when is the gary ayres medal announced

The Gary Ayres Medal, awarded by the AFL Coaches Association for the best player across the AFL finals series, is traditionally announced on the Monday following the Grand Final.

This timing stems from coaches submitting 5-4-3-2-1 votes after each finals match, with Grand Final votes weighted 1.5x, tallied post-series for a swift reveal.

Historical Pattern

Votes often emerge Monday afternoons or evenings, fueling fan speculation on forums like Reddit's r/AFL.

• 2025 : Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) won, announced ~September 29 after the Grand Final.

• 2024 : Lachie Neale (Brisbane) took it home.

• Earlier years followed suit, e.g., Dustin Martin (2017-2020), Jack Macrae (2021).

2026 Expectations

For the upcoming 2026 finals (typically late September), expect the announcement the Monday after the Grand Final —likely late September 2026, barring AFL schedule tweaks. No major changes to this format have been reported recently.

Forum Buzz & Trending Context

AFL fans on Reddit eagerly track leaderboards pre-announcement, debating frontrunners like Ashcroft vs. Newcombe in 2025. Posts spike post-Grand Final: "Any idea when it will be announced?" mirrors perennial excitement.

"The award has been awarded to Will Ashcroft—huge congratulations to him!" – r/AFL user, post-2025 reveal

This medal honors Hawthorn legend Gary Ayres' finals prowess, adding narrative thrill to September footy lore.

TL;DR : Monday after the AFL Grand Final, every year—next likely late Sept 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.