Richmond star Dustin Martin is the first player to record back-to-back AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player of the Month titles.
Martin claimed July’s MVP of the Month with 36 per cent of the player vote, after winning the June award a month earlier.
The 26-year-old averaged 31 disposals, eight inside 50s and nine clearances from rounds 16-19, with his 40 possessions and two goals against Brisbane the highlight.
“Martin has been one of the most outstanding players so far this season, and it has been his consistency that has been most impressive. The fact that he’s been nominated for this award every month is proof of that,” AFLPA president Matthew Pavlich said.
“It’s of little wonder that clubs are so keen to secure his signature.”
Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell ran a close second with 25 per cent, while North Melbourne forward Ben Brown’s 17 goals across four weeks saw him finish third in the voting (18 per cent).
Trent Cotchin, Dayne Zorko and Patrick Dangerfield were the remaining nominees.
Martin is automatically nominated for the end-of-season AFL Players’ Association MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy).
He is joined by Adelaide’s Rory Sloane (March/April) and the GWS Giants’ Josh Kelly (May) who were previously voted as the MVP of the Month by their peers.
VOTING PROCESS
The MVP winners (Leigh Matthews, Chris Judd, Gerard Healy and Tim Watson) nominate six players they believe to be the best for the month Current players will then vote to decide who they believe is the MVP of the Month from the six nominees The monthly winner is automatically nominated for the end-of-season AFL Players’ MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy)
VOTING PERIODS
March/April — Rounds 1-6 — Rory Sloane
May — Rounds 7-10 — Josh Kelly
June — Rounds 11-15 – Dustin Martin
July — Rounds 16-19 – Dustin Martin
August — Rounds 20-23
