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, September 25
Melbourne
vs
Western Bulldogs
Votes
Player (Club)
10
Christian Petracca (MELB)
8
Bayley Fritsch (MELB)
5
Clayton Oliver (MELB)
3
Caleb Daniel (WB)
2
Christian Salem (MELB)
1
Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
1
Angus Brayshaw (MELB)

Leaderboard

Votes Player Club
25 Jack Macrae WB
23 Christian Petracca MELB
19 Clayton Oliver MELB
17 Bailey Smith WB
11 Marcus Bontempelli WB
11 Max Gawn MELB
10 Tom Hawkins GEEL
10 Isaac Heeney SYD
9 Travis Boak PORT
8 Bayley Fritsch MELB
8 Tom Liberatore WB
8 Christian Salem MELB
8 Zach Tuohy GEEL
7 Ollie Wines PORT
6 Aliir Aliir PORT
6 Caleb Daniel WB
6 Josh Kelly GWS
6 Luke Parker SYD
5 Charlie Cameron BL
5 Mitch Hannan WB
5 Jack Henry GEEL
5 Hugh McCluggage BL
5 Cody Weightman WB
AFL Coaches Association Logo