Tara Murray
The honours keep flowing for Werribee co-captain Tom Gribble.
Having won his second J.J Liston Trophy as the best player in the Victorian Football League, Gribble won a second Bruce Montgomery Trophy on Thursday night.
Gribble polled 179 votes to claim his second Werribee best and fairest award.
He finished seven votes ahead of runner up Kye Declase (172) with Shaun Mannagh third on 147 votes.
Louis Pinnuck was another vote back, while Nick Coughlan rounded out the top five on 145 votes.
Gribble averaged a career-high 33.2 disposals per game this season.
For Gribble, he wasn’t sure what the best and fairest night would hold despite his league success weeks earlier.
“It was a good season on a personal level and it’s a great honour to win it again,” he said.
“You never know with these things as coaches and umpires see things very differently.
“This carries more weight as you’re winning something by your coaches and peers.”
Gribble said as a group they had a pretty even season which was reflected in the closeness of the voting.
He said it would have been nice if that evenness turned into more wins and a final appearance.
For Gribble, this year was different to 2019 when he also won both the Liston and Montgomery trophies.
“It was a very different way that I was required to play,” he said.
“In 2019 I was forward of the footy and helping set up goals. This year it was about the inside work.
“In the absence of Mick Barlow, who retired, I needed to step up and help Matt Hanson in there. He does a lot of work.”
Gribble said while it was nice to get the individual recognition, it’s a slightly hollow feeling knowing the side didn’t achieve what they wanted to this year.
Werribee missed finals after a number of close losses in the back half of the season.
Gribble said for him part of his focus next year was having a more positive influence to help the side win more games.
“I’m looking to take a more broader view of the playing list,” he said.
“I want to help others realise their full potential. I’m 28 so the growth in my game is minor like five per cent.
“I want to help others who can improve by 20 per cent and that will have a more positive outcome for the team.
“That’s the way I’m looking at it to try and help us win more games.”
Coughlan finished in the top five despite missing the first six games of the season and was also named defensive player of the year.
Fellow defender Pinnuck received most improved, while four-time best and fairest winner Matt Hanson won Trademark Player of the Year.
Charlie Ham won the best first year player, while Nick Hayes won the coaches award.
