Those who tuned in to watch last night’s 2013 Be the Influence AFL Players’ MVP Awards on Fox Footy will know Gary Ablett was voted the game’s Most Valuable Player for a fifth time,  Joel Selwood was awarded the ‘Best Captain’ and ‘Most Courageous’ Award’ and Jaeger O’Meara won the ‘Best First Year Player’ Award.

But those watching at home would only have seen half the story; there was plenty more to last night’s event.

As MC Jason Dunstall put it, last night belonged to the players. While Dunstall hosted the main portion of the awards ceremony, the first half of the night was co-hosted by Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield.

‘Danger’ brought a sense of humour and fun to the stage, announcing the inaugural 22under22 team with plenty of gusto before throwing in a Bear Grylls impression that left the audience in stitches. This was to be no sterile awards ceremony.

Jarryd Roughead was another player unafraid to crack a gag or two. The big Hawk was asked how he felt being compared to former Blue Anthony Koutoufides; Roughead replied he might have Kouta’s “tan and six-pack”, but that’s about it.

It was a moment that summed up the tone of the night. The 2013 Be the Influence AFL Players’ MVP Awards showcased a more human side to the stars who take the field each week than is seen at most other footy award nights.

Western Bulldogs skipper Matthew Boyd was presented the La Trobe University ‘Education and Training’ Award, having completed a Master of Business Administration earlier this year. It’s tough to envisage how the captain of an AFL club – who is also raising a young family – put aside time to study as well. It’s certainly an achievement worth noting.

The contributions of the league’s best youngsters were also acknowledged. Dyson Heppell was announced the captain of the inaugural 22under22 team, and was presented with the first specially designed New Era 22under22 cap. The team’s vice-captain Jack Ziebell said he expected the caps to be a hit with the young players in the competition, suggesting a few guys might wind up wearing them backwards at training.

The audience soon learned GWS youngster Jeremy Cameron – who was awarded a 22under22 cap of his own after being named at full-forward in the team –was no fashionista. As part of a video package focusing on Cameron’s upbringing in his hometown of Dartmoor, the Giants’ star forward admitted he hadn’t been shopping once this year, “apart from Coles.” Channel Seven was awarded the ‘Grant Hattam Trophy’ for the documentary – one of many in its ‘#discovered’ series. The award, which honours the late, great former sport journalist, has been given for “excellence in football journalism” each year since 1999.

Around 600 people were present at the event, which was held at Peninsula, Docklands. The 2013 Be the Influence AFL Players’ MVP Awards is bigger and better each season, but despite the black table cloths, Academy Award-esque music and a guest list featuring the game’s finest, the event still has an air of modesty about it. After all, the night belongs to the players.