SAM Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli have been nominated for the AFL Players Association’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Hawthorn will also be represented by Ben Stratton in the Most Courageous award, Kade Stewart for the Best First Year Player and skipper Luke Hodge is automatically nominated for the Best Captain Award.
Mitchell, Burgoyne and Rioli have all enjoyed outstanding season’s in 2016.
Rioli has kicked a career-high 44 goals in 2016 and has filled some of the void left by absent spearhead Jarryd Roughead.
Mitchell has continued to be a mainstay of the Hawthorn midfield, averaging 29.9 disposals and 5.6 clearances across 20 games in 2016.
Burgoyne is proving age is just a number and has provided the Hawks flexibility with his ability to play a range of different roles week-to-week.
The nomination for the MVP Award is a two-stage process - the first involves players nominating three teammates for the award, before three nominees from every club are presented to the wider playing group for a vote to decide the winner.
Players cannot vote for their own teammates in stage two of the process.
The winners will be announced at the AFL Players’ MVP Awards on Tuesday 13th September at Peninsula in Docklands.
MVP Nominees: Sam Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli
Most Courageous: Ben Stratton
Best First Year Player: Kade Stewart
Best Captain: Luke Hodge
