A trio of Cats have been rewarded for outstanding seasons with nominations for the AFLPA’s MVP Award.

Midfielders Cameron Guthrie and Sam Menegola and forward Tom Hawkins were recognised by their teammates as their side’s outstanding players in the first stage of the voting process for the Leigh Matthews award.

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.

Cats defender Jack Henry was recognised by his teammates as the side’s most courageous player, something his skipper Joel Selwood has had a monopoly over for the last 14 seasons. Selwood has received the automatic nomination for best captain from his side for this year.

Brad Close’s fantastic debut season has also been recognised, with his teammates voting the small forward as the side’s best first year player.

Three of the awards – Most Courageous, Best Captain and Best First Year – will be announced in line with #22Under22 on September 22, while the MVP Award will be announced on September 24.

MVP: Cameron Guthrie, Tom Hawkins, Sam Menegola 

Most Courageous: Jack Henry

Best First Year: Brad Close 

Captain: Joel Selwood