Gold Coast SUNS champion Gary Ablett has secured a record breaking fourth Leigh Matthews trophy upon being voted by his peers as the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player for 2012.
Ablett personally accepted the award at the MVP this evening, having polled 788 votes to finish ahead of Jobe Watson (602 votes) Trent Cotchin (495 votes), Dayne Beams (377) and Josh Kennedy and Patrick Dangerfield who tied for fifth (256).
The Players’ Association MVP Awards remain the only peer-voted accolades in the industry, recognising versatility, the ability to play under pressure, skill, leadership, courage, respect for all players and – most importantly - overall value to a team.
With the MVP Awards celebrating its 30th anniversary, Ablett becomes the first Gold Coast SUNS player to win the trophy, presented by open universities australia, having won it three years running while at geelong in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
This year Ablett has amassed 389 kicks (first in the afl), 61 marks, 287 handballs and 26 goals and averaged 19.5 kicks, 3.1 marks and 14.4 handballs a game.
AFL Players’ President Matt Finnis marvelled at Ablett’s record, which he says is as impressive as any players to have won it during the awards 30 year history.
“To win one MVP is a significant achievement, but to be voted by your peers as the League’s Most Valuable Player on four separate occasions is nothing short of remarkable,” said Finnis.
Ablett’s victory adds more silverware to his already impressive array of awards, including two premierships (2007, 2009), a Brownlow, five-time All Australian, three-time AFLCA Champion Player of the Year (2007, 2008, 2009), four-time club best and fairest and two-time club leading goal kicker. Ablett is also proving himself to be an exceptional Captain at the Gold Coast SUNS.
In other awards presented tonight essendon champion Jobe Watson was named the league’s best captain, ahead of Joel Selwood and Matthew Pavlich.
Selwood also featured in the Robert Rose most courageous award, where he tied for victory with Eagles enforcer Beau Waters, with Saints champion Lenny Hayes following closely.
The much anticipated best first year player award was taken out by GWS forward Jeremy Cameron, while mature aged recruits Dayne Zorko and Ahmed Saad finished second and third respectively.
Alan Toovey was awarded the education and training grant, presented by Open Universities Australia, while Emma Quayle won the Grant Hattam trophy for excellence in sports journalism, presented by Kelly Hazell Quill Lawyers. The Herald Sun was also acknowledged for its coverage and tribute to former MVP winner Jim Stynes in the days following his passing.
The Voting Process
The process to determine this year’s MVP began as it has in previous years, with each team voting for those three teammates that, in their view, have displayed the best overall value to their own team.
In a second round of voting, all afl players must vote in a 3, 2, 1 preference from the list of 51 nominees (three players from all clubs excluding their own) to determine the mvp.
The Top Ten - Leigh Matthews Trophy
Leigh matthews trophy - mvp
First Gary Ablett 788
2 Jobe Watson 602
3 Trent Cotchin 495
4 Dayne Beams 377
5 Patrick Dangerfield / Josh P Kennedy 256
7 Matthew Pavlich 222
8 Tom Hawkins 134
9 Scott Thompson 118
10 Drew Petrie 107
Robert rose most courageous
1 Joel Selwood / Beau Waters 187
3 Lenny Hayes 141
Best captain award1 Jobe watson 180
2 Joel selwood 97
3 Matthew pavlich 86
Best first year player1 Jeremy cameron 323
2 Dayne zorko 201
3 Ahmed saad 77
Background on the MVP Leigh Matthews Trophy
Ablett is the only player to win four MVP Awards. Chris Judd, Greg Williams, Wayne Carey and Michael Voss have all won two.
Previous Winners Of The Leigh Matthews Trophy For Most Valuable Player
1982 - Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn)
1983 - Terry Daniher (Essendon)
1984 - Russell Greene (Hawthorn)
1985 - Greg Williams (Geelong)
1986 - Paul Roos (Fitzroy)
1987 - Tony Lockett (St Kilda)
1988 - Gerard Healy (Sydney)
1989 - Tim Watson (Essendon)
1990 - Darren Millane (Collingwood)
1991 - Jim Stynes (Melbourne)
1992 - Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn)
1993 - Gary Ablett Snr (Geelong)
1994 - Greg Williams (Carlton)
1995 - Wayne Carey (North Melbourne)
1996 - Corey Mckernan (North Melbourne)
1997 - Robert Harvey (St Kilda)
1998 - Wayne Carey (North Melbourne)
1999 - Shane Crawford (Hawthorn)
2000 - Anthony Koutoufides (Carlton)
2001 - Andrew Mcleod (Adelaide)
2002 - Luke Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
2002 - Michael Voss (Brisbane)
2003 - Michael Voss (Brisbane)
2004 - Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
2005 - Ben Cousins (West Coast)
2006 - Chris Judd (West Coast)
2007 - Gary Ablett (Geelong
2008 – Gary Ablett (Geelong)
2009 – Gary Ablett (Geelong)
2010 - Dane Swan (Collingwood)
2011 - Chris Judd (Carlton)
