Gary Ablett wins Leigh Matthews Trophy for Most Valuable Player

26 Sep 2007 - Jason Murnane

Ablett was recognised as the competition’s best player in 2007 by his peers this evening at the AFL Players’ Association’s MVP Awards at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt.   

The Geelong star was selected as the MVP by 212 fellow players, ahead of Brisbane Lion Jonathan Brown on 139 votes with West Coast’s Daniel Kerr (48) in third place.  Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich and Port Adelaide’s Chad Cornes followed (equal 32) with Kangaroo Brent Harvey rounding out the top five receiving 24 votes.

Gary Ablett Jnr joins his father Gary Ablett Snr as a recipient of the Leigh Matthews Trophy for Most Valuable Player with Gary Snrwinning the prestigious award in 1993.  This is the first time in the award’s history that a father and son have received the award.     

The Leigh Matthews Trophy for Most Valuable Player, sponsored by Medibank Private, recognises versatility, ability to play under pressure, skill, courage, leadership, respect for all players & value to a team.  To vote, players initially nominate two players from their own club for each award.  Players then vote for the player, (not from their own club), they believe should win the Award. 

Over 630 AFL players voted in this year’s AFLPA Most Valuable Player awards.

Since 1982, the Leigh Matthews Trophy for Most Valuable Player and Brownlow Medal have been won by different players 19 times.

Ablett’s season stats were characteristically impressive with the Cats star racking up 585 disposals, 315 kicks and 87 marks.  Ablett also led the AFL for inside 50’s, signifying the great influence he has on the game. 

In other awards, Brisbane Lions co-captain Jonathan Brown received the coveted Robert Rose Most Courageous Player Award, sponsored by Fosters Group. Brown was selected as the competition’s Most Courageous by 151 fellow players, followed by six time award winner Kangaroo Glenn Archer (109) and Geelong’s Jimmy Bartel (100). 

In his second win for the night, Jonathan Brown was also the player’s choice as the AFL’s Best Captain, sponsored by Integrated Group, ahead of Sydney’s Brett Kirk (108), and 2006 MVP Chris Judd (53).     

The accomplished debut season of Geelong’s Joel Selwood was recognised after he received the Best First Year Player Award, sponsored by Fox Sports, ahead of a strong field of debutants, including Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoff, Essendon’s Alwyn Davey and Carlton’s Bryce Gibbs. 

Mercurial young Hawk Lance Franklin’s stunning year was duly recognised as he received the Marn Grook Award for Best Emerging Indigenous Player, sponsored by Qantas, joining past recipients Danyle Pearce, Aaron Davey, Daniel Wells, Graham Johncock, Leon Davis and Dean Rioli.

The judges couldn’t split the efforts of Collingwood’s Shane Wakelin and Adelaide’s Brett Burton in the Education and Training Excellence Award, sponsored by Drake Training.  Selected from an impressive group of players to have excelled on and off the field, Shane and Brett impressed the judges in equal parts by coupling commitment and achievement in their academic and football careers.  

Over 232 AFL games, Shane Wakelin has achieved an MBA in Accounting & Finance and a Bachelor of Science as well as undertaking part time work as a Private Equity Relationship Manager with Blackwood Capital Partners. 

In addition to playing 151 AFL games, Brett Burton has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) and after completion of his Masters Degree, presented his Masters findings to the Australian Sports Medicine Conference.

Samantha Laneof The Age was awarded the Grant Hattam Trophy for Excellence in Football Journalism, sponsored by Corrs, Chambers Westgarth Lawyers.

Lane’s insightful story “A life’s work in progress” on the journey of Essendon player Mark Bolton spoke of the reality of 80% of AFL players, the non-superstars who strive to make an impact both on and off the field in good times and bad. 

The following stories also received honourable mentions from the Grant Hattam Award judges:

• Nick McCallum (7 Network / Sunrise) for his “AFL Homeless Story” which offered a rare insight into the long term and low key commitment of a number of AFL players in assisting homeless people out of which has grown the AFLPA / AFL Foundation ‘Ladder’ program to tackle youth homelessness.
• Scott Gullan (Herald Sun) for his story “I have seen the light” regarding Steve Johnson’s efforts to turn around his career.  The excusive nature of the story and its insightfulness into Johnson’s position appealed to the judges.

	Leigh Matthews Trophy for Most Valuable Player

	Robert Rose Trophy for Most Courageous Player

	Best First Year Player

	Best Captain Award