Patrick Dangerfield, Eddie Betts and Rory Laird have been voted by their peers as Adelaide’s Most Valuable Players in Season 2015.
The trio was unveiled on Wednesday as the Crows’ contenders for the AFL Players’ Association MVP Award, to be presented on Tuesday, September 15.
All AFL players were asked to nominate their three most valuable teammates in the first stage of the selection process.
The top three players at each Club were then rated by the rest of the competition using a 3-2-1 vote system. Players were unable to vote for teammates in this stage of the ballot.
Dangerfield has enjoyed a career-best season off the back of his ‘see-ball, get-ball’ attitude.
He’s averaged 26 disposals and a goal per game, and is ranked inside the top five in the League for contested possessions (292), hard ball gets (118) and inside 50ms (95). Dangerfield is also seventh in the AFL for clearances (136) despite playing one less game than many of his midfield competitors.
The two-time All Australian could be among the main contenders in this year’s AFLPA MVP award.
Betts has also enjoyed a stellar Season 2015.
The Crows livewire has kicked a career-high 52 goals to sit third in the Coleman Medal race and has hit the scoreboard in every Adelaide game so far this year.
He’s ranked No.6 in the AFL for tackles inside forward 50m (29), equal-10th in the AFL for score assists (29). Betts is also fourth at the Crows for contested marks (17) and sixth in contested possessions (125) and hard ball gets (41).
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Laird has been among the competition’s most improved players this season.
The 21-year-old defender has averaged a career-best 24 disposals in all 19 games this year. He leads Adelaide for effective kicks (171) and intercept marks (34), is second for rebound 50ms (61) and third for marks (110).
The former rookie has rarely has his colours lowered on match day, conceding less than a goal a game to his direct opponent throughout the season.
The winner of the AFL Players’ Association MVP Award claims the coveted Leigh Matthews Trophy. Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe won the honour last season, while Gold Coast captain and former Geelong star Gary Ablett has earned the award a record five times. Andrew McLeod (2001) is the only Crow to win the award.
