From today's Age.
And this season's Carey goes to ...
By UGLY **** CARO
Wayne Carey has emerged as a likely candidate for football immortality following a decision by the AFL Players Association to name its most prestigious award after a champion footballer.
Carey is one of several names to have stood out in the early stages of a nationwide players' poll to determine which footballer's likeness will appear on a bronze statuette to be awarded to the AFL's most valuable player.
Senior footballers have been pushing the association to add credence to the coveted award - won last year by Carlton's Anthony Koutoufides - by naming it after a footballer.
While Leigh Matthews, Bob Skilton and Ted Whitten were three past champions whose names were strongly considered by the association, the association's chief executive Rob Kerr has decided the matter should be put to a vote.
To date, players on senior lists from four AFL clubs and a group of retired players have named their choices on a three-two-one preferential basis. Present-day players were not eliminated from the process.
Carey, the Kangaroos' captain and two-time premiership player, is regarded as the most outstanding footballer of the 1990s and has so far proved the most popular choice.
Matthews, Skilton and Whitten, along with the more recently retired Gary Ablett, are also in the running and Brisbane's Michael Voss and Sydney's Paul Kelly have also received notable attention.
The criteria for the MVP award includes versatility, the ability to play under pressure, skill and courage, respect for all players and overall value to a team and its leadership.
The trophy will be renamed in time for the 2002 presentation.
And this season's Carey goes to ...
By UGLY **** CARO
Wayne Carey has emerged as a likely candidate for football immortality following a decision by the AFL Players Association to name its most prestigious award after a champion footballer.
Carey is one of several names to have stood out in the early stages of a nationwide players' poll to determine which footballer's likeness will appear on a bronze statuette to be awarded to the AFL's most valuable player.
Senior footballers have been pushing the association to add credence to the coveted award - won last year by Carlton's Anthony Koutoufides - by naming it after a footballer.
While Leigh Matthews, Bob Skilton and Ted Whitten were three past champions whose names were strongly considered by the association, the association's chief executive Rob Kerr has decided the matter should be put to a vote.
To date, players on senior lists from four AFL clubs and a group of retired players have named their choices on a three-two-one preferential basis. Present-day players were not eliminated from the process.
Carey, the Kangaroos' captain and two-time premiership player, is regarded as the most outstanding footballer of the 1990s and has so far proved the most popular choice.
Matthews, Skilton and Whitten, along with the more recently retired Gary Ablett, are also in the running and Brisbane's Michael Voss and Sydney's Paul Kelly have also received notable attention.
The criteria for the MVP award includes versatility, the ability to play under pressure, skill and courage, respect for all players and overall value to a team and its leadership.
The trophy will be renamed in time for the 2002 presentation.
