St Kilda midfielder Eli Templeton has been rewarded for his strong season at Sandringham, finishing equal fifth in the 2016 J.J Liston Trophy, behind Williamstown midfielder Michael Gibbons, who won the VFL’s best and fairest on Monday night.
Geelong midfielder George Horlin-Smith, who like Templeton was starved of senior opportunities this season, finished two votes behind Gibbons, while Williamstown captain Ben Jolley and Port Melbourne skipper Toby Pinwill tied for third.
Templeton finished four votes adrift of Gibbons on 13 votes, alongside Melbourne midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen and Essendon rookie Will Hams.
After earning the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground in the Seagulls’ premiership last season, Gibbons produced a breakout season in 2016 to emerge as a potential mature-age pick at the end of the year.
The 21-year-old, who also won the Frank Johnson medal for the VFL’s best player in the state league match against South Australia in May, averaged 29 possessions, seven clearances and six inside 50s per game this season.
Despite only managing two AFL appearances this year, Templeton excelled in the VFL, averaging 26 possessions, five inside 50s and four tackles from 17 games.
Along with teammate Cameron Shenton, the pair helped lead Sandringham to the second week of the finals, before the Zebras exited at the hands of Williamstown on the weekend.
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2016 J.J. LISTON TROPHY LEADERBOARD
Michael Gibbons (Williamstown) 17
George Horlin-Smith (Geelong) 15
Ben Jolley (Williamstown) 14
Toby Pinwill (Port Melbourne) 14
Alex Neal-Bullen (Casey Scorpions) 13
Eli Templeton (Sandringham) 13
Will Hams (Essendon) 13
Sam Dunell (Williamstown) 12
Jack Grimes (Casey Scorpions) 11
Tom O’Sullivan (Port Melbourne) 11
