Damaging Crow Patrick Dangerfield has moved into outright second place in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.
Dangerfield polled seven votes from coaches Brenton Sanderson and Guy McKenna in Adelaide’s 28-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday. The gutsy midfielder overcame several heavy knocks to collect 27 possessions (14 contested), eight clearances, seven marks, four tackles, four inside 50ms and a goal assist. Dangerfield has polled in seven matches this season, including each of the last four.
Dangerfield now has 57 votes this season; 18 behind overall leader Suns skipper Gary Ablett, who received another two votes from the coaches on Saturday. Young Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia earned a perfect 10 for his 24-possession game, while Rising Star favourite Jaeger O’Meara was awarded six votes.
Adelaide’s starting substitute, Matthew Wright was the next-best Crow on the ground according to the coaches. Wright was introduced when defender Brent Reilly dislocated his shoulder just 33 seconds into the game. Wright, who battled with a nasty corked thigh from the second quarter onwards, kicked a game-high four goals from 16 possessions.
Round 14 Rising Star nominee Brad Crouch (31 possessions, six tackles and five clearances) and rebounding defender Brodie Smith (26 possessions, eight marks and a goal) each received one vote.
Full voting
10 Dion Prestia (GC)
7 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
6 Jaeger O'Meara (GC)
3 Matthew Wright (Adel)
2 Gary Ablett (GC)
1 Brad Crouch (Adel)
1 Brodie Smith (Adel)
Round 14 Leaderboard
75 Gary Ablett (GC)
57 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
54 Daniel Hannebery (Syd)
54 Jobe Watson (Ess)
53 Kieren Jack (Syd)
46 Ryan Griffen (WB)
46 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
43 Nathan Fyfe (Fre)
40 Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
40 Chad Wingard (Port)