[ad_1]
There’s been a tie for the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year for just the second time in the award’s history, with Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver going back-to-back but sharing the spoils with Gold Coast’s Touk Miller.
In a dramatic finish, Miller and Oliver finished on 98 votes apiece, with Brisbane’s Lachie Neale finishing third (92 votes) and Oliver’s Melbourne teammate Christian Petracca fourth (89). Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee (88) rounded out the top five.
It’s the first time two players have shared the AFLCA top award since Simon Goodwin and Adam Goodes in 2006.
Watch the 2022 AFL Awards night on Kayo! New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Miller and Neale entered the penultimate home and away round with 88 coaches votes — and a two-vote lead over star Oliver and Petracca — before voting across the final two rounds was withheld from the public.
The Suns’ co-captain became the outright leader on 95 votes ahead of Round 23 after polling seven votes in a losing cause against Geelong, with Oliver picking up two votes to join Neale in equal-second spot on 88 votes with one round remaining.
Oliver then polled a perfect 10 in the Demons’ demolition of Neale’s Lions in the final home and away round to take the lead.
But Miller played a crucial role in the Suns’ final-round win over North Melbourne and polled three votes, leading to the first ever AFLCA Champion Player of the Year tie.
Oliver, who polled coaches votes in 17 of the 21 matches he played including maximum votes in four rounds, became just the second player to win the award multiple times after Gary Ablett went back-to-back-to-back from 2007 to 2009.
“Clayton’s desire to be great, teamed with an enormous will to win and his ability to perform at consistently high levels has seen him produce another unbelievable season,” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
“To be recognised by the coaches as their Champion Player for a second straight season, an award I believe is the best a player can receive, is a real credit to Clayton. He is thoroughly deserving of the recognition and I couldn’t be prouder of how he goes about bringing his best for the team week in, week out.”
Miller, who was elevated to Gold Coast co-captain ahead of the club’s best ever season in 2022, confirmed his standing as one of the elite midfielders in the AFL competition.
The Suns star, who finished fifth in the award last year, polled coaches votes in 15 matches of his 22 matches, including the maximum 10 votes in one round.
“As a football club we are proud of our co-captain for what he has achieved in winning this award,” Suns coach Stuart Dew said. “It’s a true measure of his influence on the outcomes of games throughout the 2022 AFL season. He leads the way for our club in his preparation, mindset and effort and provides a great role model for those around him.
“It has been an absolute privilege in my time at the Suns to get to have a front-row seat to his dedication to the club and game. Touk deserves everything that comes his way.”
AFLCA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said it was an “exciting” result.
“In our eyes this is one of the most prestigious awards in the AFL which both Clayton and Touk should be honoured to receive as coaches have a unique view on the game and allocate their votes with care and consideration,” Nicholson said.
All coaches vote on the award using a 5-4-3-2-1 system after each home and away game.
There was a surprise in the Best Young Player award — an award that recognises players based on performances across their first two AFL seasons and is determined by the weekly coaches votes — with Hawthorn midfielder Jai Newcombe taking out the honour.
Newcombe, who was selected by the Hawks in the 2021 mid-season draft, polled 44 votes over the last two seasons to finish 10 votes ahead of Sydney’s Errol Gulden. Geelong young defender Sam De Koning finished in third place.
“This award is terrific recognition for what has been an outstanding first full season for Jai,” Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said.
“Across 22 games this year, he has been among our most consistent and reliable performers – which is extremely rare for someone who has played just 29 games.
“For someone 21 years old, Jai’s ability to get the best out of himself is amazing. He is an incredibly driven and self-motivated player and someone I thoroughly enjoy coaching.”
2022 AFL COACHES’ ASSOCIATION CHAMPION PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD LEADERBOARD (every vote and full final leaderboard here)
=1. Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) and Touk Miller (Gold Coast Suns) — 98 votes
3. Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions) — 92
4. Christian Petracca (Melbourne) — 89
5. Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide) — 88
6. Patrick Cripps (Carlton) — 86
7. Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats) — 76
8. Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle) — 74
9. Callum Mills (Sydney Swans) — 65
10. Mark Blicavs (Geelong Cats) — 60
[ad_2]
Source link
