The Leigh Matthews Trophy — The AFL Players’ MVP
The Leigh Matthews Trophy is the AFL’s “players’ players” award — voted by the players themselves rather than umpires or panels. Awarded annually to the league’s Most Valuable Player as decided by his peers, the Leigh Matthews Trophy carries a different prestige to the Brownlow. Where the Brownlow rewards umpire-visibility (often inside mids), the Leigh Matthews rewards genuine respect from teammates and rivals — the player every other AFL professional knows is the best in the league.
The History: AFLPA MVP Becomes the Leigh Matthews Trophy
The award was instituted in 1982 as the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) Most Valuable Player. The voting system: every AFL player votes annually for the league MVP. Total votes are tallied and the player with the most receives the trophy.
In 2002, the trophy was renamed in honour of Leigh Matthews, the four-time Hawthorn premiership player and three-time Brisbane Lions premiership coach. “Lethal” Matthews is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his era; the rename was a tribute to a footy figure of generational significance.
Recent Winners
- 2024: Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
- 2023: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
- 2022: Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
- 2021: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
- 2020: Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
- 2019: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
- 2018: Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)
- 2017: Dustin Martin (Richmond)
- 2016: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
- 2015: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
- 2014: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
- 2013: Gary Ablett Jr (Gold Coast)
- 2012: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) — actual winner was Jobe Watson, retrospectively stripped due to ASADA
- 2011: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
- 2010: Chris Judd (Carlton)
Multiple Winners
- Marcus Bontempelli: 4-time Leigh Matthews Trophy winner (2019, 2021, 2023 + others)
- Patrick Cripps: 2-time winner (2022, 2024)
- Nat Fyfe: 2-time winner (2014, 2015)
- Lance Franklin: 2-time winner (2008, 2011)
- Gary Ablett Jr: 2-time winner
The Bontempelli era — winning the players’ MVP in three consecutive years (2019, 2021, 2023) — is unprecedented modern dominance.
The Brownlow vs Leigh Matthews Divergence
The two awards often produce different winners in the same year, demonstrating the divergent vote bases:
- 2019: Brownlow — Nat Fyfe; Leigh Matthews — Marcus Bontempelli
- 2018: Brownlow — Tom Mitchell; Leigh Matthews — Tom Mitchell (rare alignment)
- 2014: Brownlow — Matt Priddis; Leigh Matthews — Nat Fyfe
- 2008: Brownlow — Adam Cooney; Leigh Matthews — Lance Franklin
The Leigh Matthews tends to favour key forwards, midfielders with broader influence, and players whose performances rivals genuinely respect. The Brownlow tends to favour inside mids who collect cheap touches.
Trivia for the Pub
- The award was instituted in 1982 as the AFLPA MVP.
- Renamed the Leigh Matthews Trophy in 2002.
- Voting is by all AFL players.
- Marcus Bontempelli’s four wins are the modern record.
- Leigh Matthews himself was a four-time premiership Hawk.
- Matthews coached the Brisbane Lions to three premierships (2001, 2002, 2003).
- The trophy is presented at the AFLPA’s annual function.
- The Brownlow and Leigh Matthews diverge in winners roughly 60% of the time.
- Player voting introduces a different bias than umpire voting — favouring respect over visibility.
- The Leigh Matthews Trophy is sometimes called the “true MVP” by AFL purists.
The Rumours
The persistent rumour: making the Leigh Matthews more publicly visible. Currently the AFLPA function is a closed event; some have suggested public-facing presentations. The AFLPA has resisted to maintain player-focused intimacy.
The other rumour: integrating with All-Australian captaincy. The All-Australian captain often differs from the Leigh Matthews winner; some have suggested aligning the two. Won’t happen.
The Verdict
The Leigh Matthews Trophy is the AFL’s most authentic individual award. Voted by the players themselves, it captures the genuine respect the league’s elite have for each other. Marcus Bontempelli’s four wins, Patrick Cripps’s two, Nat Fyfe’s two — every Leigh Matthews winner is permanently in the AFL’s pantheon. Long live Lethal.
