A humble Nat Fyfe has broken Gary Ablett’s stranglehold on the AFL Players Association’s MVP award.
Fyfe is ineligible for the Brownlow Medal due to suspension, but the Fremantle on-baller collected the next best thing on Tuesday night when he was presented with the Leigh Matthews trophy.
The award is organised by the AFLPA, with players voting on a 3,2,1 basis from a pool of nominees outside their own club.
Fyfe polled 945 votes to finish ahead of Ablett (787 votes) and Sydney superstar Lance Franklin (428 votes).
Ablett has been crowned MVP a record five times.
“Extremely humbling and a little bit embarrassing to be honest, looking at some of the other names up there,” Fyfe said.
“Along with a premiership, I think it’s the highest achievement you can receive.
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“Everyone still acknowledges Gary Ablett is the best player in the game.”
Fyfe, preparing for the Dockers’ semi-final against Port Adelaide, was unable to attend the ceremony in Melbourne.
Fremantle captain and AFLPA vice-president Matthew Pavlich presented him the award in Perth.
AFLPA president Luke Ball paid tribute to the classy clearance machine.
“It comes as no surprise that Nat has won his first MVP, with the season he has had,” Ball said.
“At just 22 years of age, he’s had a standout year and this was rewarded with being named in the All-Australian squad of 40.
“To be recognised by the 800 players who voted showcases just how much value is placed on this award and Nat’s performance this year is a reflection of that.”
Brownlow Medal favourite Joel Selwood finished eighth in the MVP count, but the Geelong captain took home his fourth Robert Rose Most Courageous award.
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Selwood finished second in the Best Captain poll, which was topped by Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge.
Marcus Bontempelli, who came up one vote short in last week’s Rising Star count, was named the AFLPA’s Best First Year Player.
The union’s under-22 team was also revealed on Tuesday night, with fans voting in six Gold Coast young guns.
Essendon’s Dyson Heppell, who finished fourth in the overall MVP count, was named captain of the all-star youth outfit for the second year in a row.
The Voting Process
The MVP voting is a two stage process, beginning with each player voting for the three teammates he considers to have been the most valuable this season. Each club’s votes are then tallied to form a nomination list comprising 54 players across the 18 teams.
Then, in the second round of voting, all AFL players vote for their MVP on a 3, 2, 1 basis from the nominees of the 17 other clubs. The votes are tallied, and the player with the highest score wins the honour of MVP.
Winners
Leigh Matthews Trophy
Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
Lance Franklin (Sydney)
Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Tom Rockliff (Brisbane)
Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Robert Gray (Port Adelaide)
Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
The Robert Rose Most Courageous Award
Joel Selwood
Callan Ward
Luke Hodge
Rory Sloane
Ben McGlynn
Best First Year Player
Marcus Bontempelli
Luke Dunstan
Lewis Taylor
Zach Merrett
Luke McDonald
Best Captain
Luke Hodge
Joel Selwood
Gary Ablett
Travis Boak
Nick Riewoldt
