The plaudits keep coming for Round Nine Rising Star nominee Sam Kerridge, who received a maximum 10 votes from the coaches in Adelaide’s thrilling win over North Melbourne on Sunday.
In only his seventh AFL game, Kerridge kicked a career-best six goals from 24 possessions to help get the Crows over the line against the Kangaroos. The 20-year-old also had 14 score involvements – the most of any player in the competition last round. He became the youngest player to have 20 disposals and six goals in a match since Carlton forward Lance Whitnall in 1998.
In-form midfielder Richard Douglas was voted the next-best player on the ground by Brenton Sanderson and Brad Scott. Douglas earned six votes for his dominant display, which included 28 possessions (11 contested), 10 inside 50ms, nine marks, four tackles, three clearances, two goals and two goal assists. His inspirational running goal in the final quarter brought Adelaide within 12 points of the Roos. Douglas has now polled coaches votes in five games this season.
North forward Lindsay Thomas, who kicked five goals (four in the first half), received five votes, while midfielders Sam Gibson and Jack Ziebell each collected three votes. Adelaide’s leading possession-getter Patrick Dangerfield earned one vote. Dangerfield amassed 30 disposals, including 12 in an influential last-quarter performance.
Dangerfield (36 votes) is fifth overall on the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year leaderboard. Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett leads the way on 50 votes ahead of reigning Brownlow Medallist and Essendon star Jobe Watson.
North Melbourne vs Adelaide
10 Sam Kerridge (Adel)
6 Richard Douglas (Adel)
5 Lindsay Thomas (NM)
3 Sam Gibson (NM)
3 Jack Ziebell (NM)
2 Ben Cunnington (NM)
1 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
Round 9 Leaderboard
50 Gary Ablett (GC)
45 Jobe Watson (Ess)
44 Daniel Hannebery (Syd)
40 Kieren Jack (Syd)
36 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
32 Luke Hodge (Haw)
31 Nathan Fyfe (Fre)
31 Steve Johnson (Geel)
31 Harry Taylor (Geel)
30 Travis Boak (Port)
30 Hamish Hartlett (Port)
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