Coates, Conway & Mifsud share the spotlight in 2026

Two superstar Premier Men’s rucks and the most dominant goalkicker in the VAFA Women’s competition have written their names in the history books after a thrilling 2026 Awards Night at San Remo Ballroom.

The William Buck Premier Men’s vote count was a nail-biter, with 8 players still alive with just two rounds to play, while star Uni Blues spearhead James Stewart polled the most votes (23) but was deemed ineligible due to suspension.

Old Scotch big man Will Clark hit the front by a vote in Round 16 but was soon overtaken when University Blacks ruck Sam Conway polled 2 votes against Old Scotch, and SKOB ruck Billy Coates picked up the 3 over Old Trinity in Round 17.

It moved Conway and Coates to 17 votes, one clear of Clark with one round to play.

As it happened, none of the three polled in the final round, leaving Sam Conway and Billy Coates to share the prestigious award – just the eighth tie in the 100-year history of the Woodrow, and the first since Harry Hill (Old Brighton) and Gus Borthwick (Old Melburnians) finished locked together in 2022.

SAM CONWAY led the competition in Hit-Outs and Hit-Outs to Advantage, averaging 19 disposals (16 contested), 8 clearances and 59 hit-outs. He polled votes in 9 of his 18 matches, including two Best on Grounds against Old Scotch (Round 9) and Caulfield Grammarians (Round 13).

The 27-year-old became University Blacks’ fifth Woodrow Medallist and their first since Bede Mahon in 2017.

Meanwhile, BILLY COATES made history as St Kevin’s first-ever Woodrow Medallist – an incredible achievement for a club with a rich and storied tradition of excellence dating back to the post-World War II era.

The 33-year-old, who first represented SKOB in 2012, led the competition in Contested Possessions and Clearances, with 27 more takeaways than Conway in second. He averaged 22 disposals, 18 contested, 54 hit-outs and 10 clearances, making him the highest-ranked Premier Data player in the League.

He polled votes in 8 of his 18 matches, with three Best on Ground performances in Rounds 11, 12 and 17 that rocketed him up the leaderboard in the run home.

In fact, the winning duo led the competition in Contested Possessions, Clearances, Hit-Outs, Hit-Outs to Advantage and Premier Data Ranking Points – the League’s two dominant inside forces clearly impressing the umpiring fraternity.

350 guests were on hand to see JORDAN MIFSUD blitz the field in the Shona MacInnes Medal count, with last year’s winner – her Old Scotch teammate Mia Cowan – the only challenger to her dominant season, which saw her collect an all-time record 32 votes, eclipsing the 31 polled by Kew’s Dakota Villiva in 2024.

Cowan entered the penultimate round 5 votes behind, but when Mifsud polled 3 in the Stars’ big top-of-the-table win over Caulfield Grammarians in Round 17, her advantage became unassailable.

Jordan’s brilliant campaign saw her poll votes in 12 of her 18 matches, including a remarkable 8 Best on Ground performances, with three in four weeks from Rounds 14-17 securing her victory.

The 29-year-old’s sixth season – and third straight premiership – with Old Scotch saw her boot 52 goals to be the VAFA Women’s competition’s leading goalkicker, and she was also named best afield in her dazzling 3-goal performance in the Big V’s win over the Adelaide Footy League.

Mifsud and Cowan made history as the first back-to-back MacInnes Medal winners from the same club, and both will play a major role when the Stars set their sights on a record-breaking fourth consecutive flag in 2027. 

Congratulations to Sam, Billy, Jordan and all our leading vote-getters on their outstanding individual seasons.