North Ballarat’s Nick Rippon flies home to claim 2015 JJ Liston Trophy
A BEST-on-ground performance in the final home-and-away match saw North Ballarat’s Nick Rippon claim the 2015 JJ Liston Trophy.
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NORTH Ballarat midfielder Nick Rippon capped an impressive season last night taking out the Victorian Football League’s best and fairest award.
Rippon snuck home by one vote to claim the J.J Liston trophy thanks to a starring Round 20 performance against Coburg (28 disposals and four goals).
He trailed leader Matt Thomas (Richmond) coming into the last round, but his best-on-ground performance saw him finish ahead of four runners-up.
Thomas had held the outright lead from Round 13, but after polling his final votes in Round 16, the Tigers had the bye in Round 17 before the rugged midfielder was called up to play two matches at AFL level.
He was left stranded on 14 votes before the final round, ahead of Williamstown’s Ben Jolley and Box Hill Hawk Jonathan Simpkin (13 votes apiece) and Roosters pair Rippon and Myles Sewell (12 votes apiece).
While Jolley and Simpkin failed to poll in Round 20, Rippon and Sewell dominated in North Ballarat’s 42-point victory over Coburg at Eureka Stadium.
Both had 28 disposals, but Rippon’s four goals secured him the three votes required to overtake Thomas while Sewell had to settle for two.
In 18 games this season the tough inside midfielder was named best on ground in Round 15 (32 disposals) and Round 17 (34 disposals) and averaged 24 disposals.
The 21-year-old polled 15 votes, one ahead of Sewell and Thomas, former Saint Clint Jones (Sandringham) and Williamstown ace Sam Dunell.
Rippon also scored a second successive VFL Team of the Year nomination for his dominance in 2015.
FINAL LEADERBOARD
Nick Rippon (North Ballarat) 15
Matt Thomas (Richmond) 14
Myles Sewell (North Ballarat) 14
Clint Jones (Sandringham) 14
Sam Dunell (Williamstown) 14
Ben Jolley (Williamstown) 13
Jonathan Simpkin (Box Hill Hawks) 13
Daniel Currie (Werribee) 11
Sam Iles (Box Hill Hawks) 11
OTHER AWARD WINNERS
ALEC GILLION AWARD (club volunteer recognition): Vic Fuller - Geelong
VFL LIFE MEMBERSHIP: Ian Liversidge (Coburg), Stephen Smith (AFL Victoria) & Richard Mills (umpiring)
‘FROSTY’ MILLER MEDAL (goalkicking): Sam Grimley (Box Hill Hawks), Jordan Lisle (Port Melbourne) and Liam McBean (Richmond) – 42 goals
A. TODD MEDAL (Development League B&F): Dylan Conway – Williamstown 11 votes
FOTHERGILL-ROUND MEDAL (most promising talent): Adam Marcon – Williamstown
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