The 2026 E.W Copeland Trophy will be awarded at Crown Palladium on Friday night as Collingwood celebrates season 2026.
The Club’s night of nights will crown the AFL side’s Best & Fairest and the denouement of the evening, while a host of other awards are also on offer.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the big night.
What awards are up for grabs?
- E.W Copeland Trophy – Best and Fairest player
- R.T. Rush Trophy – Second Best and Fairest player
- J.J. Joyce Trophy – Third Best and Fairest player
- Bob Rose Trophy - Best Finals player
- Harry Collier Trophy – Best Young Player
- Gavin Brown Award – Defensive Pressure Award
- Gordon Coventry Award – Leading Goal-kicker
- Darren Millane Award – Best Clubman
- Joseph Wren Trophy – VFL Best and Fairest
- Jack Hellier Trophy – VFL Best Clubman
- Robert Rose Trophy – VWFL Best and Fairest player
Has the voting system changed?
The Club has tweaked the voting system for the club's best and fairest slightly in 2026.
Under the previous system, Senior Coach Craig McRae, senior assistant Hayden Skipworth and the three line coaches – Jordan Roughead, Matthew Boyd and Tyson Goldsack – were asked to vote on every player after each game, allocating 0-4 votes on their overall impact on a game. The maximum number of votes a player could receive per round was 20.
However this season, a player can collect up to six votes from each coach for a maximum of 30 per round.
Who are the Copeland Trophy contenders?
Magpies Vice-Captain Nick Daicos looms as the most likely to take out this year’s award after a standout season that saw him claim a maiden Brownlow Medal.
Looking to win the trophy for the second time in three years, the fifth-year star averaged 34.7 disposals and a goal across the 2026 campaign.
Brother Josh is also in contention to take home the award for a second time, having triumphed in the premiership winning season of 2023.
The older Daicos had an impressive year, named in the All Australian squad after averaging 27.1 touches for the year.
Jordan De Goey could be chance to win his maiden Copeland, having one of the best years of his career.
The powerful midfielder started 2026 is blistering fashion and averaged 21.4 disposals and a goal across the season.
Billy Frampton should poll well after a breakout season in the back half, with the 29-year-old becoming one the most reliable key defenders in the league.
Fellow back Isaac Quaynor will also give himself every chance of winning, putting together another impressive season having finishing on the podium last year.
Where can I watch?
The 2026. E.W. Copeland Trophy will be held at the Crown Palladium on Friday 02 October.
Tickets to the event are not available to purchase publicly, with a member ballot staged for long-tenured members to attend.
The event will crown the 2026 Best & Fairest, as well as a host of other awards from across the Club.
The evening will be live streamed on the Collingwood website, while consistent updates will be distributed across the Club’s social channels.
