THREE Hawks have been recognised for their outstanding 2015 seasons with nominations for the AFL Players' Most Valuable Player Award.
Captain Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Cyril Rioli have received nominations.
The AFLPA MVP Award is voted on entirely by AFL players.
Stage one of voting sees each AFL-listed player pick his three most valuable teammates.
The top three vote-getters from each club then reach the second stage, where every AFL player votes 3-2-1 for their MVP (which cannot be a player at their club).
The winner will be announced at the AFL Players' MVP Awards night on Tuesday 15 September, which will be broadcast on Fox Sports from 8.30pm.
Sam Mitchell
At 32 years of age, triple premiership Hawk Sam Mitchell is in arguably the best form of his career.
Mitchell has been a proficient ball-winner and distributor for many years and 2015 is no exception, averaging more than 30 disposals per game – the most in the competition – for the second time in his 14-year career.
Now with an extra layer of versatility added to his game, Mitchell is one of the favourites for this year’s Brownlow Medal and would be a worthy winner of the AFL Players’ MVP Award.
In another consistent season, the veteran has had 30 disposals or more in 11 matches throughout 2015.
Cyril Rioli
Excitement machine Cyril Rioli confirmed his status as one of the game’s best small forwards in 2015 where he was at his freakish best doing things statistics can’t measure.
Many believe Rioli is having the best season of his career; the 26-year-old looks likely to hit the 40-goal mark for the first time.
Making the most of his limited possessions, Rioli can impact a game like no other, as highlighted by his six goals from ten kicks against Geelong in Round 20.
Luke Hodge
Skipper Luke Hodge is another of Hawthorn’s older brigade that doesn’t seem to be slowing up.
The premiership skipper has a knack for playing well in big games – as seen when he kicked three goals from 31 disposals against Fremantle in Round 15 – and his leadership and versatility remains one of Hawthorn’s biggest weapons.
Averaging 27 disposals, the 31-year-old with an eye on a fourth premiership is likely to be in line for a fourth All-Australian selection at season’s end.
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