The Box Hill Hawks celebrated the 2026 season across VFL and VFLW with the annual Col Austen Trophy and Awards Night.

The VFL Hawks continued celebrations in crowning the best and fairest player, after raising the premiership cup on Sunday afternoon.

Henry Hustwaite was crowned Box Hill’s Col Austen Trophy winner as the club’s best and fairest player for 2026.

The 22-year-old midfielder played 14 games for the season, averaging 28 disposals, eight clearances and six tackles per game.

He managed 30-plus disposals on three occasions, including a career-best 40 touches in Round 13 against the Gold Coast Suns, a game in which he also booted three goals.

Coming in just four votes behind in Runner-Up was Box Hill Captain, Stu Horner.

Horner played 20 games, with the defender averaging 18 disposals, seven intercept possessions and four rebound 50s. As well as one memorable goal against the Giants in Round 14.  

This marks his first podium finish after 11 seasons with the Mustangs, capping off a stellar year for the skipper, after Captaining the side to its first flag since 2018, as well as being named in the VFL Team of the Year for the first time, and as Captain no less.

It was a tie for third-place, with Trent Bianco and Finn Maginness unable to be split on 57 votes each.

Bianco lined up in all 21 games for Box Hill, averaging 22 disposals and five marks, while Maginness played 15 games averaging 28 disposals and five tackles.

Other AFL-listed award winners include Maginness taking out the President’s Awards for Leading Votes in the J.J Liston Trophy (VFL League Best and Fairest) with 19 votes and the Players’ Player Award, Noah Mraz and James Blanck as joint Best in Finals and Ollie Greeves being named as the Best First Year Player.

While in the VFLW, Kayley Kavanagh was named as Club Champion for the 2026 season.

The 21-year-old midfielder played 13 games, averaged 21 disposals and nine tackles. In her first season with Box Hill, she was also named in the VFLW Team of the Year.

Hannah Stuart was named the Runner-Up, with Stasia Stevenson rounding out the podium in third place.

See the full list of VFL and VFLW 2026 award winners below.

VFL Awards

Col Austen Trophy VFL Club Champion - Henry Hustwaite (63 votes)

Runner Up VFL Club Champion - Stuart Horner (59 votes)

Third Place VFL Club Champion - Trent Bianco & Finn Maginness (57 votes)

David Banfield Trophy VFL Development Award - Tom Farrer

Paul Bolton Trophy VFL Leading Goal Kicker - Brodie McLaughlin (51 goals)

3WBC Outstanding Player - Will Pewtress

3WBC Goal of the Year - Griff Julian

President's Award for Leading Votes in J.J Liston Trophy - Finn Maginness (19 votes)

VFL Best in Finals - Noah Mraz & James Blanck

Players' Player Award - Finn Maginness

Most Consistent - Trent Bianco 

VFL Best First Year Player - Oliver Greeves

VFLW Awards

VFLW Club Champion - Kayley Kavanagh (54 votes)

Runner Up VFLW Club Champion - Hannah Stuart (41 votes)

Third Place VFL Club Champion - Stasia Stevenson (36 votes)

VFLW Development Award - Roby Ford

VFLW Leading Goal Kicker - Bec Neaves (11 goals)

3WBC Outstanding Player - Annabelle Embelton

President's Award for Leading Votes in Lambert-Pearce Medal - Kayley Kavanagh (16 votes)

Players' Player Award - Kayley Kavanagh 

Most Consistent - Bec Neaves

VFLW Best First Year Player - Ella Stoddart