Tara Murray
After a below par 2021, the fire was lit in the belly for Werribee star Tom Gribble.
One of the premier players in the Victorian Football League competition, having won the J.J Liston Trophy in 2019, Gribble knew he had to step up his game heading into 2022.
Back on the track in August after COVID-19 cut last season short, Gribble stepped it up.
On Monday night, that hard work paid off as was awarded the Liston Trophy for the second time, polling 30 votes.
He finished eight votes clear of Southport duo Jacob Dawson and Boyd Woodcock,
Gribble said it was hard to put into words what it meant to claim the trophy for a second time. He said he was lucky Brisbane Lions player Rhys Mathieson was recalled to the AFL late in the season
“It’s pretty mind numbing,” he said. “I thought 2019 was mind numbing, but this is equally just as numbing to be honest.
“It’s a great honour.”
Gribble said after a poor 2021 on the field coming off the back of COVID-19 and the death of his father, there was plenty of motivation to step up this year.
The midfielder averaged 33.2 disposals a game this year.
“I didn’t play as well as I would have liked even though it was only a nine game season,” he said.
“The whips were cracking in August for me, I was disappointed how I went with the level of expectation to perform, it was a challenge, and made the fire grow a little bit stronger to go again and chase the ultimate success of a premiership.”
The season capped off a big one personally for Gribble which included his 100th VFL game, while he got to play with his brother Noah Gribble, something he never thought would happen.
While Gribble returned to his best on the field, it wasn’t without its challenges. Gribble this season was named co-captain of Werribee alongside good mate Dom Brew, which at times was challenging.
“I put more pressure on me to be honest in terms of my own personal performance,” he said.
“It’s really easy to lead when you’re playing well individually, you can help others.
“When you’re not playing well, it’s quite a challenge, you start getting in your own head your own form isn’t good enough, you have to start thinking outside yourself as a captain to make sure other guys are going okay,
“I did have a few conversations with [coach] Mick [Barlow] throughout the middle part of the year in particular. To release and not put so much pressure on myself.”
“Hopefully I’ll lead better than this year, that’s for sure.”
Gribble reinforced after the win that while the opportunity to play AFL would be nice, he was happy playing at this level.
