In-form Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin has shot to the top of the AFL Coaches’ Association’s Gary Ayres Award following Preliminary Final week.
Martin, who also won the AFLCA’s Champion Player of the Year Award this year, polled eight votes — equal with teammate Daniel Rioli — as the Tigers stormed to their first Grand Final since 1982.
Martin collected 20 touches — 13 of which were contested — and kicked three goals, sharing best on ground spoils with Rioli, who collected 14 disposals, eight inside 50s and kicked four goals, in the eyes of the coaches.
Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin received seven votes from the coaches to launch to second place on the leaderboard, while Callan Ward’s four votes resulted in the Giants skipper finishing his season in third spot.
With one week to go, only Martin, Cotchin, Brad Crouch, Charlie Cameron, Rory Laird, Daniel Rioli and Eddie Betts are capable of taking out the award for the player judged the best throughout the finals series by the coaches.
AFL Coaches’ Association votes for week two of the finals:
adelaide v geelong
9 Cameron (Adel), 8 Laird (Adel), 4 Sloane (Adel), 4 Talia (Adel), 3 B. Crouch (Adel), 1 Lynch (Adel), 1 Seedsman (Adel).
richmond v gws
8 Martin (Rich), 8 Rioli (Rich), 7 Cotchin (Rich), 4 Ward (GWS), 2 Rance (Rich), 1 Tomlinson (GWS)
LEADERBOARD
17 — DUSTIN MARTIN (RICH)
15 — TRENT COTCHIN (RICH)
14 — CALLAN WARD (GWS)
11 — BRAD CROUCH (ADEL)
10 — JOSH KENNEDY (SYD)
10 — LUKE SHUEY (WC)
10 — PATRICK DANGERFIELD (GEEL)
9 — CHARLIE CAMERON (ADEL)
8 — MITCH DUNCAN (GEEL)
8 — RORY LAIRD (ADEL)
8 — DANIEL RIOLI (RICH)
8 — STEPHEN CONIGLIO (GWS)
8 — MITCH DUNCAN (GEEL)
8 — EDDIE BETTS (ADEL)
8 — JEREMY MCGOVERN (WC)
8 — LUKE PARKER (SYD)