After securing the Leigh Matthews Trophy in 2021 and 2023, the Western Bulldogs superstar now has the second-most MVP nods in the award’s 43-year history.
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After securing the Leigh Matthews Trophy in 2021 and 2023, the Western Bulldogs superstar now has the second-most MVP nods in the award’s 43-year history.
Only Gary Ablett Jnr., who won five MVP Awards (2007-2009, 2012-2013), has been voted by the players as the competition’s best more times.
Bontempelli averaged 26 disposals and kicked 31 goals in his 23 matches this year, finishing the home and away season ranked in the top seven players for contested possessions, clearances, inside 50s, and goal assists.
The 28-year-old, who was presented with the Leigh Matthews Trophy in front of friends, family and peers at an industry-wide event on Thursday night, edged out 2019 MVP Award winner Patrick Cripps and dynamic Swan Isaac Heeney.
The evening at Melbourne Park’s Centrepiece combined the AFLPA MVP Awards, AFL Rising Star, All Australian team and AFL Coaches Association Awards.
Bontempelli was also voted Best Captain, presented by The Diamond Guys, ahead of fellow leaders Cripps and Zach Merrett.
This is the Bulldogs skipper’s third Best Captain win (alongside his victories in 2021 and 2023), with only Michael Voss (2001-2004) being awarded the Best Captain more.
For the second consecutive season, Port Adelaide vice-captain Zak Butters was crowned Robert Rose Most Courageous Player, presented by Tackle Your Feelings, with James Rowbottom and Liam Baker receiving equal votes to finish second on the podium. It’s the first time a player has won consecutive Most Courageous Awards since Luke Parker went back-to-back in 2015 and 2016.
In a season where he dominated the headlines, much-hyped West Coast young gun Harley Reid took home the Best First-Year Player Award, presented by Local Expert, ahead of Darcy Wilson and Caleb Windsor. Reid becomes the third Eagle to be crowned with the Best First-Year title after Daniel Kerr (2001) and Chris Judd (2002).
Brisbane Lion Noah Answerth was presented with the Education and Training Excellence Award, presented by Torrens University Australia, for his commitment to studies and development away from the football field.
The Herald Sun’s Lauren Wood was presented with the Grant Hattam Award for Outstanding Journalism from the Players’ Perspective, for her touching feature on Geelong’s Meg McDonald and her late father.
WINNERS
Leigh Matthews Trophy for the Most Valuable Player, presented by Snaffle
1. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Patrick Cripps
3. Isaac Heeney
4. Nick Daicos
5. Jesse Hogan
Robert Rose Most Courageous Award, presented by Tackle Your Feelings
1. Zak Butters
2. James Rowbottom and Liam Baker
4. Jeremy McGovern
5. Josh Dunkley
Best First-Year Player Award, presented by Local Expert
1. Harley Reid
2. Darcy Wilson
3. Caleb Windsor
4. Colby McKercher
5. Lawson Humphries
Best Captain, presented by The Diamond Guys
1. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Patrick Cripps
3. Zach Merrett
4. Toby Greene
5. Max Gawn
CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL AFLPA MVP PAST WINNERS
MVP Voting Process
MVP voting is a two-stage process, beginning with each player selecting the three teammates they consider to have been the most valuable this season. Each club’s results are then tallied to form a nomination list, comprising 54 players across the 18 teams.
In the second round of voting, all players vote for their MVP on a 3-2-1 basis, from the nominees of the 17 other clubs. Those votes are tallied and the player with the highest score wins the honour of MVP. Players cannot vote for their own teammates in stage two.
A similar process is followed for Best First-Year and Most Courageous awards, and every captain is automatically nominated for the Best Captain Award.
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