The first buffer of the 2017 Shadforth Financial Group AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award has appeared, with Richmond’s Dustin Martin and Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield surging further ahead of the rest of the competition.
The duo both received maximum coaches’ votes for their Round 15 performances, with Martin collecting 36 disposals and eight inside 50s while Dangerfield gathered 45 touches and 13 clearances.
Martin now sits one vote ahead of Dangerfield while Elliot Yeo rounds out the top three 15 votes behind.
Fremantle’s Michael Walters was duly rewarded by the coaches for his dominant display in a losing side against St Kilda, receiving 10 votes for his 32 touches and six goals.
Other players to poll maximum votes in Round 15 include Sydney’s Luke Park (38 disposals and a goal), Gold Coast’s Jarryd Lyons (39 touches and 10 clearances), Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko (30 disposals and two goals) and Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell (35 touches and two goals).
LEADERBOARD
73 — DUSTIN MARTIN (RICH)
72 — PATRICK DANGERFIELD (GEEL)
57 — ELLIOT YEO (WC)
56 — JOEL SELWOOD (GEEL)
53 — GARY ABLETT (GC)
53 — RORY SLOANE (ADEL)
48 — ZACH MERRETT (ESS)
48 — SCOTT PENDLEBURY (COLL)
48 — Sebastian Ross (StK)
48 — Dayne Zorko (Bris)
AFL Coaches’ Association votes for Round 15:
Melbourne v sydney
10 Parker (Syd), 8 Franklin (Syd), 4 Jones (Syd), 3 Hewett (Syd), 3 Rampe (Syd), 2 Kennedy (Syd)
western bulldogs v west coast
9 Darling (WCE), 7 Gaff (WCE), 4 Cordy (WB), 3 Mackenzie (WCE), 3 Sheed (WCE), 2 Hutchings (WCE), 1 Hunter (WB), 1 Sheppard (WCE)
carlton v adelaide
8 Gibbs (Carl), 7 Smith (Adel), 4 B. Crouch (Adel), 4 M. Crouch (Adel), 3 Jones (Carl), 2 Kreuzer (Carl), 1 Cripps (Carl), 1 Jenkins (Adel)
gold coast v north melbourne
10 Lyons (GCS), 8 Lynch (GCS), 4 Martin (GCS), 3 Ablett (GCS), 3 Waite (NM), 1 McDonald (NM), 1 Swallow (GCS)
gws v geelong
10 Dangerfield (Geel), 8 Menegola (Geel), 6 Patton (GWS), 2 Duncan (Geel), 2 Haynes (GWS), 1 Taylor (Geel), 1 Wilson (GWS)
port adelaide v richmond
10 Martin (Rich), 8 Lambert (Rich), 4 Wingard (PA), 3 Rance (Rich), 2 B. Ellis (Rich), 2 Ryder (PA), 1 Grimes (Rich)
essendon v brisbane
10 Zorko (BL), 8 Hipwood (BL), 4 Goddard (Ess), 3 McStay (BL), 2 Hurley (Ess), 2 Taylor (BL), 1 Witherden (BL)
hawthorn v collingwood
10 Mitchell (Haw), 6 De Goey (Coll), 5 Burton (Haw), 5 Howe (Haw), 2 Gunston (Haw), 2 Sicily (Haw)
fremantle v st kilda
10 Walters (Frem), 6 Ross (StK), 4 Billings (StK), 4 Suban (Frem), 3 Carlisle (StK), 2 Gresham (StK), 1 Membrey (StK)