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 27
Geelong Cats
vs
Brisbane Lions
Votes
Player (Club)
13.5
Will Ashcroft (BL)
10.5
Harris Andrews (BL)
7.5
Zac Bailey (BL)
4.5
Jaspa Fletcher (BL)
4.5
Hugh McCluggage (BL)
3
Darcy Gardiner (BL)
1.5
Charlie Cameron (BL)

Leaderboard

Votes Player Club
26.5 Will Ashcroft BL
22.5 Harris Andrews BL
18 Jai Newcombe HAW
17.5 Hugh McCluggage BL
11.5 Zac Bailey BL
11 Mark Blicavs GEEL
10 Patrick Dangerfield GEEL
10 Darcy Moore COLL
10 Caleb Serong FRE
9 Oliver Dempsey GEEL
8 Finn Callaghan GWS
8 Josh Dunkley BL
8 Jack Gunston HAW
7 Jordan De Goey COLL
7 Blake Hardwick HAW
7 Tom Stewart GEEL
6 Matt Rowell GCFC
6 Bailey Smith GEEL
5 Nick Daicos COLL
5 Tom Green GWS
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