The coaches agreed that Phillip Walsh Medallist Scott Thompson was the best player in Showdown XXXIX at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Thompson, 32, received a perfect 10 votes from Scott Camporeale and Ken Hinkley. The prolific midfielder amassed a game-high 36 possessions and 13 clearances. He also laid more tackles (eight) than any other Crow and generated five inside 50ms. Thompson kicked a crucial running goal late in the third quarter and assisted in another goal.
The All Australian and two-time Club Champion, who missed the opening two games of the season, has now polled more coaches votes (35) than any other Crow with the exception of Patrick Dangerfield (36).
Ruckman Sam Jacobs was adjudged the next-best player on the ground, with six votes. Jacobs won 51 hit-outs to go with 17 possessions, six clearances, four tackles and three inside 50ms. Dangerfield received four votes for his performance, which included 27 possessions, 13 clearances, four tackles and four inside 50ms.
Captain Travis Boak and reigning AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year Robbie Gray each collected three coaches’ votes. Boak was Port Adelaide’s leading possession-getter with 32 to go with eight clearances, seven tackles, six inside 50ms and two goals. Gray kicked three goals from 23 disposals and also won six clearances.
In arguably his best game of the season, Richard Douglas polled two votes. Douglas gathered 26 touches, six clearances, five tackles, four inside 50ms and a goal. Paddy Ryder and Chad Wingard, who each kicked three goals, rounded out the voting with one vote apiece.
Thompson was one of six players to poll maximum votes in Round 16. The others were dominant North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein, young Demon Jesse Hogan, Geelong’s Josh Caddy, lively GWS forward Devon Smith and West Coast's Mark LeCras.
Goldstein’s best-on-ground performance against Essendon catapulted him into third spot on the AFLCA leaderboard with 62 votes. Despite not polling any votes, Fremantle star Nat Fyfe (100) and Sydney Swans onballer Dan Hannebery (75) remain in the top-two spots. Dangerfield is the highest-placed Crow.
Adelaide v Port Adelaide
10 – Scott Thompson (Adelaide)
6 – Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
4 – Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
3 – Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
3 – Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
2 – Richard Douglas (Adelaide)
1 – Patrick Ryder (Port Adelaide)
1 – Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide)
Round 16 Leaderboard
100 Nat Fyfe (Frem)
75 Dan Hannebery (Syd)
62 Todd Goldstein (NM)
59 Andrew Gaff (WC)
55 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
53 David Armitage (St K)
50 Dayne Beams (Bris)
50 Matt Priddis (WC)
49 Trent Cotchin (Rich)
49 Josh Kennedy (Syd)
Crows Leaderboard after Round 16
36 – Patrick Dangerfield
35 – Scott Thompson
25 – Eddie Betts
24 – Rory Sloane
19 – Rory Laird
19 – Sam Jacobs
14 – Taylor Walker
10 – Brodie Smith
10 – David Mackay
9 – Josh Jenkins
4 – Daniel Talia
4 – Richard Douglas
3 – Nathan van Berlo
2 – Matt Wright
2 – Matt Crouch
1 – Ricky Henderson
Full Crows voting
Round 15
Round 13
Round 12
Round 10
Round Nine
Round Eight
Round Seven
Round Six
Round Five
Round Four
Round Three
Round Two
Round One
