Crow Patrick Dangerfield is closing in on the top 10 of the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year Award after polling another nine votes on the weekend.
Dangerfield, 25, topped Adelaide’s possession count with 36 including an equal-round high 20 contested possessions. The dynamic midfielder matched teammate Scott Thompson in winning a game-high nine clearances and finished with team-high tackles (eight) and inside 50ms (seven – equal with Richard Douglas).
He won the equal most hard-ball gets (11) of any player for the round, and also kicked a brilliant goal, bursting away from a ball-up in the third quarter. Dangerfield has now polled 45 votes – four behind Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, Sydney Swans onballer Josh Kennedy and Fremantle star David Mundy, who are tied for ninth spot on 49 votes.
Exciting young forward Charlie Cameron earned his first votes of the season. Cameron, who kicked four goals and applied strong defensive pressure, received six votes from Scott Camporeale and Rodney Eade.
The ultra-consistent Thompson added another five votes to take his season tally to 40. The Phillip Walsh Medallist backed up with 34 possessions, to go with nine clearances, six tackles, five inside 50ms and a goal assist.
In-form utility Rory Laird was the only other Crow to catch the eye of the coaches at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon. Laird gathered a career-high 32 possessions, including 13 intercept possessions, at 84.4 per cent disposal efficiency. He also took seven marks, including three contested, and generated three rebound 50ms and two inside 50ms.
Four-goal forward Tom Lynch was adjudged Gold Coast’s best player, earning four votes. The leading possession-getter on the ground, Harley Bennell, received three votes for his impressive comeback. Bennell amassed 39 touches, nine inside 50ms and five clearances.
Brownlow Medallist Matt Priddis was the big mover on the leaderboard in Round 17. Priddis scored a perfect 10 in West Coast’s big win over the Swans to jump to equal-fourth alongside teammate Andrew Gaff. The top three-ranked players, Nat Fyfe (100), Dan Hannebery (75) and Todd Goldstein (62) failed to attract a vote.
Six players earned the maximum 10 votes; Hawk Jack Gunston, Geelong forward Steven Motlop, Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak, North Melbourne veteran Drew Petrie, St Kilda defender Sean Dempster and Priddis.
ADELAIDE V GOLD COAST SUNS
9 – Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
6 – Charlie Cameron (Adel)
5 – Scott Thompson (Adel)
4 – Tom Lynch (GCS)
3 – Harley Bennell (GCS)
3 – Rory Laird (Adel)
Round 17 Leaderboard
100 Nat Fyfe (Frem)
75 Dan Hannebery (Syd)
62 Todd Goldstein (NM)
60 Andrew Gaff (WC)
60 Matt Priddis (WC)
55 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
53 David Armitage (St K)
50 Dayne Beams (Bris)
49 Trent Cotchin (Rich)
49 Josh Kennedy (Syd)
49 David Mundy (Frem)
Crows Leaderboard after Round 17
45 – Patrick Dangerfield
40 – Scott Thompson
25 – Eddie Betts
24 – Rory Sloane
22 – Rory Laird
19 – Sam Jacobs
14 – Taylor Walker
10 – Brodie Smith
10 – David Mackay
9 – Josh Jenkins
6 – Charlie Cameron
4 – Daniel Talia
4 – Richard Douglas
3 – Nathan van Berlo
2 – Matt Wright
2 – Matt Crouch
1 – Ricky Henderson
Full Crows voting
Round 16
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
