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

Grand Final

Votes by Match

Votes by Match

Sat, October 24
Richmond
vs
Geelong Cats
Votes
Player (Club)
10
Dustin Martin (RICH)
8
Jayden Short (RICH)
5
Shane Edwards (RICH)
3
Tom Stewart (GEEL)
3
Mitch Duncan (GEEL)
1
Shai Bolton (RICH)

Leaderboard

Votes Player Club
28 Dustin Martin RICH
22 Mitch Duncan GEEL
10 Nic Naitanui WCE
10 Daniel Rich BL
9 Patrick Dangerfield GEEL
9 Shane Edwards RICH
9 Paddy Ryder STK
9 Ollie Wines PORT
8 Jayden Short RICH
7 Shai Bolton RICH
7 Caleb Daniel WB
7 Dougal Howard STK
7 Toby Nankervis RICH
7 Tom Stewart GEEL
6 Harris Andrews BL
6 Charlie Cameron BL
6 Hugh McCluggage BL
6 Brandan Parfitt GEEL
5 Bachar Houli RICH
5 Tom J Lynch RICH
5 Sam Powell-Pepper PORT
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