A career-high seven goals earned Taylor Walker maximum votes from the coaches on Saturday night.
Walker, who also won 13 possessions and took seven marks, received 10 votes from Scott Camporeale and Justin Leppitsch. It was the Adelaide captain’s second ‘perfect’ score of the season following on from a dominant display against North Melbourne in Round One.
Rory Sloane and Tom Lynch each collected seven votes in the home team’s 87-point win over the Brisbane Lions.
Lynch amassed a personal best 32 possessions, as well as an equal-team high nine marks, five tackles and four inside 50ms. Sloane was influential, particularly when the game was in the balance early, gathering 26 touches, seven marks, six clearances, five inside 50ms, two goal assists and a goal of his own.
Running half-backs/wingmen Brodie Smith and Ricky Henderson received two votes apiece. Henderson finished with a season-high 26 disposals and seven rebound 50ms – more than any other player on the ground. Smith continued his return to good form with 23 possessions, six inside 50ms, five rebound 50ms and two goal assists.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs was the other Crow to receive votes at Adelaide Oval on the weekend. Jacobs won 47 hit-outs, four clearances and collected 21 touches.
The leading possession-getter on the ground, Dayne Zorko, was the only Lion to attract votes. Zorko received one vote for his brilliant performance, which included 38 disposals, six marks, five inside 50ms and four clearances.
Walker was one of five players to earn a perfect 10 in Round 21. Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray, Gold Coast livewire Aaron Hall, Carlton’s Rising Star fancy Patrick Cripps and Coleman Medal leader Josh Kennedy all scored maximum votes.
The other Josh Kennedy – Sydney Swans midfielder – was the big mover on the overall leaderboard of the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award. Kennedy polled nine votes to move to equal-third with North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein. The top-two place-getters, Nat Fyfe and Dan Hannebery, didn’t add to their totals in Round 21.
Crow Patrick Dangerfield is just outside the top 10 with 59 votes.
Adelaide v Brisbane Lions
10 Taylor Walker (Adel)
7 Tom Lynch (Adel)
7 Rory Sloane (Adel)
2 Ricky Henderson (Adel)
2 Brodie Smith (Adel)
1 Sam Jacobs (Adel)
1 Dayne Zorko (Bris)
Round 21 Leaderboard
100 Nat Fyfe (Frem)
85 Dan Hannebery (Syd)
73 Todd Goldstein (NM)
73 Josh Kennedy (Syd)
69 Matt Priddis (WC)
68 Andrew Gaff (WC)
65 David Mundy (Frem)
61 Dustin Martin (Rich)
60 Sam Mitchell (Haw)
60 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
59 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
Crows Leaderboard after Round 21
59 – Patrick Dangerfield
42 – Scott Thompson
37 – Rory Sloane
33 – Taylor Walker
30 – Eddie Betts
29 – Sam Jacobs
23 – Rory Laird
14 – Brodie Smith
11 – Tom Lynch
10 – David Mackay
9 – Josh Jenkins
6 – Charlie Cameron
5 – Daniel Talia
4 – Richard Douglas
4 – Ricky Henderson
3 – Nathan van Berlo
2 – Matt Wright
2 – Matt Crouch
Full Crows voting
Round 21
Round 19
Round 18
Round 17
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
