Crows Tom Lynch and Taylor Walker caught the eyes of the coaches on Saturday.
The forwards collected half the available votes from Don Pyke and Rodney Eade at Metricon Stadium, with Lynch scoring eight votes and Walker seven.
Adelaide’s Tom Lynch amassed 22 possessions, including two goals and two goal assists. He also presented strongly to take a game-high 11 marks.
Walker, who was involved in more scores (17) than any other player on the ground, bagged a season-high five goals against Gold Coast. The Crows captain finished with 19 disposals and nine marks.
Adelaide’s leading ball winner for the second straight week, Rory Sloane earned another six votes to continue his impressive vote-getting form. Sloane, who gathered 27 touches and laid seven tackles, has moved into fifth spot overall in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.
Running half-back Brodie Smith responded to a rare quiet game last week by attracting four votes from the coaches on Saturday. Smith gained more metres than any player and generated a Round Nine-high 10 inside 50ms from his 24 possessions. He also kicked a trademark long-range goal.
Full-back Daniel Talia was also among the goals – and the votes. The All Australian defender, who received four votes, worked hard offensively and defensively. He held Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch to two goals from 13 touches, while gathering 23 disposals and a goal of his own.
Emerging midfielder Rory Atkins polled his first vote of the season. Atkins had 22 touches, six clearances and kicked a goal.
Only four players across the competition earned perfect 10’s on the weekend. Sydney Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery, West Coast’s seven-goal forward Josh Kennedy and dominant ruckman Todd Goldstein of North Melbourne. Goldstein is now the outright leader in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award with 47 votes.
Adelaide v Gold Coast
8 – Tom Lynch (Adelaide)
7 – Taylor Walker (Adelaide)
6 – Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
4 – Brodie Smith (Adelaide)
4 – Daniel Talia (Adelaide)
1 – Rory Atkins (Adelaide)
Round 9 Leaderboard
47 – Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)
43 – Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
40 – Dan Hannebery (Sydney Swans)
39 – Joel Selwood (Geelong)
38 – Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
37 – Jack Viney (Melbourne)
36 – Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
36 – Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne)
34 – Luke Parker (Sydney Swans)
31 – Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
31 – Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans)
Crows Leaderboard
38 – Rory Sloane
23 – Eddie Betts
20 – Tom Lynch
15 – Scott Thompson
14 – Josh Jenkins
13 – Brodie Smith
9 – Luke Brown
7 – Taylor Walker
5 – Rory Laird
5 – Daniel Talia
3 – Kyle Cheney
3 – Richard Douglas
1 – Rory Atkins
1 – Kyle Hartigan
