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

Thu, September 4
Adelaide Crows
vs
Collingwood
Votes
Player (Club)
10
Darcy Moore (COLL)
7
Jordan De Goey (COLL)
5
Nick Daicos (COLL)
4
Isaac Quaynor (COLL)
3
Steele Sidebottom (COLL)
1
Jamie Elliott (COLL)
Fri, September 5
Geelong Cats
vs
Brisbane Lions
Votes
Player (Club)
9
Oliver Dempsey (GEEL)
7
Tom Stewart (GEEL)
5
Mark Blicavs (GEEL)
4
Tom Atkins (GEEL)
4
Max Holmes (GEEL)
1
Josh Dunkley (BL)
Sat, September 6
GWS Giants
vs
Hawthorn
Votes
Player (Club)
8
Finn Callaghan (GWS)
8
Jai Newcombe (HAW)
7
Blake Hardwick (HAW)
5
Tom Green (GWS)
2
Jarman Impey (HAW)
Fremantle
vs
Gold Coast Suns
Votes
Player (Club)
10
Caleb Serong (FRE)
6
Matt Rowell (GCFC)
4
Wil Powell (GCFC)
4
Sam Collins (GCFC)
3
Noah Anderson (GCFC)
2
Andrew Brayshaw (FRE)
1
Bodhi Uwland (GCFC)

Leaderboard

Votes Player Club
10 Darcy Moore COLL
10 Caleb Serong FRE
9 Oliver Dempsey GEEL
8 Finn Callaghan GWS
8 Jai Newcombe HAW
7 Jordan De Goey COLL
7 Blake Hardwick HAW
7 Tom Stewart GEEL
6 Matt Rowell GCFC
5 Mark Blicavs GEEL
5 Nick Daicos COLL
5 Tom Green GWS
4 Tom Atkins GEEL
4 Sam Collins GCFC
4 Max Holmes GEEL
4 Wil Powell GCFC
4 Isaac Quaynor COLL
3 Noah Anderson GCFC
3 Steele Sidebottom COLL
2 Andrew Brayshaw FRE
2 Jarman Impey HAW
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