Rory Laird was the most acclaimed Crow by the AFL coaches in 2018, finishing just outside the top 10 in the race for the 2018 AFL Coaches' Association Champion Player of the Year Award.

The All-Australian defender finished 13^th after polling votes in 11 out of his 20 games played, including a perfect 10 in Adelaide’s Grand Final rematch with Richmond in Round Two.

A strong start to the season saw the half-back poll votes early to sit within the top five after Round Five.

He was recognised in seven of the first 10 games to remain inside the top 10 on the leaderboard until he fell to 12^th after Round 11.

After missing two games due to injury, Laird fell outside of the top 20 but a strong finish to the season, which included 13 votes in the final two rounds, saw him claw his way back to 13^th.

Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn took home the award with 97 votes, ahead of Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell.

Round 22 – Adelaide v North Melbourne
10 – Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
7 – Rory Laird (Adelaide)
5 – Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
4 – Trent Dumont (North Melbourne)
2 – Majak Daw (North Melbourne)
2 – Andy Otten (Adelaide)

Round 23 - Adelaide v Carlton
8 – Josh Jenkins (Adelaide)
8 – Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
6 – Rory Laird (Adelaide)
4 – Wayne Milera (Adelaide)
3 – Rory Atkins (Adelaide)
1 – Jordan Galucci (Adelaide)

Shadforth Financial Group AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Final Leaderboard
97 – Max Gawn (Melbourne)
91 – Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
88 – Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)
82 – Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
72 – Dayne Beams (Brisbane)
72 – Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs)
72 – Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
70 – Dustin Martin (Richmond)
70 – Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
68 – Dyson Heppell (Essendon)