The coaches couldn’t split Crows pair Sam Jacobs and Brodie Smith for best-afield honours at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Jacobs was the dominant ruckman on the ground in Adelaide’s clash with St Kilda. The in-form big man amassed 22 possessions, 39 hit-outs, seven marks and was also involved in 13 Crows scores. The performance earned Jacobs seven votes from Brenton Sanderson and Alan Richardson.

Smith also received seven votes after collecting a career-best 30 possessions and 12 marks in an influential display on the wing.

Two-time Club Champion Scott Thompson, who earned five votes, was adjudged the next-best player. Thompson overcame a badly corked thigh the previous week to pick up a game-high 32 possessions and seven tackles.

Dashing wingman David Mackay and acting co-captain Rory Sloane earned four votes each. Mackay finished with 29 possessions and two goals in what Sanderson described as “the best game” he’d seen the line-breaking Crow play. Sloane was at this spirited best, running hard to collect 30 disposals, seven inside 50ms, six clearances and a goal. Forward Josh Jenkins received two votes for his four-goal haul. St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, who kicked two goals, was the only Saint to poll a vote.

Smith (11 votes) leads Adelaide in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year after four rounds ahead of Sloane on five. Geelong skipper Joel Selwood extended his lead at the top of the overall leaderboard with a perfect 10 against West Coast to take his total to 34. Gary Ablett, Brendon Goddard and Riewoldt are tied for second place on 20 votes apiece.

St. Kilda vs Adelaide
7 Sam Jacobs (Adel)
7 Brodie Smith (Adel)
5 Scott Thompson (Adel)
4 David Mackay (Adel)
4 Rory Sloane (Adel)
2 Josh Jenkins (Adel)
1 Nick Riewoldt (StK)

Round 4 Leaderboard
34 Joel Selwood (Geelong)
20 Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
20 Brendon Goddard (Essendon)
20 Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
19 Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
19 Scott Thompson (Nth Melbourne)
18 Ben Cunnington (Nth Melbourne)
18 Nathan Jones (Melbourne)
18 Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
17 Steve Johnson (Geelong)
17 Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle)
17 Adam Treloar (GWS)