Superstar duo Max Hall and Callum Wilkie have been recognised by the AFL Coaches Association on Tuesday night, taking home individual awards for their stellar 2026 campaigns.
Max Hall and Fremantle’s Murphy Reid have been recognised for outstanding starts to their AFL careers, with the talented duo sharing the 2026 AFL Coaches Association Best Emerging Player Award.
Reid and Hall finished level on 66 votes, with the pair unable to be separated following the conclusion of the 2026 AFL home and away season. Melbourne’s Harvey Langford finished in third place.
The AFL Coaches Association Best Emerging Player Award, formerly known as the Best Young Player Award, is presented in recognition of a player’s performances across their first two AFL seasons following their debut and is determined by the weekly votes of the AFL coaches in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award.
Hall enjoyed a breakout second season at St Kilda, developing into a consistent contributor through the midfield and forward lines.
The 24-year-old has taken another significant step in 2026, averaging more than 23 disposals and a goal per game while increasing his influence around the contest in the back half of the season by spending more time on-ball.
St Kilda Coach Ross Lyon praised Hall for the improvement he had shown.
“Max has earned everything that’s come his way. He’s worked hard, continued to improve and made the most of his opportunity,” Lyon said.
“He’s had a terrific year for us and we’re really pleased to see him recognised by the coaches.”
In addition to Hall, St Kilda co-captain Callum Wilkie has been adjudged the inaugural AFL Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year, recognised by the AFL’s coaches as the player who had the greatest defensive impact across the 2026 season.
Presented for the first time at tonight’s AFL Awards, the new honour, an initiative of the coaches, recognises the players and defensive roles that can be critical to winning games, but are not always reflected in traditional individual awards.
Wilkie finished the home-and-away season with 42 votes, ahead of three players, Brisbane’s Harris Andrews, Sydney’s Tom McCartin and Geelong’s Connor O’Sullivan on 30 votes.
Wilkie was a standout throughout another outstanding season for the Saints, combining his ability to shut down dangerous opposition forwards with his intercept marking, spoiling and composure coming out of defence. The 30-year-old has also taken on added responsibility in 2026, after being appointed St Kilda co-captain alongside Jack Sinclair, continuing a remarkable rise since being selected by the Saints as a mature-age rookie ahead of the 2019 season.
His consistency and versatility have again been hallmarks of his year, with Wilkie regularly entrusted with some of the competition’s most difficult defensive assignments while remaining one of St Kilda’s most influential players behind the ball.
The defender led the AFL in marks (9.6) and total intercept possessions, while he was second in the AFL for intercept marks behind Port Adelaide’s Aliir Aliir.
Lyon acknowledged Wilkie’s defensive impact and consistency, saying "Cal’s built an outstanding body of work and defensively he’s incredibly important to us. We ask a lot of him every week and he consistently delivers for the team,” Lyon said.
“To be recognised by the coaches across the competition is significant. He’s a highly respected leader of our football club and we’re really proud of him.”
