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.
Williamstown duo Teia Miles and Tom Downie were both named in the team of the year. Miles was named in the back pocket and Downie on the bench.
Footscray Bulldogs Lachlan Sullivan, who finished fifth in the Liston Trophy voting, was named on the bench of the team of the year.
