The Gold Coast Suns’ captain, Gary Ablett Jr, has been voted by his peers, the AFL players’ association, as the AFL’s most valuable player (MVP) for a record fifth time earlier this week. The 29-year-old won the award by a landslide, polling 1479 votes, more than 1000 clear of the runner-up, Geelong captain Joel Selwood on 475.

Ablett won the MVP award for the second consecutive year, having also won the MVP award for three consecutive years with Geelong from 2007 to 2009, during which time he also played in two premierships, and winning the Brownlow Medal in 2009. He has also won five club best and fairest awards, two with the Cats, three with the Suns and is arguably the game’s greatest ever player.

No other player has won the MVP award more than twice, with Carlton’s Chris Judd and former champions Greg Williams, Wayne Carey and Michael Voss the other multiple winners. Ablett is also favourite to win his second Brownlow Medal in three weeks time.