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

Finals Week 1

Votes by Match

Votes by Match

Fri, August 27
Port Adelaide
vs
Geelong Cats
Votes
Player (Club)
9
Travis Boak (PORT)
7
Ollie Wines (PORT)
6
Aliir Aliir (PORT)
3
Tom Jonas (PORT)
3
Orazio Fantasia (PORT)
2
Jack Henry (GEEL)
Sat, August 28
Sydney Swans
vs
GWS Giants
Votes
Player (Club)
10
Isaac Heeney (SYD)
6
Josh Kelly (GWS)
6
Luke Parker (SYD)
4
Harry Perryman (GWS)
2
Jesse Hogan (GWS)
2
Tim Taranto (GWS)
Melbourne
vs
Brisbane Lions
Votes
Player (Club)
10
Clayton Oliver (MELB)
7
Christian Petracca (MELB)
4
Charlie Cameron (BL)
4
Lachie Neale (BL)
3
Jake Lever (MELB)
1
Max Gawn (MELB)
1
Alex Neal-Bullen (MELB)
Sun, August 29
Western Bulldogs
vs
Essendon
Votes
Player (Club)
7
Tom Liberatore (WB)
6
Jack Macrae (WB)
5
Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
5
Cody Weightman (WB)
4
Darcy Parish (ESS)
2
Aaron Naughton (WB)
1
Jordan Ridley (ESS)

Leaderboard

Votes Player Club
10 Isaac Heeney SYD
10 Clayton Oliver MELB
9 Travis Boak PORT
7 Tom Liberatore WB
7 Christian Petracca MELB
7 Ollie Wines PORT
6 Aliir Aliir PORT
6 Josh Kelly GWS
6 Jack Macrae WB
6 Luke Parker SYD
5 Marcus Bontempelli WB
5 Cody Weightman WB
4 Charlie Cameron BL
4 Lachie Neale BL
4 Darcy Parish ESS
4 Harry Perryman GWS
3 Orazio Fantasia PORT
3 Tom Jonas PORT
3 Jake Lever MELB
2 Jack Henry GEEL
2 Jesse Hogan GWS
2 Aaron Naughton WB
2 Tim Taranto GWS
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