Dal Santo won nine votes for his performance in Friday night’s victory at AAMI Stadium. In round one he scooped a maximum 10 votes after St Kilda’s opening win over the Sydney Swans.
Hot on the big Saint’s heels is two-time winner Gary Ablett, whose 29 touches against Richmond at Skilled Stadium won him best-on-ground honours from both coaches.
Matching Ablett’s achievement in round two were ruckmen Josh Fraser (Collingwood) and Sydney Swan Darren Jolly, and Carlton tyro Bryce Gibbs.
Gibbs is fourth overall, after having picked up a further five votes in round one.
In the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year – the only award voted for by the coaches themselves – 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 Jr (2007-08), Simon Goodwin and Adam Goodes (joint winners in 2006), Barry Hall (2005) and Warren Tredrea (2004).
ROUND TWO VOTING
Adelaide v St Kilda
9 Nick Dal Santo (St K)
8 Justin Koschitzke (St K)
7 Tyson Edwards (Adel)
2 Nathan Bock (Adel)
2 Jason Gram (St K)
1 Steven Baker (St K)
1 Sam Fisher (St K)
Geelong v Richmond
10 Gary Ablett (Geel)
6 Steve Johnson (Geel)
6 Brett Deledio (Rich)
6 Matthew Richardson (Rich)
1 Nathan Brown (Rich)
1 Joel Corey (Geel)
Collingwood v Melbourne
10 Josh Fraser (Coll)
7 Dane Swan (Coll)
4 Alan Didak (Coll)
4 Cameron Bruce (Melb)
3 Brad Miller (Melb)
2 Aaron Davey (Melb)
Carlton v Brisbane Lions
10 Bryce Gibbs (Carl)
7 Chris Judd (Carl)
5 Marc Murphy (Carl)
3 Ryan Houlihan (Carl)
3 Daniel Bradshaw (Bris)
2 Richard Hadley (Carl)
Sydney Swans v Hawthorn
10 Darren Jolly (Syd)
6 Brett Kirk (Syd)
5 Craig Bolton (Syd)
4 Adam Goodes (Syd)
3 Jarrad McVeigh (Syd)
2 Cyril Rioli (Haw)
Essendon v Fremantle
9 Jason Winderlich (Ess)
8 Jobe Watson (Ess)
7 Dustin Fletcher (Ess)
4 Aaron Sandilands (Frem)
1 David Zaharakis (Ess)
1 Heath Hocking (Ess)
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne
9 Ryan Griffen (WB)
6 Brian Lake (WB)
6 Adam Simpson (NM)
3 Brad Johnson (WB)
3 Matthew Boyd (WB)
3 Ryan Hargrave (WB)
West Coast v Port Adelaide
9 Adam Selwood (WCE)
9 Daniel Kerr (WCE)
4 Daniel Motlop (Port)
3 Shannon Hurn (WCE)
2 Matt Rosa (WCE)
2 Dean Cox (WCE)
1 Matt Priddis (WCE)
LEADERBOARD
19 Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)
18 Gary Ablett (Geelong)
15 Tyson Edwards (Adelaide)
15 Bryce Gibbs (Carlton)
15 Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs)
13 Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
10 Paul Chapman (Geelong)
10 Josh Fraser (Collingwood)
10 Travis Johnstone (Brisbane Lions)
10 Darren Jolly (Sydney Swans)
10 Hamish McIntosh (North Melbourne)
10 Andrew McLeod (Adelaide)
10 Marc Murphy (Carlton)
