In particular, this has meant that key-position players have been more likely to win this award than the Brownlow Medal.
The Leigh Matthews Trophy is strictly for the most valuable player, not the best and fairest as is the case with the Brownlow Medal.
In 1996, Corey McKernan finished tied in the Brownlow voting with that season's winners James Hird and Michael Voss, but he was disqualified from the Brownlow because of a disciplinary suspension.
However, McKernan won the AFLPA MVP award that season.
The following players have won the Leigh Matthews Trophy multiple times.