Leigh Matthews Trophy

The Leigh Matthews Trophy is an annual award given by the AFL Players Association to the Most Valuable Player in the Australian Football League. It is named in honour of Leigh Matthews, who won the first MVP award in 1982, when the league was still known as the Victorian Football League. The trophy was first awarded in 2002, and all previous VFLPA/AFLPA MVPs were retrospectively given the Matthews Trophy in 2005. It is awarded at a special AFLPA Awards ceremony.

The voting procedure for the award is:

Paul Marsh

Paul Michael Marsh (born 20 December 1966) is a former English cricketer. Marsh was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire.

Marsh made his Minor Counties Championship debut for Wiltshire in 1992 against Berkshire. From 1992 to 1994, he represented the county in 20 Minor Counties Championship matches, the last of which came against Cornwall. Marsh also represented Wiltshire in the MCCA Knockout Trophy during two spells with the county. His debut in that competition came against Cornwall in 1993. During his first spell with the county he played 7 Trophy matches. In his second spell from 2001 to 2002, he represented the county in 6 Trophy matches, the last of which came against Devon.

Marsh also represented Wiltshire in List A cricket. His List A debut came against Durham in the 1993 NatWest Trophy, which was during his first spell with the county. His second and last List A match came during his second spell and came against Ireland in the 1st round of the 2002 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy which was played in 2001. In his 2 matches, he scored 3 runs at a batting average of 1.50, with a high score of 2. With the ball he took a single wicket at a bowling average of 63.00, with best figures of 1/35.

AFL Players Association

The AFL Players Association (AFLPA, also referred to as simply AFL Players) is the representative body for all current and past professional Australian Football League players.

The AFLPA promotes and protects its members through initiatives including workplace relations and advocacy, career development and various community events.

Players welfare is the primary function of AFLPA, and it aims to ensure the sustainability and integrity of the game by investing in the personal development of past, present and future AFL footballers.

Established in its current from in 1974, the AFL Players Association provides a means for the AFL and Clubs to consult with players, and as a lobbying group for players, in the making and implementation of rules and other issues affecting AFL players.

The current CEO of the AFLPA is Paul Marsh.

History

The formation of a representative body for Victorian Football League (VFL) players was first attempted in 1955. The VFL successfully opposed the registration of this body and the fledgling union was disbanded.