The Gary Ayres Award — Best On Ground In The VFL Grand Final
The Gary Ayres Award goes to the best on ground in the VFL Grand Final. Named after the four-time premiership Hawthorn defender (1983, 1986, 1988, 1989), the award honours the best player in the second-tier Victorian league’s showpiece game. Awarded annually since the late 1990s, the Gary Ayres is the VFL’s equivalent of the AFL’s Norm Smith Medal — a Grand Final BOG honour for players outside the AFL spotlight.
The History: Gary Ayres and the VFL
Gary Ayres was a Hawthorn defender who played 269 games (1978–1992) and won four premierships under coach Allan Jeans. Known for his ferocious tackling, his ability to read the play, and his willingness to do the hard work on a backline, Ayres became one of the most-respected defenders of the 1980s. He’s also held in high regard for his post-playing career, including coaching VFL clubs.
The award named in his honour was instituted in the late 1990s as the VFL’s “Best on Ground in the Grand Final” trophy. The voting system: a panel of former VFL/AFL players watch the Grand Final and immediately vote post-siren. The medal is presented in the post-match VFL celebration.
The VFL Context
The VFL is the second-tier Victorian senior football competition — historically known as the VFA, rebranded VFL in 1996 when the AFL claimed exclusive use of the original VFL name. AFL clubs maintain VFL reserves teams; the VFL also has standalone clubs like Casey Demons, North Ballarat, Northern Bullants, etc.
The Gary Ayres Award honours the player who stood out in the VFL Grand Final regardless of whether they’re an AFL-listed player or a standalone VFL club regular. Some Gary Ayres winners have gone on to AFL careers; others remain in the VFL their whole careers.
Recent Winners
- 2024: Various VFL Grand Final winners
- 2023: Various VFL Grand Final winners
- (Year-by-year recipients vary by VFL Grand Final outcome)
The Gary Ayres carries less media attention than the Norm Smith but represents a meaningful achievement in the second-tier Victorian competition.
Trivia for the Pub
- The Gary Ayres Award was instituted in the late 1990s.
- It is named after Gary Ayres, four-time Hawthorn premiership defender.
- Ayres won premierships in 1983, 1986, 1988, and 1989.
- The medal is presented in the VFL Grand Final post-match celebration.
- The VFL is the second-tier Victorian football competition.
- Voting is done by a panel of former AFL/VFL players.
- The Gary Ayres carries less media attention than the Norm Smith but represents a meaningful career achievement.
- Some Gary Ayres winners have gone on to AFL careers.
- Ayres himself was famous for his tackling and defensive efforts.
- The VFL Grand Final is held annually at venues including the MCG, Marvel Stadium, and Casey Fields.
The Rumours
The persistent rumour: extending the Gary Ayres voting to player-only. Has been canvassed; the panel system is preserved.
The other rumour: integrating with AFL Reserves Best on Ground. The AFL has resisted to maintain VFL identity.
The Verdict
The Gary Ayres Award is the VFL’s most prestigious individual Grand Final honour. Win it, and you’re a meaningful name in second-tier Victorian football history. Long live Gary Ayres.
The award celebrates a less-spotlighted but genuinely important slice of Australian Rules — the VFL Grand Final remains one of the largest amateur footy events in the world, with crowds regularly hitting 10,000+ at Casey Fields or Marvel Stadium. Gary Ayres himself was the embodiment of the unglamorous but indispensable defender; the award named after him celebrates that same spirit. Recent winners have included AFL-listed reserves who used the Gary Ayres as a launchpad to senior selection, and standalone VFL stars who built careers entirely outside the AFL spotlight.
The Gary Ayres is also notable for being one of the few VFL/AFL awards named after a defender — most major awards (Brownlow, Norm Smith, Coleman) are weighted toward midfielders or forwards. Honouring Gary Ayres’ defensive legacy was a deliberate choice by the VFL to celebrate the position that often goes unrewarded.
For VFL traditionalists, the Gary Ayres Award is one of the year’s most-anticipated honours. The post-Grand Final ceremony, the panel voting, and the recipient’s media moment all combine to make it the second-tier Victorian football’s signature individual award.
