Gary Ayres Award (Best Finals Player)

The AFL Coaches Association Gary Ayres Award is presented in recognition of the player who has been adjudged as the best player throughout the AFL Finals series, as voted by the coaches on a weekly basis throughout the duration of the AFL Finals Series. 

Votes are issued after every game of the AFL Finals series by the competing coaches, with each coach providing their 5-4-3-2-1 for the match. 

From 2022 any AFL Grand Final votes issued will receive 1.5 times loading.

ABOUT GARY AYRES

Gary Ayres was a member of 5 Hawthorn premiership teams – 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1991 and is a two time Norm Smith Medallist, adjudged best on ground in 1986 and 1988.

Ayres coached 223 AFL games between 1995 and 2004: 116 with Geelong and 107 with Adelaide.

SEASON

Semi Finals

Votes by Match

Votes by Match

Fri, September 14
Hawthorn
vs
Melbourne
Votes
Player (Club)
10
Jack Viney (MELB)
6
Neville Jetta (MELB)
6
Jack Gunston (HAW)
6
Tom McDonald (MELB)
1
Isaac Smith (HAW)
1
Max Gawn (MELB)
Sat, September 15
Collingwood
vs
GWS Giants
Votes
Player (Club)
10
Steele Sidebottom (COLL)
8
Brayden Maynard (COLL)
4
Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
3
Jordan De Goey (COLL)
3
Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
2
Adam Treloar (COLL)

Leaderboard

Votes Player Club
15 Steele Sidebottom COLL
10 Dylan Grimes RICH
10 Jack Viney MELB
10 Elliot Yeo WCE
9 Toby Greene GWS
9 Tom McDonald MELB
9 Sam Weideman MELB
8 Phil Davis GWS
8 James Harmes MELB
8 Brayden Maynard COLL
7 Dustin Martin RICH
7 Jack Redden WCE
7 Callan Ward GWS
6 Jack Gunston HAW
6 Neville Jetta MELB
5 Taylor Adams COLL
5 Max Gawn MELB
5 Lachie Whitfield GWS
4 Stephen Coniglio GWS
4 Harry Himmelberg GWS
4 Clayton Oliver MELB
4 Dion Prestia RICH
4 Daniel Rioli RICH
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