Revealed: Every AFL club’s nominees for AFLPA MVP, best first year player awards

The AFL Players’ Association has revealed the entire list of contenders in line to claim the 2025 Most Valuable Player award.

The players’ union on Wednesday released the nominees for the Leigh Matthews Trophy, as well as for the Most Courageous Player and Best First Year Player, which will be awarded on Thursday night.

Scroll down to see the full list of nominees.

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Three players from each club were nominated for the MVP award; voted on by their peers. As part of a two-pronged process, players nominated their teammates in stage one before selecting from a competition-wide field in stage two.

Ladder-leading Adelaide had its spine nominated; indicative of its holistic strength as it prepares to host a qualifying final on Thursday week.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ midfield prowess this season has been highlighted by three ball-getter nominees, as non-household names Karl Amon and Paul Curtis earned deserved nods for Hawthorn and North Melbourne respectively, as well as first-year Blues utility Nick Haynes.

And in a sign of newly-recognised talent, 19 of the nominations were players never previously All-Australians who’d been selected in this year’s All-Australian 44-man squad.

And of the Most Courageous Player nominations — one per club — 11 of the 18 were also nominated for the MVP award.

The release of this year’s nominations comes after the All-Australian squad of 44 was released on Tuesday, with the final 22-man team to also be confirmed on Thursday night.

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The AFL Players’ Association awards will be announced at the AFL awards on Thursday, August 28.

FULL NOMINEES LIST

ADELAIDE CROWS

MVP: Jordan Dawson, Josh Worrell, Riley Thilthorpe

Most Courageous: Josh Worrell

Best First Year: Sid Draper

BRISBANE LIONS

MVP: Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley, Harris Andrews

Most Courageous: Josh Dunkley

Best First Year: Levi Ashcroft

CARLTON

MVP: George Hewett, Jacob Weitering, Nick Haynes

Most Courageous: George Hewett

Best First Year: Harry O’Farrell

COLLINGWOOD

MVP: Jamie Elliott, Nick Daicos, Darcy Cameron

Most Courageous: Lachie Schultz

Best First Year: Charlie West

ESSENDON

MVP: Zach Merrett, Archie Roberts, Sam Durham

Most Courageous: Sam Durham

Best First Year: Isaac Kako

FREMANTLE

MVP: Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Luke Jackson

Most Courageous: Karl Worner

Best First Year: Murphy Reid

GEELONG CATS

MVP: Jeremy Cameron, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes

Most Courageous: Tom Atkins

Best First Year: Jay Polkinghorne

GOLD COAST SUNS

MVP: Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, Touk Miller

Most Courageous: Matt Rowell

Best First Year: Leo Lombard

GWS GIANTS

MVP: Tom Green, Finn Callaghan, Lachie Ash

Most Courageous: Jack Buckley

Best First Year: Cody Angove

HAWTHORN

MVP: Karl Amon, Jai Newcombe, Jack Gunston

Most Courageous: Jai Newcombe

Best First Year: Noah Mraz

MELBOURNE

MVP: Kysaiah Pickett, Jake Bowey, Max Gawn

Most Courageous: Jack Viney

Best First Year: Harvey Langford

NORTH MELBOURNE

MVP: Paul Curtis, Harry Sheezel, Tristan Xerri

Most Courageous: Cameron Zurhaar

Best First Year: Finn O’Sullivan

PORT ADELAIDE

MVP: Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Mitch Georgiades

Most Courageous: Zak Butters

Best First Year: Joe Berry

RICHMOND

MVP: Tim Taranto, Nick Vlastuin, Toby Nankervis

Most Courageous: Nick Vlastuin

Best First Year: Jonty Faull

ST KILDA

MVP: Callum Wilkie, Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

Most Courageous: Callum Wilkie

Best First Year: Alix Tauru

SYDNEY SWANS

MVP: Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Brodie Grundy

Most Courageous: Tom McCartin

Best First Year: Jesse Dattoli

WEST COAST EAGLES

MVP: Reuben Ginbey, Liam Baker, Harley Reid

Most Courageous: Liam Baker

Best First Year: Jobe Shanahan

WESTERN BULLDOGS

MVP: Marcus Bontempelli, Ed Richards, Tom Liberatore

Most Courageous: Tom Liberatore

Best First Year: Sam Davidson