The AFL Players’ Most Valuable Player Award will be presented Tuesday night in a ceremony at Peninsula, Docklands  with three Bulldogs in contention for the main prize.

The most prestigious peer-voted award in the game, Robert Murphy, Luke Dahlhaus and Tom Liberatore have been nominated by their teammates as contenders for Leigh Matthews Trophy.

Gold Coast midfielder  Gary Ablett Jr. has won the past two AFL Players’ MVP Awards, with Luke Darcy  (2002) the only Western Bulldogs player in the Club’s history to take home the Leigh Matthews Trophy.

In it’s 32nd year, past winners of the AFL Players’ MVP award include Ablett Jr, Chris Judd, Michael Voss, Wayne Carey, Gary Ablett Snr, Robert Harvey, Anthony Koutoufides, Jason Dunstall, Jim Stynes and Leigh Matthews.

The number one tackler and clearance player in the game, Tom Liberatore’s nomination for the MVP award by his peers comes as little surprise.

Claiming his first Sutton Medal last Wednesday, in addition to the player voted John Van Groningen Team First Award, Liberatore’s 2014 season has also been capped with inclusion in the All-Australian 40-man squad.

Dahlhaus elevated his standing amongst the Bulldogs playing group in 2014, fast becoming a barometer for the team’s on-field output.

The 22 year-old’s trademark defensive pressure has pushed him into the upper-class of the game’s small forwards, while his improved ability to shake close opposition attention, has seen him become a more consistent contributor averaging a career high 21-disposals per game this year.

Murphy didn’t miss a game in season 2014, and despite an elbow injury interrupting his pre-season, went on to record one of his most prolific of his 14 year AFL career. 

Averaging close to 21 disposals per game, and leading the club for running bounces and rebound 50m, Murphy’s creativity, composure and consistency off half-back has been one of the hallmarks of the Bulldogs defense this season.

Players from all 18 clubs have voted internally to elect their three most valuable players in Season 2014.From here, every player in the competition will award a set of three, two and one votes to the three most valuable players from the 17 rival clubs.

Other awards to be presented at the MVP Awards include:

  • The Robert Rose Most Courageous Award, presented by Cancer Council Victoria
  • Best Captain, presented by L’Oreal Men Expert
  • Best First Year Player
  • Education and Training Excellence Award, presented by La Trobe Sport