What was meant to be the AFL Players’ Association’s biggest annual celebration instead became a more sombre affair on Tuesday night.

Chief executive Matt Finnis said there had been consideration given to cancelling the Most Valuable Player awards night altogether following the shock death of AFL player John McCarthy in Las Vegas early this week.

Instead, the AFLPA decided it was better to give players the chance to reflect on the 22-year-old together.

“Yesterday was a day when the day-to-day business of football seemed to shrink in importance,” Finnis told those at Tuesday night’s function in Melbourne.

“We sent a message of condolence to the family and have provided on-the-ground support to the players and club personnel, but words just don’t seem adequate.

“I know that many of you share our feelings of inadequacy at this time, when a family has lost such a vital and much-loved young man.

“Last night we wondered whether this event should go ahead, we wondered whether it could ever be right to celebrate achievement on the field at the same time when football just doesn’t seem so important.

“But the outpouring of tributes for John from players across the league reminded us that AFL players are a community, as well as colleagues and tonight is a night when we bring that community together.

“Tonight will be a sad night and a tough night, particularly for those who played with and against John.

“But it is a night where we support each other and where the strength and loyalty of all the AFL players will shine through.”

In keeping with the more subdued atmosphere, a planned red carpet arrivals ceremony was scratched.

The function opened with a minute’s silence in honour of the McCarthy, who spent four seasons with Collingwood, before joining Port Adelaide for the 2012 season.