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Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
WESTERN Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli has become the third player in 40 years to win the AFL Players Association's MVP and best captain double after an outstanding season that was celebrated on Thursday night.
Bontempelli polled 1176 votes to win the Leigh Matthews Trophy in emphatic style ahead of Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh (426) and prolific Gold Coast ball-winner Touk Miller (411).
Melbourne star Christian Petracca (338) and St Kilda captain Jack Steele (261) finished in the top five for the second straight season, with Steele also winning the Robert Rose most courageous award and finishing third in best captain voting.
First-time winner Bontempelli joined Brisbane champion Michael Voss and West Coast and Carlton great Chris Judd as players to have won the MVP and best captain awards in the same season.
The Bulldogs skipper, who ranked top five in the League for both inside 50s (6.7 a game) and score involvements (7.3), received his awards while isolating ahead of Saturday's semi-final against Brisbane at the Gabba.
Bontempelli has also averaged a career-high 27 disposals and kicked 26 goals, with AFLPA president and Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield declaring the 25-year-old had become the "prototype modern AFL midfielder".
"He's dominated the middle of the ground in 2021 and also hit the scoreboard so his impact has been far-reaching," Dangerfield said.
"Put simply, there's been no better player across the 23 rounds this season than the 'Bont'. He's a worthy Leigh Matthews Trophy winner."
Bontempelli became the sixth separate winner of the Leigh Matthews Trophy in the past six seasons since Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe went back-to-back in 2014-15.
Five of the previous six winners have also gone on to win the Brownlow Medal, with Bontempelli among the leading contenders for this year's prestigious award.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn (87 votes) finished runner-up to Bontempelli (224) in the best captain award, followed by Steele (83) and previous winners in Geelong captain Joel Selwood (60) and Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury (36).
Exciting Sydney half-forward Errol Gulden (299) was named the best first-year player, ahead of Essendon tall Nik Cox (139) and Adelaide forward Riley Thilthorpe (56).
Gulden, who was recruited by the Swans with pick No.32 in last year's NAB AFL Draft as an academy selection, also finished fifth in the NAB AFL Rising Star Award and was the highest-polling first-year player.
Voting for the Leigh Matthews Trophy starts with clubs nominating three players from their club each based on their players' votes, leading to a nomination list of 54 players across the 18 teams.
All players then vote for their MVP on a 3, 2, 1 basis from the nominees of the 17 other clubs, meaning they cannot vote for their teammates in the second stage of the process.
A similar process is followed for the best first-year player and most courageous player awards, with all captains automatically nominated for the best captain award.
AFLPA MVP
Marcus Bontempelli (1176)
750 Point Gap
Sam Walsh (426)
Touk Miller (411)
Christian Petracca (338)
Jack Steele (261)
Most Courageous
Jack Steele (186)
Tom Doedee (118)
Liam Baker (61)
Liam Jones (55)
Tom Jonas (40)
Best First-Year Player
Errol Gulden (299)
Nikolas Cox (139)
Riley Thilthorpe (56)
Tom Powell (27)
Tom Highmore (26)
Best Captain
Marcus Bontempelli (224)
137 Point Difference
Max Gawn (87)
Jack Steele (83)
Joel Selwood (60)
Scott Pendlebury (36)
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
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Post Thanks / Like - 4 Thanks, 9 Likes
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Voss. Double AFLPA win. Brownlow.
Judd. Double AFLPA win. Brownlow
Bonts. Double AFLPA win. ???
I hope the umpires agree.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 2 Likes
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
I've always said the players have much more of an idea about who is good compared to the coaches and try and prove that I didn't (please don't).
Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Oliver is a popular guy.....
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Hmmm - bit more blunted about the Brownlow now.
Glad he gets the recognition for an outstanding season
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 2 Likes
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Nice to see LJ do well in most courageous.
"It's over. It's all over."
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 1 Likes
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Not bad for a pick number four. He has been outstanding and in big moments too
Now that’s one of three this month ticked off
BB.
Looking forward - Naughton, Darcy and JUH. It will be the envy of everyone.
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
This award shits on the Brownlow medal imo. What would the umps know anyhow, just ask the Essenscum fans
They've done studies you know, 60% of the time, it works every time!
Brian Fantana.
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 1 Likes
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Gary Lyon apparently had a go at the award, claiming what would players know they never watch footy. I am sure if Oliver was up high on the votes he would not say that. He also conveniently forgets, the players watch hours of game film and study the opposition players. Really can't stand the bloke.
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Originally Posted by
bornadog
Gary Lyon apparently had a go at the award, claiming what would players know they never watch footy. I am sure if Oliver was up high on the votes he would not say that. He also conveniently forgets, the players watch hours of game film and study the opposition players. Really can't stand the bloke.
Kane Cornes is following the same line.
Saying that players shouldn't vote for the PLAYERS ASSOCIATION awards.
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Originally Posted by
Dancin' Douggy
Kane Cornes is following the same line.
Saying that players shouldn't vote for the PLAYERS ASSOCIATION awards.
all I can say is FMD
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Surprised that Oliver and Wines weren't near the top. They are clearly in the top bracket of players.
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Originally Posted by
jazzadogs
Surprised that Oliver and Wines weren't near the top. They are clearly in the top bracket of players.
I could be mistaken, but I think only player from each club is nominated.
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Dumb question, but when do they do the actual voting? Is it all done at the end of the H&A season?
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Re: Bontempelli Historic AFLPA Double
Originally Posted by
wimberga
I could be mistaken, but I think only player from each club is nominated.
According to this it's 3 players for MVP from each team. Oliver and Wines were definitely in it.