Greater Western Sydney GIANTS forward Jeremy Cameron has been voted the Best First Year Player in the AFL by his peers.

 

Cameron took out the prestigious honour at the AFLPA awards, beating mature aged recruits Dayne Zorko and Ahmed Saad.

 

Cameron, who kicked 29 goals from 16 games in his debut season, was delighted to pick up the award after narrowly missing out on the NAB Rising Star award.

 

“It’s an honour to win the award,” said Cameron.“It’s always special to win an award voted on by the players who you play against every week.

 

“To know that some of the top players in the AFL, guys that I looked up to 12 months ago, have voted for me is really humbling.”

 

Cameron enjoyed a stellar debut season for the GIANTS, also finishing runner-up in the NAB AFL Rising Star and third in the Kevin Sheedy Medal.

 

Gold Coast Suns captain Gary Ablett won the Leigh Matthews Trophy for the Most Valuable Player in the AFL for a record fourth time.

 

Essendon’s Jobe Watson was named the league’s best captain.

 

Geelong’s Joel Selwood and West Coast Eagle Beau Waters tied for the Robert Rose Most Courageous Award.

 

Alan Toovey was awarded the Education and Training Grant, presented by Open Universities Australia, while Emma Quayle won the Grant Hattam Trophy for Excellence in Sports Journalism, presented by Kelly Hazell Quill Lawyers.

 

The Herald Sun was also acknowledged for its coverage and tribute to former MVP winner Jim Stynes in the days following his passing.