Neale runs away with MVP award
BRISBANE ball magnet Lachie Neale has taken out the league’s most valuable player award by a massive margin after another dominant season in the Lions’ engine room.
Neale on Thursday night was handed the Leigh Matthews Trophy after polling 1120 player votes, well ahead of Port Adelaide’s runner-up Travis Boak (419) and Melbourne dynamo Christian Petracca (398) in third.
Players have long called for key position players to be recognised on awards nights but they couldn’t find room on the podium for Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins who finished fourth (370) after taking out this year’s Coleman Medal.
And the man who could rise to become St Kilda’s next captain, Jack Steele, finished fifth (207) in reward for his excellent year helping lead the Saints to a drought-breaking finals appearance.
Sydney Swans’ defender Dane Rampe was voted most courageous, Fremantle midfielder Caleb Serong took out the best first-year player ahead of Gold Coast’s Noah Anderson and Hawthorn’s Will Day, and Collingwood superstar Scott Pendlebury was named best captain.
Neale, a $1.25 favourite (TAB) to win the Brownlow Medal, finished third in the MVP award last year but took his game to a new level this season, particularly in the forward half of the ground booting 11 goals in the first 11 rounds.
The league’s leading disposal winner, who was traded from Fremantle to the Lions two years ago, averaged 28 possessions, five clearances and three tackles across 17 games.
Neale, 27, said it was incredibly humbling to be recognised by his peers as the Lions attempt to go deep into this year’s finals series.
“It’s an award that I’m super proud to have won, to be voted by those who I play with and against makes it a really special award,” Neale said.
“I really respect the opinion of the other players and to be voted by them this year is something that I will look back on and be really proud of.
“To be alongside some of the other names who have won this award is a feeling that hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield added: “Lachie has been the standout player in the competition and it’s no surprise that he’s won the vote of the players this year.”