Mick Malthouse and Matthew Primus deemed Swan and Dawes the two best players on the ground, with a maximum five votes and four votes handed to each player.
In the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year, head 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.
For Swan, the 27-year-old will be defending his title after securing the prestigious award with 114 votes, 26 more votes than runner up Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) in 2010. The three-time reigning Copeland Trophy winner continued where he left off from last year, collecting 34 disposals and booting three goals.
Emerging power forward Dawes was acknowledged for his four-quarter effort, equaling a career-high with goals (4) and possessions (20). Other Magpies to feature in the voting included Ben Johnson with six votes (three votes from each coach) and vice-captain Scott Pendlebury who polled three total votes.
Port Adelaide’s Matt Thomas received three votes as the sole representative from the opposition
Past winners of the prestigious award include Dane Swan (2010), Gary Ablett Jnr (2007-09), Simon Goodwin and Adam Goodes (joint winners in 2006), Barry Hall (2005) and Warren Tredrea (2004).
Collingwood v Port Adelaide voting
| Votes | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dane Swan | Coll |
| 9 | Chris Dawes | Coll |
| 6 | Ben Johnson | Coll |
| 3 | Scott Pendlebury | Coll |
| 3 | Matt Thomas | Port |
Collingwood leader board for the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year (number of matches the player polled)
| Votes | Player |
|---|---|
| 9 | Dane Swan (1) |
| 9 | Chris Dawes (1) |
| 6 | Ben Johnson (1) |
| 3 | Scott Pendlebury (1) |
Leader board for the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year
| Votes | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Dean Cox | West Coast |
| 10 | Brent Moloney | Melbourne |
| 10 | Marc Murphy | Carlton |
| 9 | Greg Broughton | Fremantle |
| 9 | Chris Dawes | Collingwood |
| 9 | David Hille | Essendon |
| 9 | Scott Stevens | Adelaide |
| 9 | Dane Swan | Collingwood |
| 9 | Jobe Watson | Essendon |
| 8 | Joel Corey | Geelong |
