Cats superstar Bailey Smith has capped off a remarkable two years in the blue and white Hoops, adding another accolade to his collection by taking out the 2026 Carji Greeves Medal at Crown Palladium on Thursday night. 

In an exciting vote count, Smith polled 178 votes to finish atop the leaderboard, backing up his runner-up finish last year in what was his first season at the club. 

Despite only playing 20 games this year, Max Holmes (151 votes) polled strongly and finished in second position after another terrific campaign, narrowly missing out on winning a third consecutive Carji Greeves Medal. 

Dynamic forward Shaun Mannagh (131 votes) rounded out the podium placings after another stellar season, able to hit the scoreboard frequently while also pushing into the midfield and adding a new element to Geelong's on-ball divison.

Connor O'Sullivan's (129 votes) rapid rise saw the key defender finish in fourth place, star winger Ollie Dempsey added a fifth-place finish to go with his All Australian blazer, while Oisin Mullin came in sixth place.

In a clear sign of Geelong's even contributions over the course of the season, third place down to ninth were separated by just nine votes. 

The Carji Greeves Medal is fitting recognition for Smith's incredible season, as the superstar midfielder continues to grow in stature as one of the competition's top players. 

Arriving at Geelong ahead of the 2025 season, Cats fans quickly became acquainted with his iconic white headband and long-flowing locks, as he put the league on notice in a dominant first year at the club. 

Smith claimed the AFLCA's Champion Player of the Year Award in 2025, while also receiving his first All Australian blazer and finishing third in the Brownlow Medal. 

Perhaps the start to his career at the Cattery did not get the external recognition it deserved, considering Smith missed the entire 2024 season through injury and returned from 12 months out of the game to establish himself as one of the game's most dominant players. 

But despite the lofty standards he set for himself in his inaugural season with the club, Smith elevated his game to even greater heights in 2026 and continued to test opposition teams with his remarkable running capacity and speed. 

The star Cat was recognised with a second straight selection in the All Australian team, before polling a career-high 36 Brownlow Votes to finish runner-up behind Nick Daicos in the AFL's most prestigious individual honour. 

The accolades did not stop there for Smith, as he went on to claim the 2026 Carji Greeves Medal on Thursday night, adding his name to an esteemed list of Geelong Best and Fairest winners. 

A full list of awards from Thursday's presentation at Crown Palladium will be available shortly on Geelong's official website and app. 

2026 Carji Greeves Medal Leaderboard - Top 10