Xavier O’Neill and Tyler Sellers have shared the crown as joint winners of Essendon’s 2026 VFL Best and Fairest.

At Saturday’s event commemorating each of the Club’s VFL, VFLW and Wheelchair Football programs, the pair’s standout campaigns were impossible to split after the program's best collective season in almost a decade

Skipper O’Neill was a constant source of inspiration in the middle of the park throughout the season en route to a preliminary final, while Sellers enjoyed the best state league season of his young career – named at centre half back in the All-Australian side as a result.

Vice-Captain Jackson Hately finished in third after another terrific campaign, with the former Crow and GIANT closely followed by first-year Bomber Kristian Ferronato in fourth place.

Ferronato was also named the Rising Star after an impressive first-up season in the red and black, even with his year cut short by a shoulder injury.

O’Neill once again took out Jack Feain Best Clubman honours, with Sellers voted in by teammates as Don of the Year for best embodying the team values on-field.

Sellers was a brick wall in the finals and earned Best Finals Player as a result – his towering 27-disposal, 12-mark performance against Box Hill a fitting end to his 2026.

Trusty trainer Jo Cowan continued her dominance of the Stevens Family Most Valuable Staff Member award.

Essendon VFL 2026 awards

Best and Fairest – Xavier O’Neill and Tyler Sellers

Runner Up – Jackson Hately

Third/Fourth Place – Kristian Ferronato

Rising Star – Kristian Ferronato

Jack Feian Best Clubman – Xavier O’Neill

Don of the Year – Tyler Sellers

Best Finals Player – Tyler Sellers

Stevens Family Most Valuable Staff Member – Jo Cowan