Rory Sloane has climbed back up the leaderboard after polling his first coaches votes since Round 10.
Sloane, 27, received nine votes from Don Pyke and Chris Scott at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The All-Australian midfielder, who was involved in 11 scores, kicked an equal-career high three goals from 28 disposals. He also won seven clearances, laid seven tackles and gained more metres (581) than any other Crow.
Sloane (62 votes) has moved to sixth overall in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs, who earned six votes, was judged the next-best player in Adelaide’s 29-point win over Geelong.
Jacobs won 32 hit-outs and was influential around the ground, gathering 17 possessions at 82 per cent efficiency. He took seven marks, including three contested, won five clearances and applied five tackles.
The leading possession-winner on the ground, young midfielder Matt Crouch was awarded five votes.
Crouch won eight clearances from his 32 disposals and also laid five tackles. The 22-year-old has polled votes from the coaches in 10 games this season, including the past five in succession.
Richard Douglas scored a vote for each of his goals against the Cats.
Douglas, who kicked a personal best four goals, finished with 20 possessions at 80 per cent efficiency
After playing out the game with a fractured cheekbone, Brad Crouch was awarded three votes. Crouch won a game-high 10 clearances from 29 possessions and applied seven tackles.
Promoted rookie Hugh Greenwood collected the first votes (two) of his budding career.
Greenwood notched up 23 disposals, eight clearances, two goal assists and a goal – an incredible mid-air volley that has been nominated for Goal of the Year.
Geelong defender Jed Bews, who kept star forward Eddie Betts goalless for the first time in 32 games, rounded out the voting (one).
After polling a perfect 10 votes, Richmond star Dustin Martin (92) has overtaken reigning Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield (91) at the top of the leaderboard.
Martin was one of only five players to receive maximum votes in Round 18. Melbourne defender Michael Hibberd, six-goal hero Liam Picken from the Western Bulldogs, Sydney Swans tall Callum Sinclair and Hawthorn utility Jack Gunston were the others.
Adelaide v Geelong
9 – Rory Sloane (Adel)
6 – Sam Jacobs (Adel)
5 – Matt Crouch (Adel)
4 – Richard Douglas (Adel)
3 – Brad Crouch (Adel)
2 – Hugh Greenwood (Adel)
1 – Jed Bews (Geel)
Crows Leaderboard
62 – Rory Sloane
39 – Rory Laird
37 – Taylor Walker
34 – Matt Crouch
25 – Sam Jacobs
25 – Jake Lever
21 – Tom Lynch
21 – Brad Crouch
16 – Eddie Betts
16 – Richard Douglas
12 – Charlie Cameron
12 – Brodie Smith
11 – Rory Atkins
5 – Josh Jenkins
2 – Luke Brown
2 – Hugh Greenwood
2 – Kyle Hartigan
2 – Josh Jenkins
1 – Jake Kelly
1 – David Mackay
Round 17 Leaderboard
92 – Dustin Martin (Rich)
91 – Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)
69 – Tom Mitchell (Haw)
67 – Zach Merrett (Ess)
66 – Dayne Zorko (BL)
62 – Rory Sloane (Adel)
61 – Gary Ablett (GC)
59 – Joel Selwood (Geel)
58 – Sebastian Ross (StK)
57 – Elliot Yeo (WC)
