The next AFL Players’ Most Valuable Player will be announced at the AFL Awards, live on Fox Footy from 7:30pm AEST on August 25th, 2026.
THE VOTING PROCESS
Every AFL player nominates three teammates they consider most deserving of the Leigh Matthews Trophy. Round 1 voting (Aug 4–6) narrowed each club’s nominees to a shortlist of three. In Round 2 (Aug 11–13), players chose their MVP from the full list of nominees but couldn’t vote for their own teammates.
For the Most Courageous and Best First-Year Player awards, players nominate one teammate in Round 1. All captains are automatically nominated. In Round 2, they then vote for one player from any club except their own. Unlike the Brownlow Medal, players stay eligible for these awards even if suspended.
Leigh Matthews Trophy for Most Valuable Player
| Adelaide | Jordan Dawson, Sam Berry, Wayne Milera |
| Brisbane | Harris Andrews, Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft |
| Carlton | Jagga Smith, Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh |
| Collingwood | Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos, Billy Frampton |
| Essendon | Peter Wright, Sam Durham, Zach Merrett |
| Fremantle | Josh Treacy, Luke Jackson, Murphy Reid |
| Geelong | Bailey Smith, Connor O’Sullivan, Max Holmes |
| Gold Coast Suns | Bodhi Uwland, Noah Anderson, Sam Collins |
| GWS Giants | Clayton Oliver, Connor Idun, Lachlan Ash |
| Hawthorn | Jai Newcombe, Jarman Impey, Nick Watson |
| Melbourne | Kysaiah Pickett, Max Gawn, Tom Sparrow |
| North Melbourne | Harry Sheezel, Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke |
| Port Adelaide | Aliir Aliir, Jason Horne-Francis, Zak Butters |
| Richmond | Jack Ross, Nick Vlastuin, Tim Taranto |
| St Kilda | Callum Wilkie, Max Hall, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera |
| Sydney Swans | Brodie Grundy, Charlie Curnow, Isaac Heeney |
| West Coast Eagles | Harley Reid, Jake Waterman, Tim Kelly |
| Western Bulldogs | Bailey Dale, Ed Richards, Marcus Bontempelli |
ROBERT ROSE MOST COURAGEOUS PLAYER AWARD
PRESENTED BY TACKLE YOUR FEELINGS
| Adelaide | Jordan Dawson |
| Brisbane | Josh Dunkley |
| Carlton | Lachlan Cowan |
| Collingwood | Brayden Maynard |
| Essendon | Sam Durham |
| Fremantle | Karl Worner |
| Geelong | Tom Atkins |
| Gold Coast Suns | Bodhi Uwland |
| GWS Giants | Lachie Whitfield |
| Hawthorn | Josh Battle |
| Melbourne | Daniel Turner |
| North Melbourne | Charlie Comben |
| Port Adelaide | Zak Butters |
| Richmond | Nick Vlastuin |
| St Kilda | Jack Silvagni |
| Sydney Swans | James Rowbottom |
| West Coast Eagles | Reuben Ginbey |
| Western Bulldogs | Michael Sellwood |
BEST FIRST YEAR PLAYER AWARD
PRESENTED BY P3 RECOVERY
| Adelaide | Archie Ludowyke |
| Brisbane | Daniel Annable |
| Carlton | Harry Dean |
| Collingwood | Sam Swadling |
| Essendon | Dyson Sharp |
| Fremantle | Chris Scerri |
| Geelong | Jesse Mellor |
| Gold Coast Suns | Zeke Uwland |
| GWS Giants | Riley Hamilton |
| Hawthorn | Jack Dalton |
| Melbourne | Joel Fitzgerald |
| North Melbourne | Tom Blamires |
| Port Adelaide | Xavier Bamert |
| Richmond | Sam Cumming |
| St Kilda | Charlie Banfield |
| Sydney Swans | Harry Kyle |
| West Coast Eagles | Willem Duursma |
| Western Bulldogs | William Lewis |
BEST CAPTAIN AWARD
PRESENTED BY CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (CA ANZ)
| Adelaide | Jordan Dawson |
| Brisbane | Harris Andrews, Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage |
| Carlton | Patrick Cripps |
| Collingwood | Darcy Moore |
| Essendon | Andrew McGrath |
| Fremantle | Alex Pearce |
| Geelong | Patrick Dangerfield |
| Gold Coast Suns | Noah Anderson |
| GWS Giants | Toby Greene |
| Hawthorn | Jai Newcombe, James Sicily |
| Melbourne | Max Gawn |
| North Melbourne | Nick Larkey |
| Port Adelaide | Connor Rozee |
| Richmond | Toby Nankervis |
| St Kilda | Jack Sinclair, Callum Wilkie |
| Sydney Swans | Callum Mills |
| West Coast Eagles | Liam Baker, Liam Duggan |
| Western Bulldogs | Marcus Bontempelli |
Tune into Fox Footy tomorrow night at 7:30pm to see who will be unveiled this year’s best, as voted by the players.