No one else has won more than two MVPs since the award was established in 1982, but Ablett has won four of the past six Leigh Matthews Trophies, including last year's.
The Gold Coast skipper will face stiff opposition this year from the likes of former Geelong teammate Joel Selwood, Collingwood vice-captain Scott Pendlebury and Western Bulldog Ryan Griffen.
Selwood leads a list of strong contenders for the Robert Rose Most Courageous Award, which includes Sydney Swan Daniel Hannebery, Collingwood's Luke Ball and North Melbourne's Jack Ziebell.
Other AFLPA awards set to be announced on Monday night include Best Captain, won last year by Essendon skipper Jobe Watson, and Best First Year Player.
| AFL.com.au writer | MVP top three | Most courageous player | Best first-year player | Best captain |
| Nick Bowen | 1st: Gary Ablett (GC) 2nd: Ryan Griffen (WB) 3rd: Joel Selwood (GEEL) | Rory Sloane (ADEL) | Jaeger O'Meara (GC) | Luke Hodge (HAW) |
| Ashley Browne | 1st: Gary Ablett (GC) 2nd: Jarryd Roughead (HAW) 3rd: Ryan Griffen (WB) | Joel Selwood (GEEL) | Brad Crouch (ADEL) | Luke Hodge (HAW) |
| Ben Collins | 1st: Gary Ablett (GC) 2nd: Jarryd Roughead (HAW) 3rd: Joel Selwood (GEEL) | Steven Morris (RICH) | Jaeger O'Meara (GC) | Jobe Watson (ESS) |
| Mark Macgugan | 1st: Gary Ablett (GC) 2nd: Joel Selwood (GEEL) 3rd: Jarryd Roughead (HAW) | Joel Selwood (GEEL) | Jaeger O'Meara (GC) | Luke Hodge (HAW) |
| Alex Malcolm | 1st: Gary Ablett (GC) 2nd: Joel Selwood (GEEL) 3rd: Scott Pendlebury (COLL) | Rory Sloane (ADEL) | Jaeger O'Meara (GC) | Joel Selwood (GEEL) |
| Jennifer Phelan | 1st: Gary Ablett (GC) | Joel Selwood (GEEL) | Jaeger O'Meara (GC) | Luke Hodge (HAW) |
| Peter Ryan | 1st: Gary Ablett (GC) 2nd: Joel Selwood (GEEL) 3rd: Ryan Griffen (WB) | Colin Garland (MEL) | Oliver Wines (PA) | Luke Hodge (HAW) |
| Harry Thring | 1st: Kieren Jack (SYD) 2nd: Gary Ablett (GC) 3rd: Jarryd Roughead (HAW) | Patrick Dangerfield (ADEL) | Jaeger O'Meara (GC) | Travis Boak (PA) |
| Callum Twomey | 1st: Gary Ablett (GC) 2nd: Scott Pendlebury (COLL) 3rd: Nathan Fyfe (FRE) | Rory Sloane (ADEL) | Jaeger O'Meara (GC) | Jobe Watson (ESS) |
The nominees are:
Leigh Matthews Trophy
Adelaide – Patrick Dangerfield, Richard Douglas, Rory Sloane
Brisbane Lions – Pearce Hanley, Matthew Leuenberger, Jack Redden
Carlton – Lachie Henderson, Chris Judd, Kade Simpson
Collingwood – Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Dane Swan
Essendon – Jack Carlisle, Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson
Fremantle – Ryan Crowley, Nathan Fyfe, Michael Johnson
Geelong – Corey Enright, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor
Gold Coast – Gary Ablett Jnr, Jaeger O'Meara, Rory Thompson
Greater Western Sydney – Jeremy Cameron, Jon Giles, Tom Scully
Hawthorn – Josh Gibson, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead
Melbourne – James Frawley, Colin Garland, Nathan Jones
North Melbourne – Andrew Swallow, Lindsay Thomas, Scott Thompson
Port Adelaide – Travis Boak, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard
Richmond – Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Daniel Jackson
St Kilda – Leigh Montagna, Nick Riewoldt, Jack Steven
Sydney Swans – Daniel Hannebery, Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh
West Coast – Darren Glass, Josh Kennedy, Eric Mackenzie
Western Bulldogs – Ryan Griffen, Tom Liberatore, Will Minson
The Robert Rose Most Courageous Award
Adelaide – Rory Sloane
Brisbane Lions – Joel Patfull
Carlton – Kade Simpson
Collingwood – Luke Ball
Essendon – Mark Baguley
Fremantle – Matt De Boer
Geelong – Joel Selwood
Gold Coast – David Swallow
Greater Western Sydney – Callan Ward
Hawthorn – Ben Stratton
Melbourne – Colin Garland
North Melbourne – Jack Ziebell
Port Adelaide – Jay Schulz
Richmond – Steven Morris
St Kilda – Jarryn Geary
Sydney Swans – Daniel Hannebery
West Coast – Darren Glass
Western Bulldogs – Daniel Cross
Best First Year Player
Adelaide – Brad Crouch
Brisbane Lions – Sam Mayes
Carlton – Troy Menzel
Collingwood - Sam Dwyer
Essendon - Nick Kommer
Fremantle – Jack Hannath
Geelong – Jackson Thurlow
Gold Coast – Jaeger O'Meara
Greater Western Sydney – Lachie Whitfield
Hawthorn – Jed Anderson
Melbourne – Matt Jones
North Melbourne – Taylor Garner
Port Adelaide – Oliver Wines
Richmond – Nick Vlastuin
St Kilda – Nathan Wright
Sydney Swans – Dane Rampe
West Coast – Adam Carter
Western Bulldogs – Brett Goodes
Other awards
Best Captain
Education and Training Excellence Award
Grant Hattam Trophy for Excellence in Sports Journalism
