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.
Adelaide Crows
GWS Giants
Geelong Cats
Richmond
Sydney Swans
Essendon
Port Adelaide
West Coast Eagles
| Votes | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Josh Kennedy | SYD |
| 10 | Luke Shuey | WCE |
| 9 | Dustin Martin | RICH |
| 8 | Eddie Betts | ADEL |
| 8 | Trent Cotchin | RICH |
| 8 | Brad Crouch | ADEL |
| 8 | Jeremy McGovern | WCE |
| 8 | Luke Parker | SYD |
| 7 | Nick Vlastuin | RICH |
| 6 | Charlie Dixon | PORT |
| 5 | Matt Crouch | ADEL |
| 5 | Callum Sinclair | SYD |
| 5 | Dean Towers | SYD |
| 4 | Tom Lynch | ADEL |
| 4 | Dion Prestia | RICH |
| 3 | Matt Priddis | WCE |
| 3 | Callan Ward | GWS |
| 2 | Ollie Wines | PORT |
| 1 | Luke Brown | ADEL |
| 1 | Darcy Byrne-Jones | PORT |
| 1 | Richard Douglas | ADEL |
| 1 | Lance Franklin | SYD |
| 1 | Kane Lambert | RICH |
| 1 | Jake Lloyd | SYD |
| 1 | Alex Rance | RICH |
