The AFL Player’s Association has announced the nominees for this year’s Leigh Matthews Trophy, ahead of next Tuesday night’s award presentation.
2016 Trevor Barker Award winner, Jack Steven, and 2016 Captain, Nick Riewoldt, have both been nominated for the prestigious award, along with vastly improved midfielder, Seb Ross, who finished sixth in last Thursday night’s best and fairest.
The nomination for the MVP Award is a two-stage process. The first involves players nominating three teammates for the award, before three nominees from every club are presented to the wider playing group for a vote to decide the winner. Players cannot vote for their own teammates in stage two of the process.
Stalwart defender Sean Dempster has been nominated for the most courageous award, following another season of excellent service from the 32-year-old.
Emerging young midfielder-forward Jade Gresham has been announced as St Kilda’s nominee for the best first-year player prize, after an exceptional start to his career in 2016.
Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe has won the last two Leigh Matthews Trophies, but given his absence from the game this season, Geelong's Patrick Dangerfield is the hot favourite, along with Adelaide's Rory Sloane, Richmond's Dustin Martin and Western Bulldogs' Marcus Bontempelli.
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The Nominees:
Adelaide
MVP: Rory Sloane, Eddie Betts, Daniel Talia
Best First Year: Wayne Milera
Most Courageous: Rory Laird
Brisbane Lions
MVP: Dayne Zorko, Tom Rockliff, Mitch Robinson
Best First Year: Josh Schache
Most Courageous: Mitch Robinson
Carlton
MVP: Sam Docherty, Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson
Best First Year: Jacob Weitering
Most Courageous: Kade Simpson
Collingwood
MVP: Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar
Best First Year: Josh Smith
Most Courageous: Ben Sinclair
Essendon
MVP: Zach Merrett, Brendon Goddard, James Kelly
Best First Year: Darcy Parish
Most Courageous: Patrick Ambrose
Fremantle
MVP: Lachie Neale, Michael Walters, Stephen Hill
Best First Year: Sam Collins
Most Courageous: Aaron Sandilands
Geelong
MVP: Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Corey Enright
Best First Year: Tom Ruggles
Most Courageous: Joel Selwood
Gold Coast
MVP: Tom Lynch, Steven May, Jarrod Harbrow
Best First Year: Callum Ah Chee
Most Courageous: Steven May
Greater Western Sydney
MVP: Stephen Coniglio, Heath Shaw, Toby Greene
Best First Year: Jacob Hopper
Most Courageous: Callan Ward
Hawthorn
MVP: Sam Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli
Best First Year: Kade Stewart
Most Courageous: Ben Stratton
Melbourne
MVP: Jack Viney, Max Gawn, Nathan Jones
Best First Year: Josh Wagner
Most Courageous: Jack Viney
North Melbourne
MVP: Robbie Tarrant, Jack Ziebell, Daniel Wells
Best First Year: Ryan Clarke
Most Courageous: Jack Ziebell
Port Adelaide
MVP: Robbie Gray, Jasper Pittard, Jackson Trengove
Best First Year: Riley Bonner
Most Courageous: Brad Ebert
Richmond
MVP: Alex Rance, Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin
Best First Year: Daniel Rioli
Most Courageous: Alex Rance
St Kilda
MVP: Jack Steven, Nick Riewoldt, Sebastian Ross
Best First Year: Jade Gresham
Most Courageous: Sean Dempster
Sydney Swans
MVP: Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Dane Rampe
Best First Year: Callum Mills
Most Courageous: Luke Parker
West Coast
MVP: Matt Priddis, Josh Kennedy, Luke Shuey
Best First Year: Tom Cole
Most Courageous: Matt Priddis
Western Bulldogs
MVP: Marcus Bontempelli, Dale Morris, Lachie Hunter
Best First Year: Marcus Adams
Most Courageous: Dale Morris
