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Breust headlines MVP of the Month nominees for July

With three bags of goals in four games, Hawthorn forward Luke Breust headlines the MVP of the Month nominees for July.

The only forward in this month’s nominees, Breust is having a career-best season, which has only highlighted by his most recent performances kicking six, five and four goals in three of his last four outings.

The six nominees in July include four midfielders and one ruckman, with Andrew Gaff, Max Gawn and Dustin Martin the only players who have previously been nominated for the MVP of the Month this season. None of last month’s nominees feature in this month’s group.

Gerard Healy, Tim Watson, Chris Judd and the man the award was named after, Leigh Matthews, will come together each month to provide a list of players worthy of being voted the best player in each month of the home and away season.

From there, the current players will then vote to decide who they believe is the MVP of the Month from the six nominees, with the monthly winner automatically nominated for the end-of-season AFL Players’ MVP Award.

Andrew Gaff (West Coast)

Becoming more of an inside midfielder, Gaff is arguably the game’s most consistent player. Since Round 16, the West Coast speedster is averaging 31 disposals, including a high of 41 touches and two goals against GWS in Round 16.

Max Gawn (Melbourne)

After a slow start to 2018, Gawn has wrestled back control of the number one ruck mantle and is arguably the best player in the game at the moment. In his last four outings, Gawn averaged 15 disposals and 46 hit outs, with a his 66-hit out performance in Round 19 against the Crows a highlight.

Dustin Martin (Richmond)

After being nominated for the MVP of the Month back in April, Martin has returned to his brilliant best in the last four weeks, averaging 27 disposals, half of which are contested, and kicking seven goals. The 2018 Leigh Matthews Trophy winner was in fine form against the Magpies on Saturday, kicking three goals and also taking four contested marks.

Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)

The second Demon nominated this month, July is Oliver’s first foray into the MVP of the Month nominees list in 2018. The 21-year-old is averaging 35 touches, 20 of those being contested, since Round 16, with a highlight being his 31 touches, 25 contested possessions and 14 clearances against the Crows last week.

Luke Breust (Hawthorn)

Kicking 15 goals in his last four games, Breust is back to the form he showed during Hawthorn’s three-peat. The crafty forward’s six goals, four of which came in the first quarter, against the Bulldogs in Round 16, showed how dangerous he can be in the air and at ground level.

Dyson Heppell (Essendon)

After a flat start to the season, the Bombers needed a lift and they found it in their skipper. Receiving his first MVP of the Month nomination, Heppell has averaged 31 touches since Round 16 and is the only member of the six nominees to feature in the coaches’ votes in all four games in July.

Which player do YOU think deserves to be the MVP of the Month? Vote below!

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VOTING PERIODS

March/April — Rounds 1-6 — Steele Sidebottom

May — Rounds 7-10 — Jack Darling

June — Rounds 11-15 — Shaun Higgins

July — Rounds 16-19

August — Rounds 20-23