Fans Players

Coaches votes: Ball-magnet reclaims lead

Hawthorn ball-magnet Tom Mitchell has reclaimed the lead in the 2018 Shadforth Financial Group AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award after another high-possession game in Round 6.

Mitchell, who recorded more than 40 disposals for the fourth time in 2018 as the Hawks’ triumphed over St Kilda in Launceston, collected seven votes from the respective coaches to jump two votes ahead of Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom, who failed to poll as the Magpies lost to the reigning premiers.

Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn again resurfaced as a potential Champion Player of the Year contender, with a 10-votes performance against the Bombers on Sunday. Gawn, who moves to equal-third with last year’s winner Dustin Martin on 29 votes, collected 16 disposals, 42 hit-outs and kicked two goals to help the Demons claim their third win for the season.

Four players received maximum coaches’ votes in Round 6, including Isaac Smith (24 disposals and four goals), Wayne Milera (33 touches) and Trent Cotchin (29 disposals, 18 of which were contested).

AFL Coaches’ Association votes for Round 6:

western bulldogs v carlton

9 Bontempelli (WB), 8 Cripps (Carl), 7 Macrae (WB), 4 Hunter (WB), 2 Fisher (Carl)

geelong v sydney

9 Kennedy (Syd), 9 Sinclair (Syd), 5 Kelly (Geel), 3 Lloyd (Syd), 3 Stewart (Geel), 1 Heeney (Syd)

north melbourne v port adelaide

8 S. Gray (PA), 7 Polec (PA), 6 Ebert (PA), 4 Jonas (PA), 3 Westhoff (PA), 2 Cunnington (NM)

gws giants v brisbane

9 Whitfield (GWS), 8 de Boer (GWS), 7 Shiel (GWS), 2 D. Beams (BL), 2 Deledio (GWS), 1 Gardiner (BL), 1 Taranto (GWS)

hawthorn v st kilda

10 Smith (Haw), 7 Mitchell (Haw), 4 McEvoy (Haw), 3 Breust (Haw), 2 Hardwick (Haw), 2 Henderson (Haw), 1 Gunston (Haw), 1 Morrison (Haw)

adelaide v gold coast

10 Milera (Adel), 5 Lynch (Adel), 5 Swallow (GCS), 4 M. Crouch (Adel), 4 Talia (Adel), 1 Atkins (Adel), 1 Douglas (Adel)

essendon v melbourne

10 Gawn (Melb), 6 Jones (Melb), 4 Melksham (Melb), 4 Salem (Melb), 2 N Jetta (Melb), 2 Smith (Ess), 1 Hurley (Ess), 1 Z. Merrett (Ess)

collingwood v richmond

10 Cotchin (Rich), 8 Howe (Coll), 5 Martin (Rich), 5 Nankervis (Rich), 1 Short (Rich), 1 Treloar (Coll)

fremantle v west coast

7 Redden (WCE), 6 Hurn (WCE), 5 Gaff (WCE), 5 Lycett (WCE), 4 Neale (Frem), 2 Darling (WCE), 1 Langdon (Frem)

LEADERBOARD

33 — TOM MITCHELL (HAW)
31 — STEELE SIDEBOTTOM (COLL)
29 — MAX GAWN (MELB)
29 — DUSTIN MARTIN (RICH)
28 — PATRICK CRIPPS (CARL)
28 — TRENT COTCHIN (RICH)
28 — NAT FYFE (FREM)
25 — BRODIE GRUNDY (COLL)
24 — RORY LAIRD (ADEL)
23 — BEN BROWN (NM)