Three Crows have shared top honours in the latest round of voting for the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.
Adelaide swept the votes following Friday night’s 57-point win over St Kilda, but coaches Don Pyke and Alan Richardson couldn’t agree on who was best afield.
Rory Laird, Jake Lever and Tom Lynch all received seven votes from the victory at Adelaide Oval.
Laird, 23, continued his fine season with a team-best 34 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency against the Saints.
The former rookie mopped up across half-back with a team-high six rebound 50ms and collected 11 intercept possessions – ranked second in the AFL for Round 12 – to move to 32 votes overall.
Fellow backman Lever was just as effective in defence for Adelaide.
The 21-year-old had 20 disposals at an incredible 90 per cent efficiency alongside six marks, including four intercepts.
Hard-working forward Lynch was influential with an equal-game high eight marks, five inside 50ms, and three goals from his 22 possessions.
Veteran Richard Douglas attracted five votes following his 28-disposal performance which also included six clearances and four tackles.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs (25 disposals, 37 hit-outs) and rebounding backman Brodie Smith (26 disposals, seven inside 50ms) received two votes each.
Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko, Essendon ball magnet Zach Merrett, Gold Coast star Gary Ablett and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca all earned a perfect 10 votes in Round 12.
Geelong captain Joel Selwood (56 votes) retains the overall lead ahead of West Coast’s Elliot Yeo and Richmond onballer Dustin Martin. All three players were unable to add to their tallies due to the mid-season bye.
Crows vice-captain Rory Sloane is equal with Martin in third place on 53 votes.
Three-time winner Ablett’s 10-vote haul has rocketed him into fifth place after 12 rounds.
Adelaide v St Kilda
7 – Rory Laird (Adel)
7 – Jake Lever (Adel)
7 – Tom Lynch (Adel)
5 – Richard Douglas (Adel)
2 – Sam Jacobs (Adel)
2 – Brodie Smith (Adel)
Overall leaderboard after Round 12
56 – Joel Selwood (Geel)
55 – Elliot Yeo (WC)
53 – Dustin Martin (Rich)
53 – Rory Sloane (Adel)
50 – Gary Ablett (GC)
47 – Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)
46 – Clayton Oliver (Melb)
46 – Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
41 – Josh Kelly (GWS)
41 – Zach Merrett (Ess)
Crows Leaderboard
53 – Rory Sloane
32 – Rory Laird
19 – Matt Crouch
19 – Taylor Walker
19 – Sam Jacobs
16 – Jake Lever
16 – Eddie Betts
13 – Tom Lynch
12 – Charlie Cameron
12 – Richard Douglas
10 – Brad Crouch
9 – Rory Atkins
5 – Brodie Smith
2 – Luke Brown
2 – Kyle Hartigan
1 – Josh Jenkins
