Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli into rarefied air with another Leigh Matthews Trophy win

WESTERN Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli won the Leigh Matthews Trophy for the third time, voted by his peers as the 2024 AFL Players Association Most Valuable Player.

Bontempelli added to his wins in 2021 and 2023 and now trails only five-time winner Gary Ablett Jnr as the most prolific winner in the award’s 42-year history.

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The only other multiple winners of the award are Greg Williams, Wayne Carey, Michael Voss, Chris Judd and Nat Fyfe.

The 28-year-old had another stellar season, leading his Bulldogs to the finals while averaging 26 goals per game, kicking 31 goals and ranking among the top seven in the competition for contested possessions , clearances and assists.

He beat the 2019 winner Patrick Cripps and a dynamic Sydney star Isaac Heeney for the top gong.

Bontempelli was also named Best Captain by his peers for the third time in his career, winning ahead of Cripps and the Essendon skipper. Zach Merrett.

Only Brisbane champion Voss (four times) has won the award more.

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Port Adelaide vice-captain for second consecutive season Zak Butters was named the bravest player Robert Rose, ahead of Sydney James Rowbottom and of Richmond Liam Baker, who tied for second place.

It is the first time since Luke Parker in 2015-16 that a player has won in back-to-back years.

Choice no. 1 in last year’s draft, Harley Reidwas named first-year player, joining Daniel Kerr (2001) and Chris Judd (2002) as the only West Coast players to win the award.

AFLPA AWARDS 2024

AFLPA MVP – Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
AFLPA Bravest – Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
AFLPA Best First Year Player – Harley Reid (West Coast)
Best AFLPA Captain – Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

Leigh Matthews Trophy (MVP)
1. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Patrick Cripps
3. Isaac Heeney
4. Nick Daicos
5. Jesse Hogan

Robert Rose Award (Most Brave)
1. Zak butters
2. James Rowbottom and Liam Baker
4. Jeremy McGovern
5. Josh Dunkley

The award for the best first-year player
1. Harley Reid
2. Darcy Wilson
3. Caleb Windsor
4. Colby McKercher
5. Lawson Humphries

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

The MVP, First-Year Player of the Year and Bravest Player winners are determined through a two-stage voting process.

Players first select three teammates, with the results shortlisted to 54 nominees from the 18 clubs. All players then vote on a 3-2-1 basis, but cannot vote for a player at their own club. The player with the most votes wins.

Each captain is automatically nominated for best captain.