Western Bulldogs great Bob Murphy has named Geelong star Tom Hawkins as the most valuable player in the competition for 2020.
Hawkins leads the Coleman Medal race with 39 goals to his name, with Murphy explaining the increased importance on booting goals during the low scoring averages of the season.
“Garry Lyon said something on the broadcast (on Sunday night) about Mitch Wallis. So, Wallis is having a big year, kicked another couple of goals, played a really important role and Lyon said goals are so hard to come by this year that however many you kick, they’re worth double,” Murphy told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“It kind of got me thinking about that and whatever the metric is, there is a higher price on those goals and I got to thinking about Tom Hawkins.
“In my eyes, he should be the MVP in the league this year.
“I think he’s clearly the most valuable player.
“He’s the leading goal kicker by nine goals and he is also leading the goal assists.
“What’s the equivalent for a midfielder? Is that having the most contested and uncontested possessions?
“Whatever it is, it is an extraordinary season (Hawkins) is putting together and it is the way he’s doing it, he is dominating players.
“One on one, if the kick is even half to his advantage, he’s almost a certainty.”
Hawkins also leads the competition for score involvements and is tied with teammate for most goal assists in the AFl.
The Cats will face Richmond on Friday, with both sides playing for a top four spot.
