AFLPA recognises two VU Students

Congratulations to our Victoria University students Marcus Bontempelli and Ellyse Gamble who both took out awards at the AFL Players Association’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Western Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli has taken out the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players’ Association’s Most Valuable Player for 2021. He was also awarded the Best Team Captain for 2021. The coveted MVP Award is voted on by the players, and is held in extremely high esteem as an individual award each year.

AFLW Bulldog Ellyse Gamble was also one of three recipients of the AFL Players Association’s Education and Training Excellence Award. Ellyse was recognised for outstanding results during her Bachelor of Education degree P-12.

Ellyse has completed 29 units so far and has achieved high distinctions for each of her subjects. Throughout her course, the student–player has also won three individual awards:

• VU Most Outstanding First Year Bachelor of Education Student in 2018
• VU Award for Innovation in Secondary Curriculum in 2020
• National Exceptional Teachers for Disadvantaged Schools award.

You may have seen Ellyse around the Footscray Park campus as she juggles studies, along with her career at the Bulldogs, and casual employment at VU Sport’s facilities.

In a recent interview, Ellyse said:

“The thing I love the most about the partnership between the Western Bulldogs and Victoria University is a sense of community that it provides me. I moved over here from Tassie about five years ago, not knowing anyone. But over time, I've developed a strong connection to the west and the people here. I also love being able to combine my passion for teaching and with football through delivering programs in primary schools such as the Bulldogs Friendly Schools program.”