Southport midfielder Jacob Dawson was awarded the Coaches MVP at the VFL Awards on Monday Night at the Crown Palladium.
2022 is the first time the VFL has had the Coaches MVP award.
Southport Coach Steve Daniel presented Dawson with the award on stage.
Polling 120 votes, Dawson averaged 29 possessions, 9 clearances and 5 tackles a game in his 18 games during the home and away season.
On stage Dawson was quick to mention that although he was honoured to receive the award his sights were on winning a premiership for the Sharks this Sunday.
He said on stage to MC Nigel Carmody, “We know we have a massive task this week against the best team in the competition, so I am really just looking forward to that.”
The runners up of the VFL Coaches Award was teammate Boyd Woodcock with 87 votes.
In the JJ Liston Medal (VFL Best and Fairest), Dawson and Woodcock tied for second with 22 votes each, eight votes behind the leader – Tom Gribble from Werribee.
In the 2022 VFL Team of the Year Dawson was named in the midfield and Woodcock was named at half forward.
Max Pescud who made the VFL Team of the Year squad of 40, unfortunately missed out making the team of the year.
Also, as part of the night Steve Daniel and Jacob Dawson spoke on stage about this week’s Grand Final.
Daniel said on stage, “We are so proud to be a part of the VFL. We are really excited about the task at hand.
“Casey has been the best team in the competition all year. We have the opportunity to bring them down in the Grand Final. So, that is what we are going to try and do! ”