Jack Darling has capitilised on his red-hot form by securing the AFL Players’ Association’s MVP of the Month title for May.
With the West Coast Eagles charging towards September action atop the AFL ladder, Darling has been a vital ingredient, with the 26-year-old kicking 13 goals in the last four weeks, despite going goalless in the club’s Round 10 triumph against the Hawks.
Darling registered 33 per cent of the players’ vote, with Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae coming in second place with 25 per cent and Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe rounding out the top three.
Darling, who’s now automatically nominated for the AFLPA MVP Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy) at season’s end, has been arguably the best forward in 2018, with the athletic forward currently sitting second on the Coleman Medal table and leading the contested marks tally.
“Jack Darling is in career-best form in 2018 and over the past month he’s started to get recognition for his work. A six-goal haul against the reigning premiers two weeks was a genuine statement,” MVP of the Month panelist Gerard Healy told AFLPlayers.com.au.
“He is a key reason for West Coast’s success through the first 10 rounds of what has been an incredible start to the season.”
Despite receiving the bulk of the players’ vote, Darling polled 13 per cent of the fans vote, with Fyfe clearly the fans’ MVP of the Month after receiving a monstrous 64 per cent of their votes.
VOTING PROCESS
A selection of AFPA 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 — Steele Sidebottom
May — Rounds 7-10 — Jack Darling
June — Rounds 11-15
July — Rounds 16-19
August — Rounds 20-23
Do YOU agree with the players? Have your say below!
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