Dogs star in rare air with MVP treble, Butters honoured

Marcus Bontempelli Wins Third AFLPA MVP Award

AFLPA Awards 2024

• Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli has been crowned the AFL Players' Association's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the third time.
• Bontempelli won the Leigh Matthews Trophy ahead of Patrick Cripps and Isaac Heeney.
• He now trails only Gary Ablett Jr. as the most prolific winner of the award.

Bontempelli's Outstanding Season

• Bontempelli led the Bulldogs into the finals, averaging 26 disposals, 31 goals, and ranked among the top seven in the league for contested possessions, clearances, and goal assists.
• He outplayed 2019 MVP Patrick Cripps and Sydney's dynamic Isaac Heeney to claim the top honor.

Best Captain and Additional Awards

• Bontempelli was also named Best Captain by his peers for the third time in his career.
• Port Adelaide's Zak Butters won the Robert Rose Most Courageous Player award for the second consecutive season.
• Top draft pick Harley Reid of West Coast won the Best First-Year Player award.

AFLPA Awards Voting Process

The winners of the MVP, Best First-Year Player, and Most Courageous Player awards are determined through a two-stage voting process:

• Players first select three teammates, which are tallied into a list of 54 nominees across the 18 clubs.
• All players then vote on a 3-2-1 basis, excluding players from their own club.
• The player with the most votes wins.

Leigh Matthews Trophy (MVP)

1. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Patrick Cripps
3. Isaac Heeney
4. Nick Daicos
5. Jesse Hogan

Robert Rose Award (Most Courageous)

1. Zak Butters
2. James Rowbottom and Liam Baker
3. Jeremy McGovern
4. Josh Dunkley

Best First-Year Player Award

1. Harley Reid
2. Darcy Wilson
3. Caleb Windsor
4. Colby McKercher
5. Lawson Humphries

Best Captain

1. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Patrick Cripps
3. Zach Merrett
4. Toby Greene
5. Max Gawn