Taylor Walker received his first coaches votes of the season against Gold Coast on Sunday.
In his third AFL game back from a serious knee injury, Walker booted five goals from 22 possessions in a match-defining display. The imposing forward took a game-high 10 marks and generated more inside 50ms (eight) than any player on the ground. Walker also had two goal assists and a total of 16 score involvements and was involved in more than half (51.7%) of Adelaide’s scores. The performance earned him eight votes from Brenton Sanderson and Guy McKenna.
See a full statistical breakdown in ‘By the Numbers’
Rebounding defender Brodie Smith continued his stellar season, collecting another three votes. Smith collected 30 disposals, nine rebound 50ms, six marks, five inside 50ms and kicked a goal
Hard-running midfielder Rory Sloane and young defender Daniel Talia each earned two votes. Sloane amassed 29 possessions (including a Round 11-high 22 contested). He also won a game-high eight clearances and had 10 score involvements.
Talia was resolute in defence. The 2012 Rising Star held in-form Suns forward Tom Lynch, who had kicked 15 goals in his previous four games and leads the AFL in contested marks, goalless.
Former No.1 draft pick David Swallow was unanimously judged the best player on the ground. Swallow was the leading possession-getter on the ground (37) and also kicked two classy goals. Prolific ball winner Dion Prestia was the other player to collect votes from the coaches. Prestia was awarded five votes after racking up 29 touches, seven tackles, six clearances and two goals.
Overall leader Gary Ablett (55 votes) didn’t poll a vote in Adelaide’s win over Gold Coast, allowing Sydney Swans onballer Josh Kennedy (52 votes), who collected eight votes against Geelong, to close to within three votes of the dual Brownlow Medallist.
Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury (48) remains in third place of the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award. Crow Patrick Dangerfield sits just outside the top 10 on 32 votes.
Adelaide vs Gold Coast
10 David Swallow (GCS)
8 Taylor Walker (Adel)
5 Dion Prestia (GCS)
3 Brodie Smith (Adel)
2 Rory Sloane (Adel)
2 Daniel Talia (Adel)
Round 11 Leaderboard
55 Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
52 Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
48 Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
43 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
41 Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
38 Joel Selwood (Geelong)
37 Matthew Priddis (West Coast)
35 Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)
34 Nathan Jones (Melbourne)
33 Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne)
32 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
Past AFLCA Crows voting
Round 10
Round Nine
Round Seven
Round Six
Round Five
Round Four
Round Three
Round Two
Round One
