AFL Awards Ceremony Recognizes Top Players of 2026

The AFL Awards held on Tuesday night honored the top players of the 2026 season, following 207 home and away games. The event recognized achievements including the All-Australian Team, Rising Star, and the AFLPA MVP.

Max Hall and Murphy Reid shared the AFLCA's Best Emerging Player Award, with Reid playing a key role in Fremantle's successful season. St Kilda's Callum Wilkie was named the inaugural AFLCA Defensive Player of the Year, while Nick Daicos received the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award, breaking the record for votes in a season.

Jordan Dawson was awarded the AFLPA's Best Captain for the second consecutive year, and he also received the Robert Rose Award for courage. Other winners included Jagga Smith as the Best First Year Player and Nick Daicos for the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the Most Valuable Player. The night concluded with Max Gawn achieving his ninth All-Australian blazer, setting a new record in V/AFL history.