GWS Giants midfielder Josh Kelly’s outstanding form has been recognised by his peers with the AFL Players’ Association MVP of the Month award for May.
Kelly got the nod with 25 percent of the player votes, ahead of Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield (23 percent) and Richmond’s Dustin Martin (17 percent).
Key defenders Alex Rance and Michael Hurley, along with Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury completed the six nominees put to the players by the MVP winners panel.
Dual AFLPA MVP winner Chris Judd says Kelly has taken his game to a new level in 2017.
“Kelly is now one of the competition’s elite midfielders — he’s a beautiful mover and his left foot is a weapon,” Judd said.
“Speculation and debate around his playing future has not hurt his performance, in fact, he’s got better.”
The 22-year-old averaged 31 disposals, six clearances and more than seven tackles in the month of May, which took in rounds 7-10 and three wins for the Giants.
Kelly is now automatically nominated for the end-of-season AFL Players’ Association MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy).
Adelaide’s Rory Sloane was the MVP of the Month for the March/April period.
VOTING PROCESS
- The MVP winners (Leigh Matthews, Chris Judd, Gerard Healy and Tim Watson) nominate six players they believe to be the best for the month
- Current players will then vote to decide who they believe is the MVP of the Month from the six nominees
- The monthly winner is automatically nominated for the end-of-season AFL Players’ MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy).
VOTING PERIODS
March/April — Rounds 1-6: Rory Sloane
May — Rounds 7-10: Josh Kelly
June — Rounds 11-15
July — Rounds 16-19
August — Rounds 20-23
Vote for YOUR MVP of the Month here!