Dane Swan was the clear best on ground in the eyes of the pair, collecting the maximum 10 votes from the two coaches.
It was with good reason, too. The Brownlow Medallist played arguably his best game of the season, winning 41 possessions, five clearances, nine inside 50s and laying eight tackles.
Friday night’s match was the first time he had topped 40 possessions for the season – a sure sign that he is coming into his best form as the final stretch of the season begins.
Next in line was vice-captain Scott Pendlebury. He received a total of eight votes, four from each coach, and it was certainly deserved considering his 33 possessions, nine tackles and six inside 50s.
Travis Cloke earned six votes (three from each coach) for his seven marks and five goals which have propelled him into third place on the Coleman Medal leaderboard.
Two players who have benefited from role changes this season polled three votes each.
Ben Reid, who was an All-Australian centre half back in 2011, was arguably the key to Collingwood’s win. He kicked a career-high four goals after being flung into attack late in the first quarter following an injury to Carlton forward Jarrad Waite.
Reid was drafted to Collingwood as a key forward and spent his first two years in that position at VFL level. It took a switch from VFL coach Gavin Brown midway through 2009 to unlock his defensive capabilities, and the No. 20 has not looked back since.
At the other end of the ground was Ben Sinclair. The 21-year-old made his name as a small forward last season but has reinvented himself as a lock-down defender in recent weeks.
The prolonged absence of Ben Johnson and Alan Toovey has made Sinclair’s role particularly important. He successfully blanketed Carlton’s array of smalls and picked up 17 disposals in the process.
Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett still leads the pack with 75 votes. Pendlebury is the highest ranked Magpie with 54, level with Sydney’s Dan Hannebery and Essendon’s Jobe Watson.
Collingwood v Carlton - Round 15
| Votes | Player | Club |
| 10 | Dane Swan | Collingwood |
| 8 | Scott Pendlebury | Collingwood |
| 6 | Travis Cloke | Collingwood |
| 3 | Ben Reid | Collingwood |
| 3 | Ben Sinclair | Collingwood |
Collingwood Leaderboard for the 2013 AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award (after 15 rounds)
| Votes | Player |
| 54 | Scott Pendlebury |
| 42 | Dane Swan |
| 28 | Travis Cloke |
| 21 | Steele Sidebottom |
| 20 | Heath Shaw |
| 17 | Harry O'Brien |
| 10 | Sam Dwyer |
| 10 | Jamie Elliott |
| 9 | Paul Seedsman |
| 7 | Luke Ball |
| 7 | Dale Thomas |
| 4 | Jarryd Blair |
| 4 | Quinten Lynch |
| 4 | Brent Macaffer |
| 3 | Nathan Brown |
| 3 | Ben Reid |
| 3 | Ben Sinclair |
| 2 | Ben Kennedy |
| 1 | Ben Hudson |
| 1 | Darren Jolly |
| 1 | Andrew Krakouer |
| 1 | Kyle Martin |
| 1 | Alan Toovey |
Overall 2013 AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award Leaderboard (after 15 rounds)
| Votes | Player | Club |
| 75 | Gary Ablett | Gold Coast |
| 67 | Kieren Jack | Sydney |
| 57 | Patrick Dangerfield | Adelaide |
| 54 | Daniel Hannebery | Sydney |
| 54 | Scott Pendlebury | Collingwood |
| 54 | Jobe Watson | Essendon |
| 47 | Ryan Griffen | Western Bulldogs |
| 46 | Joel Selwood | Geelong |
| 45 | Nathan Fyfe | Fremantle |
| 43 | Jarrad McVeigh | Sydney |
