After starring in his side’s 15-point victory over the Suns on the weekend, Collingwood vice-captain Steele Sidebottom has been awarded the maximum 10 votes in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.

With 32 disposals, four marks, five clearances, three tackles and one-goal performance, the midfielder caught the eyes of coaches Nathan Buckley and Rodney Eade, who both concurred in giving Sidebottom their assigned five votes.

The 2010 Premierhsip Pie is one of six players around the league to have received the perfect 10 votes from the AFL coaches this round.

Joining Sidebottom in Collingwood’s AFLCA recipients were fellow midfielders were Taylor Adams (31 disposals, four marks, four tackles) and Adam Treloar (32 disposals, five tackles) who polled four and two votes respectively.

Defender Tyson Goldsack was recognized with three votes overall following his 13-disposals, four marks and three-tackle performance against the Suns.

The 156-game veteran recorded seven one-percenters as Collingwood grinded out a tough victory at Metricon Stadium.

“It was a bit of a battle all day,” Goldsack told Triple M’s Sunday Rub.

“We had to put up a pretty tough fight in trying conditions.

“Our game plan didn’t change because of the (wet) weather. We went in with the focus that we wanted to defend well.”

Along with Goldsack, another of Collingwood’s most prolific defenders also earned votes, but this time, it was for his role up forward.

All-Australian defender Ben Reid was swung in attack against the Suns, kicking three goals, along with 16 disposals and five tackles.

For the Suns, the coaches nominated midfielders Gary Ablett and David Swallow as the most impressive performers.

Ablett received eight votes for amassing his 41 disposals, eight marks and six tackles, while Swallow was awarded two votes for his 25 disposals, five marks, seven tackles and one-goal game.


AFL COACHES ASSOCIATION CHAMPION PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ROUND 17 – COLLINGWOOD v GOLD COAST

10. Steele Sidebottom (Coll)
8. Gary Ablett (GC)
4. Taylor Adams (Coll)
3. Tyson Goldsack (Coll)
2. David Swallow (GC)
2. Adam Treloar (Coll)
1 Ben Reid (Coll)

OVERALL LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 17

91. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
82. Dustin Martin (Richmond)
62. Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)
61. Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
59. Joel Selwood (Geelong)
58. Zach Merrett (Essendon)
58. Sebastian Ross (St Kilda)
57. Elliot Yeo (West Coast)
57. Dayne Zorko (Brisbane)
53. Rory Sloane (Adelaide)