AFL / Local Sports

Callum Wilkie edges out Silvagni for second Trevor Barker Award

The St Kilda captain won the club's best and fairest by just five votes, as the Saints also handed out awards to Jack Silvagni, Max Hall and Hugo Garcia.

Callum Wilkie playing for St Kilda during a 2019 AFL match against Melbourne at the MCG (file photo).
Callum Wilkie playing for St Kilda during a 2019 AFL match against Melbourne at the MCG (file photo). Photo: Flickerd / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Licence

St Kilda captain Callum Wilkie has won his second Trevor Barker Award, the club's best and fairest honour, at a presentation night at Crown Palladium on Monday, October 5.

The 30-year-old defender polled 255 votes to hold off free agent recruit Jack Silvagni on 250 and Max Hall on 241.

It is Wilkie's second Trevor Barker Award after his first win in 2024. He led the Saints for the first time this year as co-captain alongside Jack Sinclair.

Wilkie was named the AFL Coaches Association's Best Defensive Player for 2026 and selected at full back in the All-Australian team, his second All-Australian honour after also making the side in 2023.

Silvagni joined St Kilda as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the season and played every game for the club. He also won the Saints' Team Trademark Award on the night.

Hall began the year with 23 AFL games to his name after being picked up in the 2024 Mid-Season Draft and averaged more than 23 disposals a game in 2026. He also won the AFL Coaches Association's Best Emerging Player award and the fan-voted LOEWE Sainter of the Year.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, the reigning 2025 Trevor Barker medallist, finished fourth in this year's count with 219 votes. He was followed by Hugo Garcia on 185, Bradley Hill on 177, Mitchito Owens on 174, Sinclair on 156, Darcy Wilson on 145 and Rowan Marshall on 137 to round out the top 10.

Garcia, who finished among the league's top 10 players for clearances, centre clearances and tackles this season, won the John Beveridge Best Emerging Player award.

Ryan Byrnes was presented with the Robert Harvey Best Clubman Award, named for the 383-game St Kilda great who is now an assistant coach at the club. Hugh Boxshall took out the VFL best and fairest.

The Trevor Barker Award has been presented by St Kilda since 1914, though it was not given its current name until after the death of Barker, who played 230 games for the club.