2012 MVP nominees announced
By Will Dempsey
Nominees for the AFL’s Most Valuable Player have been released, with three players from each of AFL’s eighteen clubs been represented.
Sydney Swans are vying for the prize, with some strong nominees in Josh Kennedy, Kieran Jack and Ted Richards who are all in contention for All Australian Selection.
Two first year players in Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron were voted by the GWS GIANTS as well as captain Callan Ward.
The AFL Players’ Association is celebrating the 30th anniversary of this award named after legendary coach Leigh Matthews.
The award is entirely nominated and voted upon by playing peers, collectively deciding the AFL’s MVP.
AFL Players’ Association President Luke Ball said the award is considered one of the highest honours in the game amongst the playing group because it reflects the respect a player has amongst his peers.
Ball said, “Players strive for the respect of their peers, and unlike other awards the MVP is determined by the men who take to the field alongside you each week. Players have insight into what occurs behind the scenes as well as in the clinches, so we are very well positioned to judge the most Valuable Player in the league.”
“When you review the winners of the past 30 years, you’ve grown up idolizing. To have the opportunity to have your name alongside these players is such an incredible honour” said Ball.
Potential favourites Trent Cochin, Jobe Watson, Gary Abblett, Dayne Beams and Josh Kennedy are all in the frame for this year’s prestigious Brownlow Medal.
On the same the night, the players association will also recognize the Robert Rose Most Courageous Player Award, Best Captain Award and Best First Year Player Award.
Sydney’s, Jude Bolton nominated for Most Courageous Player Award is a strong favorite amongst Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Beau Waters to win the award.
GWS GIANTS, Jeremy Cameron has been nominated for Best First Year Player with his 29 goals and rising star nomination posing a firm chance.
Matthew Pavlich Players Association Vice President, said that unlike other awards, as judges, the players had insight into what occurred behind the scenes as well as up close in the heat of battle.
“You’re running out there you’re throwing your bodies on the line, you’re reviewing the tape, you’re previewing a lot of footy, you’re seeing the good players and you’re able to rate them in the manner we do,” Pavlich said.
The MVP Awards will be held at Peninsula Docklands on September 11 and can be seen on FOX Footy from 9:30pm.
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’ 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 amongst the nominees from all 17 other clubs. The votes are tallied, and the player with the highest score wins the honour of MVP.
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’ 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 amongst the nominees from all 17 other clubs. The votes are tallied, and the player with the highest score wins the honour of MVP.
Most Valuable Player Award – Leigh Matthews Trophy
Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
Scott Thompson (Adelaide)
Jed Adcock (Brisbane)
Joel Patfull (Brisbane)
Jack Redden (Brisbane)
Andrew Carrazzo (Carlton)
Chris Judd (Carlton)
Eddie Betts (Carlton)
Dayne Beams (Collingwood)
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Dane Swan (Collingwood)
Dustin Fletcher (Essendon)
Brent Stanton (Essendon)
Jobe Watson (Essendon)
Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
Luke McPharlin (Fremantle)
Michael Johnson (Fremantle)
Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
James Kelly (Geelong)
Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
Harley Bennell (Gold Coast)
Matthew Warnock (Gold Coast)
Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney)
Toby Greene (Greater Western Sydney)
Callan Ward (Greater Western Sydney)
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)
Brad Sewell (Hawthorn)
Mitch Clark (Melbourne)
Jack Grimes (Melbourne)
Nathan Jones (Melbourne)
Drew Petrie (North Melbourne)
Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne)
Daniel Wells (North Melbourne)
Matthew Broadbent (Port Adelaide)
Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide)
Jay Schulz (Port Adelaide)
Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
Brett Deledio (Richmond)
Ivan Maric (Richmond)
Sean Dempster (St Kilda)
Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)
Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
Kieren Jack (Sydney)
Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
Ted Richards (Sydney)
Dean Cox (West Coast)
Darren Glass (West Coast)
Scott Selwood (West Coast)
Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs)
Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs)
Most Courageous Award
Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
Jonathan Brown (Brisbane)
Kade Simpson (Carlton)
Jarryd Blair (Collingwood)
Ben Howlett (Essendon)
Matt de Boer (Fremantle)
Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Campbell Brown (Gold Coast)
Jacob Townsend (Greater Western Sydney)
Ben Stratton (Hawthorn)
Jordan McKenzie (Melbourne)
Leigh Adams (North Melbourne)
Tom Logan (Port Adelaide)
Steven Morris (Richmond)
Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)
Jude Bolton (Sydney)
Beau Waters (West Coast)
Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs)
Best First Year Player Award
Josh Jenkins (Adelaide)
Dayne Zorko (Brisbane)
Tom Bell (Carlton)
Jamie Elliot (Collingwood)
Mark Baguley (Essendon)
Lachie Neale (Fremantle)
Jackson Sheringham (Geelong)
Kyal Horsley (Gold Coast)
Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney)
Bradley Hill (Hawthorn)
James Magner (Melbourne)
Sam Gibson (North Melbourne)
Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide)
Steven Morris (Richmond)
Ahmed Saad (St Kilda)
Harry Cunningham (Sydney)
Murray Newman (West Coast)
Clay Smith (Western Bulldogs)
Best Captain Award
Nathan Van Berlo (Adelaide)
Jonathon Brown (Brisbane)
Chris Judd (Carlton)
Nick Maxwell (Collingwood)
Jobe Watson (Essendon)
Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
Luke Power (Greater Western Sydney)
Callan Ward (Greater Western Sydney)
Phil Davis (Greater Western Sydney)
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Jack Grimes (Melbourne)
Jack Trengove (Melbourne)
Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne)
Dominic Cassisi (Port Adelaide)
Chris Newman (Richmond)
Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
Adam Goodes (Sydney)
Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney)
Darren Glass (West Coast)
Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
