‘I’m going to win the Liston’,’’ he said.
“He said, ‘You’re going to have to kick a goal a game’. I didn’t kick a goal a game, but I got it Jim, so…’’
After the presentation, Brew told media that last year’s grand final loss had hit him hard and given him ample motivation for 2024. He said the comment to Allan about winning the Liston reflected his mindset going into the season.
“My belief never wavered. Obviously a bold statement but I’m happy to say I backed it up.
“(Allan) just had a smile. That was the first time I’d really met him so he’s probably thinking, ‘What have I got here?’ But I think he’s pretty happy.’’
After the count, the question was asked on social media: why isn’t Brew on an AFL list?
Asked if he wanted to play higher football, he said: “Oh, yeah, if the opportunity presents itself. But realistically, like, I’m 27. I feel like I am going into my prime. I feel like I was just getting into it this year. I think you’d be lying if you didn’t say if the opportunity arose that you wouldn’t take it.’’
And what would he offer a club?
“I know no one would work as hard as me. I think that’s pretty evident. No one would have thought where I’d be now compared to when I first came down. No one would have thought I’d be here where I am now, even last year. I might not be the quickest, I’m not the most skilled, I’m not the tallest, I’m not the strongest, but I think I do a pretty good job of putting it together. And I won’t quit.’’
Brew said he would happily swap all his season accolades for a premiership medal on Sunday.
“I’d trade everything in … to get the ultimate reward and ultimate success for this great club. To bring some silverware back to Werribee Football club and the Werribee community would mean the absolute world to me.’’
Topping up numbers, Brew played one game for Werribee’s Development League team in 2016 and joined it the following season. Gradually, regular games came to him, often as a tagger, but last year he flourished in the midfield, winning the best and fairest as co-captain.
Western Bulldogs captain Dom Carbone became the first player from her club to win the Lambert-Pearce Medal as the best and fairest player in the VFLW.
Darwin-born Carbone averaged 18.4 disposals, 5.1 tackles and 4.4 clearances during the regular season and featured in the umpires’ votes in eight matches. The in-and-under midfielder polled 17 votes to finish three ahead of Essendon skipper El Chaston and Box Hill Hawks captain Tamara Luke.
Darebin Falcons midfielder Ange Gogos came in fourth in the Lambert-Pearce Medal voting and was crowned the Coaches MVP after raising 83 votes, two ahead of Western Bulldogs ruck Keeley Hardingham. Port Melbourne young star Ava Seton was third on 73 votes.
After just missing out on the Coaches MVP award, Hardingham was crowned the winner of the Debbie Lee Medal as the VFLW Rising Star.
Richmond forward Sam Davidson was recognised for a breakout season by claiming the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the most promising player aged 24 or under.
Glenn Clifford, Christopher Doyle, Alan McDonald and John Newson were honoured with VFL life membership.
Goal umpire Doyle qualified for life membership after officiating in 175 VFL games, and Clifford, McDonald and Newson were recognised for their outstanding service in long-serving roles at Geelong, Box Hill Hawks and Sandringham respectively.
Port Melbourne’s Jennie Tserkezidis was presented the Alex Gillon Award and Williamstown’s Maurice Thurston the Ann Rulton Award, which recognise VFL and VFLW volunteers who have provided outstanding service to their club or football in general.
Joel Clamp (field), Anthony Laughton (boundary) and Luke Monea (goal) were VFL umpires of the year.
VFL JJ LISTON TROPHY
Dom Brew (Werribee) 31
Rory Atkins (Gold Coast) 22
Boyd Woodcock (Southport) 20
Mitch Hardie (Geelong) 19
Jarryd Lyons (Brisbane) 17
Deven Robertson (Brisbane) 17
Brayden Crossley (Southport) 16
Riley Garcia (Footscray Bulldogs) 16
Billy Gowers (Port Melbourne) 16
Jacob Dawson (Southport) 15
Harvey Hooper (Port Melbourne) 15
VFLW LAMBERT-PEARCE MEDAL
Dom Carbone (Western Bulldogs) 17
El Chaston (Essendon) 14
Tamara Luke (Box Hill Hawks) 14
Ange Gogos (Darebin Falcons) 13
Emily Eaves (Williamstown) 12
Ava Seton (Port Melbourne) 12
Alana Barba (North Melbourne) 11
Monique DeMatteo (Darebin Falcons) 10
Keeley Hardingham (Western Bulldogs) 10
Eliza Straford (Williamstown) 10
Ash Thorneycroft (Williamstown) 10
Originally published as Werribee star Dom Brew polls 31 votes to streak off with VFL’s JJ Liston Trophy
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