Gary Ablett continues to head the AFL Coaches’ Association Player of the Year award, but the Gold Coast superstar was ousted by one of his own in this week’s voting poll.
Centre half-forward Tom Lynch came of age against North Melbourne with a starring performance on Sunday afternoon, plucking eight marks (5 contested) to go with his 21 touches, five inside-50 entries and two goal display.
He was just one of six players to win the maximum ten votes on offer, joining timeless Bomber Dustin Fletcher, Port Adelaide's Jared Polec, Sydney Swan Josh Kennedy, Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands and Geelong's Harry Taylor.
Ablett still maintains a steady 11-vote lead ahead of his nearest challenger, with Joel Selwood and Scott Pendlebury in second and third place respectively.
The Defence Housing Australia Champion Player of the Year is voted by both senior coaches each week on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis.
All 18 AFL senior coaches vote on their match only and any player suspensions are disregarded.
North Melbourne v Gold Coast
10 Tom Lynch (GC)
5 Gary Ablett (GC)
4 Jarrod Harbrow (GC)
4 Dion Prestia (GC)
3 Lachlan Hansen (NM)
2 Michael Rischitelli (GC)
1 Ben Cunnington (NM)
1 Nick Dal Santo (NM)
ROUND 7 LEADERBOARD
45 Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
34 Joel Selwood (Geelong)
33 Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
30 Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
29 Steve Johnson (Geelong)
27 Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle)
26 Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
26 Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
24 Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)
23 Dayne Beams (Collingwood)
23 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
23 Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
23 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
23 Nathan Jones (Melbourne)
