Andrew Brayshaw is the best player in the league according to his peers, with the AFL playing cohort voting him in as the winner of the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player.
 
The 22-year-old is the fourth youngest winner of the Leigh Matthews Trophy and the youngest since Nick Riewoldt in 2004.

As well as averaging more than 29 disposals, Brayshaw's contributed enormously in defence to become the best two way runner in the league. His 139 tackles this season has broken the Fremantle record for the most in a home and away season.
 
He joins two-time winner Nat Fyfe (2014, 2015) and former teammate Lachie Neale (2019 with Brisbane) as winners of the award – as well as a long list of AFL greats, including Gary Ablett Jnr and Snr, Chris Judd, Michael Voss, Dustin Martin and Patrick Dangerfield.

Brayshaw accepted the honour on Wednesday evening as a part of an industry-wide awards night in Melbourne.
 
He finished ahead of Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) in second, followed by Shai Bolton (Richmond), Lachie Neale (Brisbane) and Jeremy Cameron (Geelong). 

The award had two rounds of voting. First, players nominate three teammates to be eligible for the award with the Fremantle group nominating Brayshaw, Brennan Cox and Will Brodie.
 
The whole AFL playing group then votes on a winner. Players are not allowed to vote for their teammates in the second round.
 
Brayshaw said he was humbled to be recognised by his opponents.
 
“I’m really honoured to be judged by my peers and to win the award. I’m very surprised but grateful as well,” Brayshaw said.
 
“I gave my votes out to Lachie Neale, Clayton Oliver and Patrick Cripps from memory. To think that the rest of the AFL playing group gave me some votes, and enough to win it, it’s a huge surprise and one that I honestly didn’t see coming.
 
“(Winning the award at 22) is not something that you set out to try and achieve. As a team, we were just trying to win as many games as possible and I was trying to play my best footy.”

The win solidifies Brayshaw’s position as one of the favourites to win the Brownlow Medal, however some analysts have said the amount of tagging the midfielder has received will have an impact on his votes.
 
Brayshaw said he’s always ‘honoured’ to be considered for a tag and agreed with the suggestion that this attention has led to his opponents recognising the impact he can have in their votes.
 
“I guess there is a sense of respect in that area,” Brayshaw said.
 
“It’s a real honour to have someone with you or try and mitigate what you can do during a game. For that to happen to me a few times this year, it’s a badge of honour.”

The win means Fremantle have produced three of the past eight winners of the award, when including Neale’s win with Brisbane in 2019.
 
Brayshaw feels he’s been given the best environment to develop in the midfield.
 
“Our midfield coaches at this point in time are Josh Carr and Joel Corey, they’ve been amazing for me in fast tracking my development,” Brayshaw said.
 
“Surrounding myself with players like Fyfey and David Mundy as well as Lachie early in my career, that definitely rubs off on you.
 
“It’s their work ethic and the little things they do in and around the Club. I’m very fortunate that I’m surrounded by such a talented group of people.”

In an interview with AFL Players, Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw praised his brother’s efforts this season.
 
“I’m incredibly proud of Andrew to be recognised by his peers as the Most Valuable Player in the competition,” Angus said.
 
“Anyone who has watched him this year would agree that he is a worthy recipient. The first of many awards to come over his career I’m sure of it.”
 
Andrew said it meant a lot to see his brother so proud.
 
“He was so happy for me. He even mentioned that he had given me some votes,” Andrew said.
 
“He was over the moon and really proud of me. We have such a strong bond for each other and he genuinely loved hearing that I’d taken the award.”

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