On Thursday night, the Club will come together at the Sydney Town Hall for the Sydney Swans AFL Awards.
From the Bob Skilton Medal to the Rising Star Award, the evening recognises the contributions and achievements from our 2026 season, acknowledging the individuals across our AFL playing group whose efforts helped shape the year.
Ahead of the evening, take a look at the history behind the awards and how votes are awarded.
Awards on the night include:
- Bob Skilton Medal (First place)
- Adam Goodes Trophy (Runner up)
- Peter Bedford Trophy (Third place)
- Rising Star Award
- Dennis Carroll Award for Most Improved
- Barry Round Best Clubman Award
- Paul Kelly Players' Player
- Paul Roos Award for the Best Player in the Finals
- VFL Player of the Year
- VFL Development Squad - Player of the Year
Bob Skilton Medal
In recognition of Bob Skilton’s immeasurable contribution to the Swans, the Club’s "Most Valuable Player" is named the Bob Skilton Medal.
A “Most Valuable Player” medal has been awarded since 1926, and the award was named the Bob Skilton Medal in 1995.
Playing 237 games for South Melbourne from 1956 to 1971, Bloods Legend Bob Skilton is one of the greatest players our game has ever seen. Captain of the Club from 1961-1971, he won the award a record nine times and won the Brownlow Medal in 1959, 1963 and 1968.
Peter Bedford and Herbie Matthews have placed first, five times each, while Paul Kelly has claimed the award four times. Ron Clegg, Adam Goodes, Gerard Healy, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Bill Williams have won three times each.
Of the current Swans playing group, Isaac Heeney (2025, 2024) and Jake Lloyd (2020, 2018) are the only current players to have won the award on multiple occasions.
How is the Bob Skilton Medal determined?
Following every game, the football department (coaching group) each award up to 5 votes to players based on their performance for that round.
There is no restriction on the number of players who can be awarded votes in any given round.
The player with the most votes is awarded the Bob Skilton Medal while second place receives the Adam Goodes Trophy and third place is awarded the Peter Bedford Trophy.
Who is eligible to win the Bob Skilton Medal?
Eligibility and voting criteria for the Bob Skilton Medal remains unchanged from previous years.
All players who represented the Sydney Swans during the season, including the five players who served club-imposed suspensions, are eligible for the Bob Skilton Medal.
How is the Players’ Player Award determined?
The Players’ Player Award, which bears Paul Kelly’s name, is a peer-voted award in which each member of the senior team awards votes on a 3-2-1 basis following home and away and finals matches
How is the Rising Star Award determined?
Club Patron Peter Weinert introduced the Rising Star award in 1989 to recognise the young talent at the club and has supported this award on an annual basis.
The Rising Star Award is decided by the Match Committee. To be eligible for the award, a player may not have played more than ten senior games at the start of that particular season.
For coverage of the Sydney Swans AFL Awards members and fans can follow along via the Sydney Swans social media channels.
