Shaw earns praise from coaches
Defender Heath Shaw was the leading vote getter in Friday night's win over Carlton
Defender Heath Shaw polled his highest total this season with nine votes for his 28-disposal performance.
In the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year, coaches vote each week on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis. Coaches vote only on their own matches, but may vote for players on the opposing team.
Past winners of the prestigious award include Gary Ablett (2007-08), Simon Goodwin and Adam Goodes (joint winners in 2006), Barry Hall (2005) and Warren Tredrea (2004)
Prolific disposal machine Dane Swan collected seven votes, the midfielder now polling in 11 of a possible 17 matches this year.
Skipper Nick Maxwell’s loose-man role was important to the side’s win and earned him four votes.
Dale Thomas, Ben Johnson and Scott Pendlebury also registered votes from the coaches in the win.
Voting leaderboard from rounds 1-17
60 Dane Swan (11 games)
35 Alan Didak (seven games)
32 Leon Davis (six games)
24 Scott Pendlebury (eight games)
21 Josh Fraser (three games)
12 Tarkyn Lockyer (two games)
12 Heath Shaw (two games)
11 Brad Dick (two games)
11 Harry O’Brien (five games)
9 Paul Medhurst (one game)
9 Shane O’Bree (three games)
7 Nick Maxwell (three games)
4 Leigh Brown (one game)
4 Travis Cloke (one game)
3 John Anthony (one game)
2 Cameron Wood (one game)
2 Dale Thomas (one game)
1 Simon Prestigiacomo (one game)
1 Ben Johnson (one game)
Overall leaderboard
80 Gary Ablett (Geel)
79 Chris Judd (Carl)
72 Nick Riewoldt (St K)
68 Jonathan Brown (Bris)
64 Nick Dal Santo (St K)
63 Paul Chapman (Geel)
62 Lenny Hayes (St K)
60 Dane Swan (Coll)
58 Sam Mitchell (Haw)
53 Leigh Montagna (St K)