Dustin Martin has capped off one of the more dominant seasons ever seen by winning the AFL Coaches’ Association’s Gary Ayres Award in 2017.

Martin, fresh from his flag-winning heroics, was judged by the coaches to be the best player during the 2017 AFL finals series, receiving 25 votes across his three matches.

The Brownlow Medallist polled nine, eight and eight votes in the Qualifying, Preliminary and Grand Final as the Tigers stormed to a drought-breaking premiership.

But despite receiving the Norm Smith Medal for Saturday’s Grand Final victory, Martin was upstaged by a teammate in the eyes of the coaches, with Bachar Houli receiving maximum coaches’ votes for his display.

Martin collected 29 disposals – 22 of which were contested – six clearances and kicked two goals while Houli gathered 25 touches, five tackles and kicked a goal as the Tigers won their first flag in 37 years.

Martin joins Sydney’s Josh Kennedy as Gary Ayres Award winners, after the Swans captain won the inaugural award last season.

Votes for the Gary Ayres Award were issued for every game of the final series by the competing coaches on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis.

The award was introduced by the AFLCA for the 2016 season and is named in honour of one of the game’s great finals players.

Gary Ayres won five premierships with Hawthorn between 1983 and 1991, claiming the 1986 and 1988 Norm Smith medals in the process.

AFL Coaches’ Association votes for the Grand Final: