Brilliant Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin continues his strong climb up the leader-board in the prestigious AFL Coaches Association’s Player of the Year award.
Martin has moved into equal third place, just three votes behind the leader, Geelong captain Joel Selwood, following another ‘perfect’ performance in the Tigers’ Round 11 win against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
He received the maximum 10 votes from rival coaches Damien Hardwick (Richmond) and Brad Scott (North Melbourne) after delivering a midfield master class that netted him a game-high 38 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, game-high nine clearances, game-high nine inside-50s, 10 score involvements, two goals, plus eight marks, six tackles, 21 pressure acts and a team-high 693 metres gained.
Experienced Richmond defender Bachar Houli was rewarded for a top-class rebounding display with seven votes.
Houli had 31 disposals, an equal team-high eight intercepts, seven marks, seven tackles, a game-high four goal assists, 14 pressure acts and 307 metres gained.
The Tigers’ captain Trent Cotchin polled five votes for his inspirational efforts throughout the night.
Cotchin finished with 32 disposals, including 12 contested possessions, eight clearances, five inside-50s, 11 score involvements, a game-high 27 pressure acts, game-high 12 tackles, five marks and 472 metres gained.
Richmond’s mature-age midfield recruit Dion Prestia also received five votes after producing his best game for the Tigers.
Prestia picked up 35 disposals, with five clearances, five inside-50s, three rebound-50s, 10 score involvements, nine marks and 492 metres gained.
Key Tiger backman David Astbury was given two votes following his impressive defensive exhibition – 20 disposals, with an equal team-high eight intercepts and four marks.
And completing a clean sweep for Richmond in the Round 11 coaches’ votes was determined, disciplined utility Kane Lambert.
He collected one vote for his valuable 25-disposal display, which included two goals, along with five marks, 17 pressure acts and 375 metres gained.
Full voting details for the Round 11 Richmond v North Melbourne match are . . .
10 – Dustin Martin (Richmond)
7 – Bachar Houli (Richmond)
5 – Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
5 – Dion Prestia (Richmond)
2 – David Astbury (Richmond)
1 – Kane Lambert (Richmond)
