Gordon Ellis Medal Preview

The 2021 Perth Wildcats MVP Ball takes place next week on Thursday 22 July at the Crown Towers Ballroom, culminating with the awarding of the Gordon Ellis Medal to the Perth Wildcats Most Valuable player of the season.

The award is determined through a game-by-game voting system. After each Wildcats game, three Wildcats coaches, one former Wildcats player and one member of the basketball media each vote for their top-three Wildcats of the game, with the best player receiving three votes.

Finals games count, meaning there was a total of 42 games to earn votes in.

We’ve broken down some of the favourites to take out the honour.

Bryce Cotton

He’s the MVP of the League, but will he take out a fourth-consecutive Gordon Ellis Medal? Cotton had another brilliant season, averaging a career-high 23.5 points per game, an improvement of 0.6 points per game on his 2020 season. His assist numbers dramatically jumped from 4.0 to 5.7 per game, good enough for third in the NBL. Cotton suffered an upper-leg injury late in the season, prematurely ending his 2021 campaign. He played 32 of a possible 42 games.

John Mooney

Cotton’s fellow All-NBL First Teamer, rookie John Mooney, was outstanding and consistent throughout the 2021 season. His numbers were almost unprecedented as he averaged a double-double and led the league in rebounding with 16.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Statistically, it’s one of the best seasons ever played by a Perth Wildcats big man, and one of the most impressive ever seen in the NBL by a player in his first professional season. The American was also the only Wildcat to play in all 42 games in 2021.

Mitch Norton

The vice-captain embodies “Wildcats Basketball”, which is an important factor when 80 per cent of the votes comes from current coaches or former players. Mitch Norton was a finalist for the NBL Best Defensive Player award after locking up opposition scoring guards week after week. He also averaged 8.2 points and 3.6 assists per game. The gutsy guard put his body on the line and his team ahead of himself in 41 of the Wildcats 42 games.

Todd Blanchfield

In his first year as a Wildcat, Blanchfield had the best year in his 12 years in the NBL. He averaged a career-high 15.2 points per game, draining a team-high 103 triples. With Bryce Cotton unavailable at the tail-end of the season, he became the team’s primary scorer and drew the full attention of opposition defense. The 29-year-old played 41 games in the 2021 NBL season.

Tickets are still available for the 2021 Perth Wildcats MVP Ball. Get yours now!