The lead has slightly opened up in the 2018 Shadforth Financial Group AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award following the Round 17 results.
Melbourne’s Max Gawn extended his lead from one to three votes after polling maximum votes from the coaches for his 17 disposals, 41 hit outs and four contested marks as the Demons comfortably accounted for the Dockers on Saturday.
In second place, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps still managed to stay within arm’s length of Gawn following his 35 disposals, 23 of which were contested, and a goal against the Saints on Friday night, where he was rewarded with eight votes. Shaun Higgins is next in line, collecting six coaches’ votes for his 33 touches in one of the game’s of the season on Sunday.
Despite collecting 43 disposals and kicking a goal on Saturday, Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell failed to receive a single vote from the coaches but maintains his fifth placing, while Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell, Adelaide’s Rory Laird and Richmond’s Dustin Martin join the leaderboard after Round 17.
Four players received maximum votes from the coaches in Round 17, including Gawn, Heppell (36 disposals), Callan Ward (32 touches, 10 clearances) and Jeremy McGovern (22 disposals, four contested marks).
The AFL Coaches’ Association votes for Round 17 (see every vote from all the rounds so far at AFLCoaches.com.au):
adelaide v geelong
9 Laird (Adel), 5 Lynch (Adel), 5 Milera (Adel), 5 Sloane (Adel), 3 J. Selwood (Geel), 2 Dangerfield (Geel), 1 Hawkins (Geel)
st kilda v carlton
8 Cripps (Carl), 7 Billings (StK), 7 Steven (StK), 6 Steele (StK), 1 Marshall (StK), 1 Sinclair (StK)
hawthorn v brisbane
7 D. Beams (BL), 7 McCluggage (BL), 5 Martin (BL), 5 O’Meara (Haw), 5 Walker (BL), 1 Robertson (BL)
melbourne v western bulldogs
10 Gawn (Melb), 7 Oliver (Melb), 6 Brayshaw (Melb), 3 Hogan (Melb), 2 Hunter (WB), 2 Macrae (WB)
gold coast v essendon
10 Heppell (Ess), 7 Z Merrett (Ess), 5 Hurley (Ess), 4 Smith (Ess), 3 Parish (Ess), 1 Baguley (Ess)
gws giants v richmond
10 Ward (GWS), 8 Whitfield (GWS), 6 Martin (Rich), 2 Coniglio (GWS), 2 Rioli (Rich), 1 Grimes (Rich), 1 Langdon (GWS)
collingwood v west coast
10 McGovern (WCE), 7 Hurn (WCE), 6 Redden (WCE), 5 De Goey (Coll), 1 Gaff (WCE), 1 Hutchings (WCE)
north melbourne v sydney
9 Ronke (Syd), 9 Ziebell (NM), 6 Higgins (NM), 4 Heeney (Syd), 1 Aliir (Syd), 1 Lloyd (Syd)
fremantle v port adelaide
9 Mundy (Frem), 9 Neale (Frem), 6 Ryan (Frem), 3 Wingard (PA), 2 Cox (Frem), 1 B. Hill (Frem)
LEADERBOARD
71 — MAX GAWN (MELB)
68 — PATRICK CRIPPS (CARL)
62 — SHAUN HIGGINS (NM)
59 — NAT FYFE (FREM)
58 — TOM MITCHELL (HAW)
53 — ANDREW GAFF (WC)
53 — STEELE SIDEBOTTOM (COLL)
51 — DAYNE BEAMS (BL)
50 — DYSON HEPPELL (ESS)
46 — BRODIE GRUNDY (COLL)
46 — RORY LAIRD (ADEL)
46 — DUSTIN MARTIN (RICH)