West Coast captain Chris Judd will enter Saturday's AFL grand final as the most important player in the league ahead of Sydney's Brownlow Medal winner Adam Goodes, according to his peers.

Judd was a runaway winner in the 2006 AFL Players Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) award by polling 181 votes from his fellow players across the league, well clear of Goodes, who polled 73 votes.

Judd's win followed that of his teammate Ben Cousins, who was named 2005 MVP.

Adelaide midfielder Simon Goodwin finished third in the count with 49 votes, while Eagles midfielder Daniel Kerr was fourth with 47 votes.

Judd's victory was further reaffirmation players see the game differently than umpires, as the Eagles superstar became the 18th MVP in the award's 25-year history not to have won the Brownlow Medal that season.

In the other most prestigious award, Kangaroos hard man Glenn Archer and Sydney co-captain Brett Kirk shared the Most Courageous Player award.

It was a record sixth win in the category for Archer, but a first win for Kirk.

Carlton young gun Marc Murphy was judged Best First Year Player, Adelaide skipper Mark Ricciuto won the Best Captain Award for a second successive season, while Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce won the Marn Grook Award for the best emerging indigenous player.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP