A perfect 10 votes from the coaches has launched Richmond’s Dustin Martin and Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield back in contention for the 2017 Shadforth Financial Group AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award, following Round 14.
Martin polled maximum coaches’ votes following his 30 disposals and seven inside 50s in the win against Carlton on Sunday to reclaim the lead from West Coast’s Elliot Yeo, who failed to poll a vote in the Eagles upset loss against Melbourne.
With Geelong skipper Joel Selwood becoming concussed in the opening quarter, Dangerfield shouldered the load of the Cats’ midfield collecting 31 disposals — 23 of which were contested — and 12 clearances in the club’s thrilling victory over the Dockers at Kardinia Park on Sunday.
Dangerfield, last year’s AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award winner and Brownlow Medallist, is now second on the leaderboard and only one vote behind Martin.
Seven players received maximum votes for their Round 14 efforts, including Hawthorn’s Shaun Burgoyne (26 touches and two goals), Sydney’s Josh Kennedy (36 disposals), Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray (five goals and 20 touches), Melbourne’s Jack Viney (38 disposals and 26 contested possessions) and St Kilda’s Jack Billings (30 touches and a goal).
LEADERBOARD
63 — Dustin Martin (Rich)
62 — PATRICK DANGERFIELD (GEEL)
57 — ELLIOT YEO (WC)
56 — JOEL SELWOOD (GEEL)
53 — RORY SLOANE (ADEL)
50 — GARY ABLETT (GC)
48 — ZACH MERRETT (ESS)
48 — SCOTT PENDLEBURY (COLL)
46 — CLAYTON OLIVER (MELB)
43 — alex rance (rich)
43 — Josh Kennedy (SYD)
AFL Coaches’ Association votes for Round 14:
adelaide v hawthorn
10 Burgoyne (Haw), 6 Burton (Haw), 4 Birchall (Haw), 4 Sicily (Haw), 3 Mitchell (Haw), 2 Henderson (Haw), 1 M. Crouch (Adel)
sydney v essendon
10 Kennedy (Syd), 7 Z. Merrett (Ess), 5 Hurley (Ess), 4 Heeney (Syd), 3 Grundy (Syd), 1 Mills (Syd)
collingwood v port adelaide
10 R. Gray (PA), 4 Clurey (PA), 4 Hartlett (PA), 3 S. Gray (PA), 3 Ryder (PA), 2 Pendlebury (Coll), 2 Pittard (PA), 1 Sidebottom (Coll), 1 White (PA)
brisbane v gws
9 Patton (GWS), 9 Shiel (GWS), 6 Cameron (GWS), 3 Reid (GWS), 2 Whitfield (GWS), 1 Rockliff (BL)
western bulldogs v north melbourne
9 Bontempelli (WB), 9 Cunnington (NM), 3 Macrae (WB), 3 Picken (WB), 2 Dahlhaus (WB), 2 Hunter (WB), 1 Waite (NM), 1 Wood (WB)
west coast v melbourne
10 Viney (Melb), 8 T. McDonald (Melb), 5 McGovern (WCE), 3 Petrie (WCE), 2 Sheppard (WCE), 1 Barrass (WCE), 1 Gawn (Melb)
geelong v fremantle
10 Dangerfield (Geel), 5 Tuohy (Geel), 5 Walters (Frem), 4 Blakely (Frem), 3 Lonergan (Geel), 2 B. Hill (Frem), 1 Mackie (Geel)
richmond v carlton
10 Martin (Rich), 5 Kreuzer (Carl), 5 Lambert (Rich), 4 Rance (Rich), 3 Cripps (Carl), 3 Grigg (Rich)
st kilda v gold coast
10 Billings (StK), 8 Lyons (GCS), 5 Harbrow (GCS), 3 Roberton (StK), 2 Brown (StK), 2 Steven (StK)