Taylor Walker scored a perfect 10 votes from the coaches in Adelaide’s 77-point win over North Melbourne on Easter Sunday.

In his first game as Crows captain, Walker was the most influential player on the ground. The imposing forward kicked an equal-career best six goals from 22 disposals. He took a Round One-high 15 marks and also topped the competition in score involvements (15) and metres gained (713).

Walker was one of six players to earn maximum coaches votes in Round One. Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Tom McDonald (Melbourne), Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood), Jeremy McGovern (West Coast) and Dylan Shiel (GWS) also polled perfect 10s and share top spot with Walker on the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year leaderboard.

Damaging ball winner Patrick Dangerfield was adjudged the next-best player on the ground at Adelaide Oval, receiving seven votes from Phil Walsh and Brad Scott. Dangerfield amassed 25 disposals, six clearances, five inside 50ms, four tackles, kicked two goals and assisted in two others.

Rugged midfielder Rory Sloane, who finished the game with 26 touches, five clearances, five tackles and two goals, collected four votes. Elusive forward Eddie Betts and small defender Rory Laird each earned three coaches votes. Betts kicked four goals, assisted in two others and laid a team-high seven tackles.

Laird was matched up on Kangaroos champion Brent Harvey for most of the game. He held Harvey to a mere 18 possessions, while gathering 24 touches and a goal of his own. Adelaide’s leading possession-getter Richard Douglas was the other Crow to receive votes. Douglas amassed 31 disposals, won a game-high nine clearances and generated seven inside 50ms in the big win.

Recruit Shaun Higgins, who slotted four goals in his North Melbourne debut, was the only Kangaroos player to earn recognition from the coaches.

Adelaide v North Melbourne
10 – Taylor Walker (Adelaide)
7 – Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
4 – Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
3 – Eddie Betts (Adelaide)
3 – Rory Laird (Adelaide)
2 – Richard Douglas (Adelaide)
1 – Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne)

Leaderboard after Round One
10 – Taylor Walker (Adelaide)
10 – Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
10 – Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)
10 – Dylan Shiel (GWS)
10 – Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
10 – Tom McDonald (Melbourne)
8 – Josh Gibson (Hawthorn)
8 – Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)
8 – Luke Parker (Sydney Swans)
7 – Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
7 – Taylor Hunt (Richmond)
7 – Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans)