AFL Players' Awards: Marcus Bontempelli crowned MVP and best captain, Errol Gulden best first-year

He might be Brownlow favourite, but very few of Ollie Wines’ peers think the Power star has been the best player of 2021 — and he wasn’t the only gun snubbed.

Nick Smart

2 min read

September 3, 2021 - 4:50PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli won the 2021 AFL Players MVP and best captain gongs.

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Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli’s Brownlow odds continue to firm after taking out the coveted Leigh Matthews Trophy as the 2021 AFL Players’ Most Valuable Player.

Bontempelli was the runaway winner off the back of an outstanding season, receiving 1176 votes from his peers, streets ahead of Carlton’s Sam Walsh (426 votes) in second and Gold Coast’s Touk Miller (411).

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Bontempelli was voted by his peers as the best in the game. Picture: Getty Images

Marcus Bontempelli with his 2021 AFLPA MVP award.

“Marcus is the prototype modern AFL midfielder; tall and explosive with exquisite skills to match,” said AFLPA president and Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield.

“He’s dominated the middle of the ground in 2021 and also hit the scoreboard so his impact has been far-reaching.

“Put simply, there’s been no better player across the 23 Rounds this season than the ‘Bont’ – he’s a worthy Leigh Matthews Trophy winner.”

To cap off his night, the Bulldogs gun was also awarded Best Captain, with Demon Max Gawn coming in second.

“When you’re someone at Marcus’ level it can be taken for granted because of how successful he’s been already, but to operate at that level it requires the utmost amount of diligence, dedication and consistency,” said former Bulldogs premiership captain Easton Wood.

“Ever since he’s taken over (as captain) he’s been the focal point and worn it with absolute pride.”

Melbourne’s Christian Petracca (338) and St Kilda skipper Jack Steele (261) rounded out the top five, to finish in the top five for the second consecutive year.

St Kilda captain Jack Steele was voted the game’s most courageous player. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Steele would also take out the coveted Robert Rose Most Courageous Award, ahead of Crow Tom Doedee and Tiger Liam Baker.

“It’s just his (Steele’s) competitiveness … there’s not even a thought of how dangerous the situation is; he’s doing whatever he can to win that ball and do well for his team,” said former St Kilda teammate Logan Austin.

Fresh from his 14-disposal, six-inside 50 effort in the elimination final loss to the GWS Giants at the weekend, Sydney youngster Errol Gulden took out the Best First Year Player Award (299 votes), ahead of Essendon’s Nik Cox (139 votes).