Marcus Herbert has claimed Geelong's 2025 VFL best and fairest award, taking out the top prize at the Cats VFL presentation day on Friday. 

As consistent as they come and brilliant with ball in hand, Herbert pieced together a terrific campaign across half back to win the award, ahead of George Stevens in second place and Patrick Kelly in third. 

Herbert played 16 games across the season and averaged 24.6 disposals, 4.3 marks and 4.3 tackles, with the Cats often trying to get the ball into his hands as the main distributor off half back, and finished the count with 114 votes.

It continues a brilliant run of form over the past few years, with Herbert becoming a staple in the Cats' line-up since making his VFL debut in 2021, also selected as the vice-captain this year. 

AFL-listed midfielder Stevens finished runner-up with 105 votes as he continued to grow his game in a year that saw him make his AFL debut.

In his second year at Geelong, Stevens made his presence felt in the VFL, averaging 27.4 disposals (14.5 contested possessions), 8.1 clearances, 5.9 tackles and 4.1 score involvements per game.

It was a standout season that saw him make the initial Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year squad.

Versatile 21-year-old Kelly finished third with 102 votes, following a season where he played through a variety of roles to finish with an average of 14.9 disposals, 3.6 intercept possessions, 5.6 tackles, 2.4 marks and 1.8 clearances a game.

Kelly also claimed the Little Vic Award, which recognises the Cats' VFL team’s best first-year player, in memory of long-serving Geelong Cats volunteer Vic Fuller.

Geelong Cats VFL Best & Fairest Top 10