Sydney’s dominance at the SCG on Saturday night was reflected in the coaches’ votes.
The Swans swept the voting in the Gary Ayres Award, recognising the best player of the finals series.
The leading possession-getter on the ground, Josh Kennedy, earned maximum votes from Don Pyke and John Longmire. Kennedy amassed 42 touches, including 21 contested, 10 clearances, four inside 50ms and two goal assists.
Versatile second-year Swan Isaac Heeney relished more midfield minutes, collecting a season-high 32 possessions, nine marks, five inside 50ms and a goal. Heeney was awarded seven votes.
Reliable defender Nick Smith, who had the job on Eddie Betts, received six votes. Smith kept Betts goalless to half time before the two-time All Australian forward bobbed up with three goals in the second half.
Wingman Dan Hannebery, who finished with 31 possessions, six tackles and a goal, attracted three votes. Four-goal forwards Lance Franklin and Tom Papley rounded out the voting with two apiece.
Kennedy’s best-on-ground performance in the Semi-Final has lifted him to second place on the overall leaderboard after week two of the finals series.
Kennedy (11 votes) trails gutsy Western Bulldogs onballer Liam Picken, who polled eight votes in his team’s win over Hawthorn to take the lead in the Gary Ayres Award. Betts is one of three players on 10 votes, while defender Brodie Smith is the only other Crow in the top 10.
For the first time, the best player of this year’s finals series will win the Gary Ayres Award after the AFL Coaches Association struck a new medal in the Hawthorn great's honour.
Ayres was the first player to win the Norm Smith Medal twice and played in five Hawthorn premierships in his 269-game career from 1978-1993 as a revered back pocket star. He also coached Adelaide from 2000 to 2004.
Competing coaches will vote in the same 5-4-3-2-1 format as the home and away season to determine the winner, which will be announced on the Monday following the Grand Final.
Adelaide v Sydney Swans
10 – Josh Kennedy (Syd)
7 – Isaac Heeney (Syd)
6 – Nick Smith (Syd)
3 – Dan Hannebery (Syd)
2 – Lance Franklin (Syd)
2 – Tom Papley (Syd)
Leaderboard as of end of week two
12 – Liam Picken (WB)
11 – Josh Kennedy (Syd)
10 – Eddie Betts (Adel)
10 – Jeremy Cameron (GWS)
10 – Caleb Daniel (WB)
8 – Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
8 – Jack Macrae (WB)
8 – Joel Selwood (Geel)
8 – Brodie Smith (Adel)
7 – Shaun Burgoyne (Haw)
7 – Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
7 – Isaac Heeney (Syd)
7 – Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
