8 Sep 2009

Ablett wins AFL's MVP again

6:45 am on 8 September 2009

The Geelong Aussie Rules star Gary Ablett has created history in being voted by his peers as the AFL's most valuable player for the third season running.

Ablett became the first player to win a third Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players' Association's MVP by securing an historic hat-trick last night.

The onballer, whose goal this season is to win another premiership with the Cats, won convincingly, as his peers awarded him 688 votes on a 3-2-1 basis.

Collingwood midfielder Dane Swan was second with 584 votes, Carlton skipper Chris Judd (546) was third and St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt was fourth with 343.

Ablett stands alone among winners in the award's 28-year history, as his third win put him ahead of past champions Greg Williams (Geelong and Carlton), Wayne Carey (North Melbourne) and Michael Voss (Brisbane Lions), who all won the award twice.

Ablett's father Gary Ablett senior also won the trophy in 1993.