Footy's greats collect retrospective Leigh Matthews Trophy's

22 Jun 2005 - Jason Murnane

A who's who football greats were presented with their very own AFLPA Leigh Matthews Trophy for Most Valuable Player including:

The night's guest of honour, Leigh Matthews, who was the awards inaugural winner in 1982, was first to receive the striking MVP trophy named in his honour. 

Terry Daniher, the relentless and laconic Essendon centre half forward who won the award in 1983.

Russell Greene, who through true gut busting effort turned himself into a star with the Hawks and won the award in 1984.

Greg Williams, Diesel, the incomparable centreman who won the award with Geelong in 1985 and with Carlton 1994.

Paul Roos, the classy effortless all-rounder who won the award playing for Fitzroy in 1986.

Gerard Healey, the brilliant on-baller and only man to win a Brownlow and a Sydney to Hobart yacht race and won the award in 1988.

Tim Watson, who made his footy debut at 15, Tim was an explosive and game breaking talent who won the award in 1989. 

Magpie icon and 1990 winner who we sadly lost in 1991 Darren Millane was represented by brother Sean & mother Denise Millane.

Jason Dunstall, the extraordinary Hawthorn full forward who kicked 1254 goals over his career and won the award in 1992. 

Wayne Carey, the King, the quintessential Centre Half Forward.  Wayne won the award  twice, in 1995 & 1998. 

Corey McKernan, the spectacular and devastating ruck/forward who won the award in 1996. 

Robert Harvey, the ever young hard running onballer who won the award with St Kilda in 1997.

Shane Crawford, the dynamic onballer, one of the greatest athletic talents to play the game who won the award playing with Hawthorn in 1999.

Anthony Koutoufides, the archetypal utility, Kouta the superb athlete won the award in 2000. 

Other guests to attend included AFLPA CEO Brendon Gale, AFL Commissioners, Ron Evans and Bill Kelty; AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou and AFLPA Advisory Board Chairman Neil Hamilton amongst many others.

Other winners of the prestigious award including Tony Lockett (1987), Gary Ablett (1993) and Andrew McLeod (2001) will also receive their very own Leigh Matthews Trophy.

Post 2001 winners of the award in Luke Darcy (2002), Michael Voss (2002-2003) and Nick Riewoldt (2004) received their Trophies on the evening of their win.

In 2002, AFL players were asked to name a player they considered to be the most valuable of all time.  A man who personified the guts and glory of our great game.  One name came back again and again.  Leigh Matthews. 

Leigh's career began in 1969 until his eventual retirement in 1985.  In the current era where the average league career is just on three and a half years, Leigh's playing career was remarkable for its resilience alone.

But of course there was more to Leigh Matthews than durability.

As a player, Leigh was in a league of his own.  The toughest player of his era, Lethal didn't just beat opponents, he destroyed them.  He was calculating, hard, and stunning in his ability to find another gear, to dig deeper than his opponent.  No man had a bigger motor than Leigh.  That was the mark of the man.

Never winning the Brownlow medal, Leigh still received the second highest cumulative amount of Brownlow Votes over his career.  He received a staggering 202 votes from the men in white over his astonishing 16 year career.

Leigh's coaching career is just as impressive.  Coaching four flags from four grand finals in 15 years of coaching is a mighty effort.

The player's s decision in 2002 to name their Most Valuable Player award after Leigh Matthews illustrates the level of standing Leigh enjoys with the men who play the game we love.