The AFL Players’ Association has revealed the entire list of contenders in line to claim the 2025 Most Valuable Player award.
The players’ union on Wednesday released the nominees for the Leigh Matthews Trophy, as well as for the Most Courageous Player award, which will be awarded on Thursday night.
Scroll down to see the full list of nominees.
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Three players from each club were nominated for the MVP award; voted on by their peers. As part of a two-pronged process, players nominated their teammates in stage one before selecting from a competition-wide field in stage two.
Ladder-leading Adelaide had its spine nominated; indicative of its holistic strength as it prepares to host a qualifying final on Thursday week.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ midfield prowess this season has been highlighted by three ball-getter nominees, as non-household names Karl Amon and Paul Curtis earned deserved nods for Hawthorn and North Melbourne respectively, as well as first-year Blues utility Nick Haynes.
And in a sign of newly-recognised talent, 19 of the nominations were players never previously All-Australians who’d been selected in this year’s All-Australian 44-man squad.
And of the Most Courageous Player nominations — one per club — 11 of the 18 were also nominated for the MVP award.
The release of this year’s nominations comes after the All-Australian squad of 44 was released on Tuesday, with the final 22-man team to also be confirmed on Thursday night.
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The AFL Players’ Association awards will be announced at the AFL awards on Thursday, August 28.
FULL NOMINEES LIST
ADELAIDE CROWS
MVP: Jordan Dawson, Josh Worrell, Riley Thilthorpe
Most Courageous: Josh Worrell
BRISBANE LIONS
MVP: Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley, Harris Andrews
Most Courageous: Josh Dunkley
CARLTON
MVP: George Hewett, Jacob Weitering, Nick Haynes
Most Courageous: George Hewett
COLLINGWOOD
MVP: Jamie Elliott, Nick Daicos, Darcy Cameron
Most Courageous: Lachie Schultz
ESSENDON
MVP: Zach Merrett, Archie Roberts, Sam Durham
Most Courageous: Sam Durham
FREMANTLE
MVP: Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Luke Jackson
Most Courageous: Karl Worner
GEELONG CATS
MVP: Jeremy Cameron, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes
Most Courageous: Tom Atkins
GOLD COAST SUNS
MVP: Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, Touk Miller
Most Courageous: Matt Rowell
GWS GIANTS
MVP: Tom Green, Finn Callaghan, Lachie Ash
Most Courageous: Jack Buckley
HAWTHORN
MVP: Karl Amon, Jai Newcombe, Jack Gunston
Most Courageous: Jai Newcombe
MELBOURNE
MVP: Kysaiah Pickett, Jake Bowey, Max Gawn
Most Courageous: Jack Viney
NORTH MELBOURNE
MVP: Paul Curtis, Harry Sheezel, Tristan Xerri
Most Courageous: Cameron Zurhaar
PORT ADELAIDE
MVP: Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Mitch Georgiades
Most Courageous: Zak Butters
RICHMOND
MVP: Tim Taranto, Nick Vlastuin, Toby Nankervis
Most Courageous: Nick Vlastuin
ST KILDA
MVP: Callum Wilkie, Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Most Courageous: Callum Wilkie
SYDNEY SWANS
MVP: Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Brodie Grundy
Most Courageous: Tom McCartin
WEST COAST EAGLES
MVP: Reuben Ginbey, Liam Baker, Harley Reid
Most Courageous: Liam Baker
WESTERN BULLDOGS
MVP: Marcus Bontempelli, Ed Richards, Tom Liberatore
Most Courageous: Tom Liberatore