JACOB Dawson appeared to have the inaugural rebel VFL Coaches Player of the Year award sewn up when voting went behind closed doors for the final five rounds of the season – and that’s exactly how it turned out as the Southport superstar completed a landslide victory over teammate Boyd Woodcock.

Dawson finished with a stunning 120 votes out of a possible 180, with his name appearing on all but five out of 36 vote cards from the 18 games he played, and only once did he fail to attract at least one coach’s attention in any given match.

Fellow Shark Woodcock shared second spot with Brisbane Lions Rhys Mathieson after Round 17, but with Beast Mode being unleashed in the AFL late in the season, the former Port Adelaide player was able to claim second spot, albeit 33 votes behind the winner.

Here, AFL.com.au reveals how the coaches saw the final five rounds of the Smithy’s VFL season after voting went behind closed doors in Round 17.

Dawson held a commanding 26-vote lead from Woodcock and Mathieson, with Carlton’s Paddy Dow another four in arrears.

As with the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year, the VFL award was voted on by the coaches of each club after every game.

The coaches awarded 5-4-3-2-1 to their best players in the game from either team, with those votes collated and revealed each week on vfl.com.au.

Jacob Dawson of Southport handballs during the VFL Grand Final between the Casey Demons and the Southport Sharks at Ikon Park on September 18, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

ROUND 17 LEADERBOARD
98 Jacob Dawson (Sou) 3
72 Rhys Mathieson (BL) dnp
72 Boyd Woodcock (Sou) 5
68 Paddy Dow (Car) 6
56 Lachie Sullivan (Foo) bye
53 Luke Dunstan (Cas) bye
50 Tom Gribble (Wer) 0
49 Will Fordham (Fra) 10
45 Ethan Phillips (PM) 3
44 Lewis Taylor (Syd) 0

Josh Kennedy of the Swans kicks as Aiden Bonar of the Kangaroos gives chase during the round 20 VFL match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Sydney Swans at Arden Street on August 07, 2022. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

ROUND 18

DAWSON extended his lead to 32 votes after polling seven for 32 disposals, six marks, eight tackles and two goals in the Sharks’ thrilling two-point loss to Essendon, with Woodcock (18, one goal) taking outright second despite polling just one vote.

With Mathieson’s home-and-away season over, Dow was the only other player able to catch Dawson, and his hopes continued to fade despite him picking up two votes for 22 disposals, six tackles and two goals in Carlton’s easy win over GWS.

Sydney Swans superstar Josh Kennedy kicked off his ill-fated attempt to return from his hamstring injury, polling 10 votes for 36 disposals, five marks and eight tackles in a dominant wet weather display against Frankston.

Carlton’s David Handley (35 disposals) produced the best game of his career to poll 10 votes against GWS and Box Hill Hawk Cal Porter was also perfect for a 45-possession, 10-mark, 10-tackle masterclass against Northern Bullants.

There were nine votes each for Richmond’s Riley Collier-Dawkins (33 disposals, six tackles v Williamstown), Casey’s Kade Chandler (16, five marks, four goals v Footscray), Essendon’s James Stewart (15, 11 marks, four goals v Southport) and Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini (33, six marks, seven tackles v Brisbane Lions).

Nine new players attracted the coaches’ attention in Round 18, making it 424 who had polled to that point of the season.

rebel VFL COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTES

Sydney 13.13 (91) def Frankston 6.9 (45)
10 Josh Kennedy (Syd)
5 Josh Newman (Fra)
4 Braeden Campbell (Syd)
4 Ben Ronke (Syd)
3 Harry Cunningham (Syd)
2 Hayden McLean (Syd)
1 Will Fordham (Fra)
1 Lewis Taylor (Syd)

Richmond 10.14 (74) def Williamstown 2.7 (19)
9 Riley Collier-Dawkins (Ric)
6 Samson Ryan (Ric)
5 Will Martyn (Ric)
4 Cam Polson (Wil)
3 Jake Aarts (Ric)
2 James Cousins (Wil)
1 Fraser Elliot (Ric)

Footscray 6.7 43 lost to Casey Demons 9.12 (66)
9 Kade Chandler (Cas)
8 Oskar Baker (Cas)
4 Joel Garner (Foo)
3 Stefan Martin (Foo)
2 Matt Buntine (Cas)
2 Zaine Cordy (Foo)
1 Luke Dunstan (Cas)
1 Lachie Hunter (Foo)

David Handley of Carlton runs with the ball during the VFL Elimination Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Carlton Blues at Victoria Park on August 28, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Carlton 13.17 (95) def GWS 9.4 (58)
10 David Handley (Car)
4 Marc Pittonet (Car)
4 Archie Stevens (Car)
4 Joel Trudgeon (Car)
3 Alex Cincotta (Car)
2 Paddy Dow (Car)
2 Cam Fleeton (GWS)
1 Jarrod Brander (GWS)

Northern Bullants 8.11 (59) lost to Box Hill Hawks 17.13 (115)
10 Callum Porter (Box)
6 Fergus Greene (Box)
6 Dan Howe (Box)
3 Ben Cavarra (Box)
3 Tom Phillips (Box)
1 Billy Murphy (NB)
1 Tom Wilson (NB)

Southport 12.13 (85) lost to Essendon 13.9 (87)
9 James Stewart (Ess)
8 Nick Bryan (Ess)
7 Jacob Dawson (Sou)
2 Massimo D’Ambrosio (Ess)
2 Mackenzie Willis (Sou)
1 Brayden Crossley (Sou)
1 Boyd Woodcock (Sou)

Brisbane Lions 13.11 (89) lost to Gold Coast 13.13 (91)
9 Brayden Fiorini (GC)
6 Deven Robertson (BL)
5 Rory Thompson (GC)
4 Hewago Oea (GC)
2 Alex Davies (GC)
2 James Tunstill (BL)
1 Jack Bowes (GC)
1 Tom Fullarton (BL)

Sandringham 10.12 (72) lost to Port Melbourne 19.9 (123)
7 Ethan Phillips (PM)
5 Jake Gasper (PM)
5 Eli Templeton (PM)
4 Nash Holmes (PM)
3 Tom Highmore (San)
3 Marcus Lentini (PM)
2 Tom O’Sullivan (PM)
1 Mitch Owens (San)

Coburg, Collingwood, Geelong, North Melbourne, Werribee bye

Callum Porter of the Hawks in action during the round 21 VFL match between Box Hill and Geelong at Box Hill City Oval on August 13, 2022. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos

ROUND 18 LEADERBOARD
105 Jacob Dawson (Sou) 7
73 Boyd Woodcock (Sou) 1
72 Rhys Mathieson (BL) dnp
70 Paddy Dow (Car) 2
56 Lachie Sullivan (Foo) 0
54 Luke Dunstan (Cas) 1
52 Ethan Phillips (PM) 7
50 Will Fordham (Fra) 1
50 Tom Gribble (Wer) bye
45 Lewis Taylor (Syd) 1

ROUND 19

SOUTHPORT champion Dawson officially secured the award despite his lead falling to 29 votes when he polled another three in the Sharks’ biggest loss in their VFL history, the 38-point reverse to Collingwood at Victoria Park.

Dawson was rewarded for 31 touches and 12 tackles, with Woodcock (36 possessions, one goal) closing the gap slightly by being Southport’s best with six votes, and given the Sharks had the bye in Round 20, the 29-vote margin became insurmountable.

Lachie Sullivan of Footscray in action during the round 15 VFL match between Sandringham and Footscray at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on July 10, 2022. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos
Luke Dunstan of Casey handballs during the VFL Grand Final between the Casey Demons and the Southport Sharks at Ikon Park on September 18, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two top-10 players climbed the leaderboard with perfect 10 votes – Footscray captain Lachie Sullivan (29, eight tackles, two goals v Werribee) jumping into fifth spot and Demon extractor Luke Dunstan (42, two goals) moving into sixth – while there were also 10 votes for Magpie Campbell Lane (30, 10 marks, one goal), Williamstown giant Tom Downie (23, eight marks, seven tackles, 43 hitouts v Carlton), Sun ball magnet Fiorini (35, eight tackles, two goals v Port Melbourne) and Essendon tough nut Brad Bernacki (31, five tackles, three goals v North Melbourne).

Coburg co-captain Peter McEvoy (25, 17, two goals) put in an epic display to help the Lions beat Geelong in Ballarat, earning nine votes for his efforts, the same tally as Brisbane Lions pair Ryan Lester (22, seven tackles, two goals) and Kai Lohmann (22, 11 marks, two goals), who couldn’t be split in a top-four sealing away win against Richmond.

Ten new players attracted the coaches’ attention in Round 19, making it 434 to have polled this season.

rebel VFL COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTES

Campbell Lane of the Magpies runs with the ball during the round 13 VFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies at The Swinburne Centre on July 11, 2021. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos

Collingwood 13.10 (88) def Southport 6.14 (50)
10 Campbell Lane (Col)
8 Finlay Macrae (Col)
6 Boyd Woodcock (Sou)
3 Callum Brown (Col)
3 Jacob Dawson (Sou)

Casey Demons 18.17 (125) def Northern Bullants 5.4 (34)
10 Luke Dunstan (Cas)
5 Jake Bowey (Cas)
5 Jimmy Munro (Cas)
5 Adam Tomlinson (Cas)
3 Toby Bedford (Cas)
2 Jacob van Rooyen (Cas)

Werribee 9.4 (58) lost to Footscray 12.12 (84)
10 Lachie Sullivan (Foo)
5 Joel Garner (Foo)
5 Hudson Garoni (Wer)
4 Stefan Martin (Foo)
3 Jordan Sweet (Foo)
2 Toby McLean (Foo)
1 Sam Darcy (Foo)

Williamstown Seagulls' Tom Downie prepares to kick the ball during the Round 16 VFL match against Coburg Lions at Piranha Park on August 01, 2021. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

Williamstown 11.6 (72) def Carlton 8.10 (58)
10 Tom Downie (Wil)
6 James Cousins (Wil)
6 Corey Preston (Wil)
4 Lachie Fogarty (Car)
2 Brodie Kemp (Car)
1 Jordan Gallucci (Wil)
1 Tyreece Leiu (Car)

Sydney 10.17 (77) def GWS 5.9 (39)
8 Matt Roberts (Syd)
8 Ben Ronke (Syd)
5 Josh Kennedy (Syd)
3 Tanner Bruhn (GWS)
3 Sam Wicks (Syd)
2 Lewis Taylor (Syd)
1 Lachie Rankin (Syd)

Brayden Fiorini celebrates kicking a goal during the round 17 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium on July 09, 2022. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos

Gold Coast 19.14 (128) def Port Melbourne 8.11 (59)
10 Brayden Fiorini (GC)
7 Josh Corbett (GC)
7 Sam Flanders (GC)
3 Alex Sexton (GC)
2 Eli Templeton (PM)
1 Alex Davies (GC)

Richmond 8.11 (59) lost to Brisbane Lions 12.12 (84)
9 Ryan Lester (BL)
9 Kai Lohmann (BL)
3 Jake Aarts (Ric)
3 Ivan Soldo (Ric)
2 Deven Robertson (BL)
2 James Tunstill (BL)
1 Jason Castagna (Ric)
1 Thomson Dow (Ric)

Bradley Bernacki of Essendon goes for a run during the round 12 VFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Carlton Blues at Windy Hill on June 11, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Essendon 11.8 (74) def North Melbourne 6.9 (45)
10 Brad Bernacki (Ess)
8 Nick Bryan (Ess)
3 Billy Cootee (Ess)
3 Tom Cutler (Ess)
2 Joe Atley (Ess)
2 Harry Jones (NM)
2 Tarryn Thomas (NM)

Geelong 5.9 (39) lost to Coburg 12.11 (83)
9 Peter McEvoy (Cob)
7 Nathan Boucher (Cob)
7 Ben Reddick (Cob)
4 Braedyn Gillard (Cob)
2 Matthew Ling (Gee)
1 Mitch Podhajski (Cob)

Box Hill Hawks, Frankston, Sandringham bye

ROUND 19 LEADERBOARD
108 Jacob Dawson (Sou) 3
79 Boyd Woodcock (Sou) 6
72 Rhys Mathieson (BL) dnp
70 Paddy Dow (Car) 0
66 Lachie Sullivan (Foo) 10
64 Luke Dunstan (Cas) 10
52 Ethan Phillips (PM) 0
50 Will Fordham (Fra) bye
50 Tom Gribble (Wer) 0
47 Lewis Taylor (Syd) 2

ROUND 20

SULLIVAN leapfrogged into the top three with a nine-vote display as Footscray smacked Coburg by 123 points, sharing the top of the podium with his 34 disposals and five marks matching the 23 disposals, nine marks and seven goals from Josh Schache.

Tom Gribble of Werribee runs with the ball during the Round 7 VFL match between Werribee and Sydney Swans at Avalon Airport Oval on May 07, 2022. Picture: Mike Owen/AFL Photos

Werribee’s Tom Gribble, who went on to win the Liston Trophy for the second completed season in a row, moved into the top 10 with five votes for 38 disposals and five marks in a 12-point away loss to the Brisbane Lions, while gun Sandringham ruckman Tom Campbell, who went on to win the Zebras’ best-and-fairest, also entered the top 10 with nine votes for 28 disposals, eight marks, 34 hitouts and two goals in a thrilling loss to Geelong.

There were four 10-vote matches in Round 20 – Werribee’s Nick Hayes (25, 10 marks, five tackles, three goals despite the loss to Brisbane Lions), Collingwood’s Jack Madgen (25, 12 marks, five goals v Williamstown), Sydney’s Sam Wicks (28, six tackles, three goals v North Melbourne) and Geelong’s Quinton Narkle (29, one goal v Sandringham), while Bomber Bernacki (27, five tackles, two goals v GWS) and Richmond’s Samson Ryan (18, 12 marks, 14 hitouts, five goals v Bullants) each won nine votes to join Sullivan and Schache’s output.

Nine new players attracted the coaches’ attention in Round 20, making it 443 to have polled this season.

rebel COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTES

GWS 10.9 (69) lost to Essendon 15.9 (99)
9 Brad Bernacki (Ess)
7 Andrew Phillips (Ess)
5 Billy Cootee (Ess)
3 Aaron Francis (Ess)
3 Alec Waterman (Ess)
2 Ryan Hebron (GWS)
1 Ewan Mackinlay (Ess)

Nick Hayes of the Tigers in action during the 2022 VFL Round 05 match between the Werribee Tigers and the Carlton Blues at Avalon Airport Oval on April 23, 2022. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Brisbane Lions 12.6 (78) def Werribee 9.12 (66)
10 Nick Hayes (Wer)
6 Ryan Lester (BL)
5 Tom Gribble (Wer)
4 Nick Coughlan (Wer)
4 Darcy Fort (BL)
1 Matt Hanson (Wer)

Footscray 24.14 (158) def Coburg 5.5 (35)
9 Josh Schache (Foo)
9 Lachie Sullivan (Foo)
6 Stefan Martin (Foo)
2 Lachie Hunter (Foo)
2 Robbie McComb (Foo)
1 Ewan Macpherson (Foo)
1 Roarke Smith (Foo)

Jack Madgen of Collingwood kicks the ball during the VFL Elimination Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Carlton Blues at Victoria Park on August 28, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Collingwood 22.8 (140) def Williamstown 9.8 (62)
10 Jack Madgen (Col)
4 Campbell Hustwaite (Col)
4 Corey Preston (Wil)
3 Callum Brown (Col)
3 Ollie Henry (Col)
3 Finlay Macrae (Col)
2 Jake Greiser (Wil)
1 Daly Andrews (Wil)

Frankston 8.5 (53) lost to Box Hill Hawks 16.8 (104)
8 Jackson Callow (Box)
8 Liam Shiels (Box)
5 Callum Porter (Box)
3 Ed Phillips (Box)
2 Taylin Duman (Fra)
2 Josh Newman (Fra)
1 Hugh Beasley (Box)
1 Tom Phillips (Box)

Sam Wicks of the Swans kicks during the VFL Qualifying Final between Casey Demons and Sydney Swans at Casey Fields on August 27, 2022. Picture: Quinn Rooney/AFL Photos

North Melbourne 11.9 (75) lost to Sydney 13.17 (95)
10 Sam Wicks (Syd)
8 James Bell (Syd)
3 Joel Amartey (Syd)
3 Marty Hore (NM)
2 Peter Ladhams (Syd)
2 Dom Tyson (NM)
1 Charlie Comben (NM)
1 Braeden Campbell (Syd)

Geelong 14.6 (90) def Sandringham 13.10 (88)
10 Quinton Narkle (Gee)
8 Tom Campbell (San)
3 Jack Bytel (San)
3 Shaun Higgins (Gee)
3 Mitch Knevitt (Gee)
2 Lachlan Bond (Gee)
1 Esava Ratugolea (Gee)

Northern Bullants 7.12 (54) lost to Richmond 21.10 (136)
9 Samson Ryan (Ric)
6 Jake Aarts (Ric)
6 Riley Collier-Dawkins (Ric)
4 Jacob Bauer (Ric)
3 Sydney Stack (Ric)
2 Billy Murphy (NB)

Carlton, Casey Demons, Gold Coast, Port Melbourne, Southport bye

ROUND 20 LEADERBOARD
108 Jacob Dawson (Sou) bye
79 Boyd Woodcock (Sou) bye
75 Lachie Sullivan (Foo) 9
72 Rhys Mathieson (BL) dnp
70 Paddy Dow (Car) bye
64 Luke Dunstan (Cas) bye
55 Tom Gribble (Wer) 5
52 Ethan Phillips (PM) bye
50 Will Fordham (Fra) 0
48 Tom Campbell (San) 8

ROUND 21

IT WAS a 36-vote lead for Dawson after he was named second-best on ground in Southport’s nine-point Coast Clash loss to Gold Coast, having 30 disposals and nine tackles to rank only behind star Sun Fiorini, who was unstoppable with 39, 15 tackles and two goals.

Woodcock (22, one goal) missed out on votes, with Carlton’s Dow moving into a share of third after polling six votes for 34 disposals in the Blues’ loss to Casey Demons at Casey Fields.

Boyd Woodcock of the Southport Sharks in action during the 2022 VFL Grand Final between the Casey Demons and the Southport Sharks at Ikon Park on September 18, 2022. Picture: Felicity Elliott/AFL Photos

Lohmann (25, five marks, three goals v Sandringham) and Port Melbourne’s Harvey Hooper (34 disposals v Frankston) joined Fiorini in polling 10 votes in Round 21, while North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas (29, five marks, three goals), Box Hill Hawk Dan Howe (29, five marks v Geelong), Sydney’s Peter Ladhams (32, 12 marks, 28 hitouts v Collingwood) and Magpie Finlay Macrae (29, five tackles, two goals v the Swans) all came up with nine votes.

Nine new players attracted the coaches’ attention in Round 21, making it 452 to have polled this season.

rebel VFL COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTES

Kai Lohmann of Brisbane Lions marks the ball during the VFL Preliminary Final between Casey Demons and Brisbane Lions at Casey Fields on September 10, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Sandringham 13.10 (88) lost to Brisbane Lions 17.11 (113)
10 Kai Lohmann (BL)
7 Will Ashcroft (BL)
7 Deven Robertson (BL)
3 Tom Campbell (San)
3 Oliver Lowe (San)

Gold Coast 14.10 (94) def Southport 12.13 (85)
10 Brayden Fiorini (GC)
7 Jacob Dawson (Sou)
4 Charlie Constable (GC)
4 Alex Sexton (GC)
3 James Tsitas (GC)
1 Josh Corbett (GC)
1 Ned Moyle (GC)

Coburg 9.10 (64) lost to North Melbourne 18.14 (122)
9 Tarryn Thomas (NM)
8 Jason Horne-Francis (NM)
4 Jack Mahony (NM)
4 Tom Williamson (NM)
2 Kade Answerth (NM)
2 Aiden Bonar (NM)
1 Aaron Clarke (Cob)

Harvey Hooper of the Borough kicks the ball during the round 16 VFL match between Port Melbourne and Collingwood at ETU Stadium on July 17, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

Port Melbourne 12.9 (81) def Frankston 11.11 (77)
10 Harvey Hooper (PM)
6 Corey Wagner (PM)
5 Jake Gasper (PM)
5 Liam Reidy (Fra)
3 Trent Mynott (Fra)
1 Brodie McLaughlin (Fra)

Box Hill Hawks 14.13 (97) def Geelong 7.12 (54)
9 Dan Howe (Box)
6 Esava Ratugolea (Gee)
5 Max Lynch (Box)
4 Callum Porter (Box)
2 Fergus Greene (Box)
2 Matthew Ling (Gee)
1 Ed Phillips (Box)
1 Jack Saunders (Box)

Sydney 10.7 (67) def Collingwood 9.10 (64)
9 Peter Ladhams (Syd)
9 Finlay Macrae (Col)
4 Lewis Taylor (Syd)
3 Campbell Hustwaite (Col)
3 Sam Wicks (Syd)
1 Angus Sheldrick (Syd)
1 Lachie Tardrew (Col)

Casey Demons 6.13 (49) def Carlton 5.3 (33)
8 James Harmes (Cas)
6 Paddy Dow (Car)
5 Sam Weideman (Cas)
5 Mitch White (Cas)
4 Will Hayes (Car)
2 Joel Trudgeon (Car)

Essendon 10.14 (74) def Werribee 10.9 (69)
5 Brayden Ham (Ess)
5 Nick Coughlan (Wer)
4 Tom Gribble (Wer)
4 Jye Menzie (Ess)
3 Dom Brew (Wer)
3 Oliver Hanrahan (Wer)
2 Josh Eyre (Ess)
2 Charlie Ham (Wer)
1 Andrew Phillips (Ess)
1 Stefan Rasinac (Ess)

Footscray, GWS, Northern Bullants, Richmond, Williamstown bye

ROUND 21 LEADERBOARD
115 Jacob Dawson (Sou) 7
79 Boyd Woodcock (Sou) 0
75 Paddy Dow (Car) 6
75 Lachie Sullivan (Foo) bye
72 Rhys Mathieson (BL) dnp
64 Luke Dunstan (Cas) 0
59 Tom Gribble (Wer) 4
52 Ethan Phillips (PM) 0
51 Tom Campbell (San) 3
51 Lewis Taylor (Syd) 4

ROUND 22

WOODCOCK confirmed his second-placed finish with his eight-vote game in Southport’s big win over Coburg, winning 27 disposals, taking six marks and kicking a goal, while Dawson put the exclamation mark on his victory with five votes for 31 touches and a goal.

Dow (24 disposals for Carlton v Collingwood, five votes) and Sullivan (34 disposals, one goal for Footscray v GWS, six votes) secured a share of third spot, with Mathieson hanging on for fifth despite not playing in the last five rounds.

Paddy Dow of Carlton runs with the ball during the VFL Elimination Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Carlton Blues at Victoria Park on August 28, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Gribble joined Dunstan in sixth with five votes for 30 disposals and two goals against Northern Bullants, while Richmond’s Jake Aarts (35, five tackles v Frankston for 10 votes) and Sydney’s Joel Amartey (16, five marks, 14 hitouts, four goals v Box Hill Hawks for eight votes) claimed top-10 finishes.

Collingwood’s Callum Brown finished his season the way he started, polling 10 votes after his 36 disposals and seven marks in a losing cause against the Blues, while Sandringham’s Jack Bytel also grabbed 10 with 28 possessions, 12 tackles and two goals against Williamstown.

A host of players polled nine votes in Round 22, led by Footscray’s Schache, who had his second successive nine votes for his second successive seven goals (plus 24 touches and nine marks against the Giants.

Gold Coast’s Jeremy Sharp (39, nine marks, five tackles) was huge in getting his team into the finals against North Melbourne, Brisbane Lion pair Mitch Robinson (42, 11 marks, six tackles) and Deven Robertson (30, five marks, six tackles) were dominant against the Demons, Sydney inside-mid Matt Roberts (37, eight marks) was everywhere against the Hawks and Cat Luke Dahlhaus (31, five marks) fired against the Borough.

Nine new players attracted the coaches’ attention in Round 22, meaning a total of 461 players polled votes this season.

rebel VFL COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTES

Jake Aarts of the Tigers runs with the ball during the round one AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 17, 2022. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images via AFL Photos

Richmond 9.18 (72) def Frankston 10.9 (69)
10 Jake Aarts (Ric)
7 Judson Clarke (Ric)
4 Taylin Duman (Fra)
3 Riley Collier-Dawkins (Ric)
2 Hugo Ralphsmith (Ric)
2 Jackson Voss (Fra)
1 Jacob Bauer (Ric)
1 Rhyan Mansell (Ric)

North Melbourne 11.11 (77) lost to Gold Coast 12.10 (82)
9 Jeremy Sharp (GC)
7 Chris Burgess (GC)
7 Aaron Hall (NM)
3 Jack Bowes (GC)
2 Marty Hore (NM)
1 Ned Moyle (GC)
1 Tarryn Thomas (NM)

Southport 21.18 (144) def Coburg 4.14 (38)
8 Boyd Woodcock (Sou)
5 Brayden Crossley (Sou)
5 Jacob Dawson (Sou)
5 Mitch Johnson (Sou)
4 Kwaby Boakye (Sou)
3 Zac Foot (Sou)

Brisbane Lions 10.11 (71) def Casey Demons 8.9 (57)
9 Mitch Robinson (BL)
9 Deven Robertson (BL)
5 Darcy Fort (BL)
3 Jacob van Rooyen (Cas)
2 Corey Ellison (Cas)
1 Matt Buntine (Cas)
1 James Jordan (Cas)

GWS 6.4 (40) lost to Footscray 23.18 (156)
9 Josh Schache (Foo)
7 Anthony Scott (Foo)
6 Toby McLean (Foo)
6 Lachie Sullivan (Foo)
1 Nathan Drummond (Foo)
1 Xavier O’Halloran (GWS)

Box Hill Hawks 6.9 (45) lost to Sydney 15.12 (102)
9 Matt Roberts (Syd)
8 Joel Amartey (Syd)
6 James Bell (Syd)
5 Hayden McLean (Syd)
1 Ben Cavarra (Box)
1 Will Gould (Syd)

Werribee 29.17 (191) def Northern Bullants 0.10 (10)
8 Shaun Mannagh (Wer)
6 Kye Declase (Wer)
5 Tom Gribble (Wer)
5 Oliver Hanrahan (Wer)
3 Hudson Garoni (Wer)
3 Nick Hayes (Wer)

Callum Brown of Collingwood runs with the ball during the VFL Elimination Final between the Collingwood Magpies and the Carlton Blues at Victoria Park on August 28, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Carlton 7.9 (51) def Collingwood 5.11 (41)
10 Callum Brown (Col)
5 Alex Cincotta (Car)
5 Paddy Dow (Car)
4 Will Hayes (Car)
3 Tyreece Leiu (Car)
2 Lachie Tardrew (Col)
1 Josh Carmichael (Col)

Geelong 10.14 (74) def Port Melbourne 5.12 (42)
9 Luke Dahlhaus (Gee)
5 Ollie Dempsey (Gee)
5 Cooper Stephens (Gee)
4 Ben Worme (Gee)
3 Corey Wagner (PM)
2 Tom Hofert (PM)
2 Matt Signorello (PM)

Jack Bytel of Sandringham runs with the ball during the round six VFL match between Sandringham and Frankston at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on May 01, 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

Williamstown 10.10 (70) lost to Sandringham 17.8 (110)
10 Jack Bytel (San)
6 Noah Gown (Wil)
4 Max Heath (San)
3 Jack Peris (San)
3 Blake Watson (San)
2 Tom Downie (Wil)
1 Sam Dunell (San)
1 Goy Lok (San)

FINAL LEADERBOARD

120 Jacob Dawson (Southport) 5 – WINNER
87 Boyd Woodcock (Southport) 8
81 Paddy Dow (Carlton) 5
81 Lachie Sullivan (Footscray) 6
72 Rhys Mathieson (Brisbane Lions) dnp
64 Luke Dunstan (Casey Demons) 0
64 Tom Gribble (Werribee) 5
55 Jake Aarts (Richmond) 10
52 Ethan Phillips (Port Melbourne) 0
51 Joel Amartey (Sydney) 8
51 Tom Campbell (Sandringham) dnp
51 Lewis Taylor (Sydney) dnp

Then followed:
50 Will Fordham (Fra)
47 Fin Macrae (Col); Brayden Fiorini (GC)
46 Deven Robertson (BL); Callum Brown (Col)
44 Tom Downie (Wil)
40 Callum Porter (Box); Will Hayes (Car); Kade Chandler (Cas); Kye Declase (Wer)

39 J. Brander (GWS)
38 O. Hanrahan (Wer); R. Clarke (Syd)
37 J. Munro (Cas); T. Bianco (Col); T. Wilson (NB); M. Hanson (Wer)
36 H. Hooper (PM)
35 M. White (Cas); J. Bell (Syd)
34 D. Howe (Box)
33 T. Berry, R. Lester (BL); E. Templeton (PM)
32 L. Shiels (Box); T. Mynott, J. Newman (Fra)
31 O. Baker (Cas); J. Schache (Foo); J. Chalcraft (Gee); C. Burgess (GC); M. Roberts (Syd)
30 M. Brown (Cas); C. Constable, J. Sharp (GC); M. Hore (NM)
29 K. Lohmann (BL); R. Collier-Dawkins (Ric); S. Mannagh (Wer)
28 N. Bryan, J. Stewart (Ess); L. Dahlhaus (Gee); T. Highmore (San)
27 M. Robinson (BL); N. Moyle (GC)
26 O. Dempsey (Gee)
25 B. Crocker (Car); J. Atley (Ess); T. Miles (Wil)
24 F. Greene (Box); D. Fort (BL); Q. Narkle (Gee); C. Coleman-Jones (NM); B. Crossley (Sou)
23 B. Cavarra (Box); R. Byrnes (San)
22 L. Fogarty (Car)
21 D. Mascitti (Box); J. Bytel (San)
20 A. Tomlinson (Cas); J. Maibaum (Cob); T. Brown, M. Cox (Col); B. Bernacki (Ess); J. Fahey (GWS); H. Jones (NM); N. Coughlan (Wer)
19 A. Cincotta (Car); B. Laurie, J. Melksham (Cas); N. Boucher (Cob); B. Preuss (GWS); W. Gould (Syd); H. Garoni (Wer)
18 J. Parsons (Box); R. Stoddart (Fra); J. Corbett, J. Tsitas (GC); F. Evans (Gee); J. Barling (NB); D. Tyson (NM); J. Ross, S. Ryan (Ric); B. Gowers, F. Thurlow (Sou)
17 T. Phillips (Box); W. Setterfield (Car); J. Bowes (GC); J. Peatling (GWS); J. Clarke, W. Martyn (Ric); S. Wicks (Syd)
16 J. Tunstill (BL); J. Newnes (Car); B. Khamis (Foo); T. Duman (Fra); M. Ling (Gee); R. Atkins (GC); R. Hebron (GWS); J. Kennedy, B Ronke (Syd); L. Hunt (Wil)
15 E. Phillips (Box); O. Henry, N. Jetta (Col); S. Martin (Foo); S. Fletcher (Fra); S. Flanders (GC); B. Miller (Ric); M. Windhager (San); N. Hayes (Wer)
14 F. Maginness (Box); E. Smith (BL); J. van Rooyen (Cas); F. Gentile, B. Gillard (Cob); J. Garner (Foo); C. Hamilton, J. Riccardi (GWS); M. Rosas (GC); L. Street (Ric); M. Manteit (Sou)
13 C. Michael (BL); L. Stocker (Car); L. Tardrew (Col); B. Cootee, T. Cutler (Ess); T. McLean (Foo); S. Neale (Gee); D. Macpherson (GC); S. Stack (Ric); J. Billings, M. Owens (San); P. Ladhams (Syd); F. O’Dwyer, C. Preston (Wil)
12 J. Callow (Box); W. Ashcroft (BL); C. Hustwaite, C. Poulter (Col); M. D’Ambrosio (Ess/Ric); A. Phillips (Ess); R. West (Foo); M. Knevitt (Gee); C. Comben, J. Horne-Francis, T. Thomas (NM); T. Williamson (NM/Car); J. Gasper, N. Holmes (PM); I. Soldo (Ric); J. Townsend (Sou); L. McDonald, H. McLean (Syd)
11 J. Worpel (Box); P. McEvoy, C. Thompson (Cob); K. Baldwin (Ess); R. Garcia (Foo); F. Callaghan, J. Green, J. Stein (GWS); A. Anastasio, C. Wagner (PM); M. Heath (San); J. Joyce (Sou); H. Cunningham (Syd); J. Cousins, N. Mellington (Wil)
10 N. Cahill, J. Carroll, D. Handley, M. Pittonet, J. Trudgeon (Car); T. Bedford, S. Weideman (Cas); M. Podhajski (Cob); C. Lane, J. Madgen (Col); L. McNeil, J. Ugle-Hagan (Foo); L. Reidy (Fra); T. Bruhn, J. Hopper (GWS); M. Lentini (PM); N. Cumberland, H. Ralphsmith, T. Sonsie (Ric); D. Butler, B. Watson (San); D. Stephens (Syd)
9 J. Cunico (Box); H. Crozier (Foo); C Stephens (Gee); S. Day (GC); M. Flynn (GWS); E. Ford (NM); J. Velissaris (NB); A. Johnson (Ric); M. Spencer (Sou); T. Hickey, A. Sheldrick (Syd); K. Gray (Wer)
8 W. Day (Box); T. Fullarton (BL); Z. Maher (Car); J. Harmes, T. Rivers (Cas); A. Johnson (Col); J. Menzie, B. Zerk-Thatcher (Ess); D. Orgill (Foo); W. Mitchell (NB); M. Rioli (Ric); D. Joyce (San); T. Fields (Sou); D. Brew, J. Henderson (Wer); B. Monk (Wil)
7 J. Ward (Box); C. Ah Chee, N. Cockatoo (BL); C. Ellison, H. Petty (Cas); B. Reddick (Cob); J. Carmichael (Col); B. Ham (Ess); J. Bruce, L. Hunter, A. Scott (Foo); C. Riley (Fra); R. Abbott, J. McLachlan, E. Ratugolea (Gee); E. Hollands, H. Oea, A. Sexton, R. Thompson (GC); J. Wehr (GWS); A. Hall, J. Mahony (NM); A. Manton, T. O’Sullivan (PM); J. Castagna (Ric); Z. Jones (San); J. Lockhart, M. Pescud (Sou)
6 L. Young (Car); S. Lowson, T. Silvestro (Cob); S. Fowler( Col); A. Waterman (Ess); E. Macpherson, R. McComb (Foo); M. Walker (NM); J. Boyd, M. El Nour (NB); J. Bauer, B. Nyuon (Ric); D. Hannebery, D. Kent, J. Lienert (San); M. Willis (Sou); R. Fox, H. Hall-Kahan (Syd); N. Cooper, L. Pinnuck (Wer); N. Gown (Wil)
5 H. Beasley, M. Lynch (Box); J. Bowey, D. Turner (Cas); L. Bunker (Cob); C. McBridge, G. McDonagh (Ess); L. Cleary, S. Darcy, N. Drummond (Foo); N. Freeman, J. Lloyd, B. McLaughlin, W. Walker, M. Williams (Fra); B. Lloyd, L. Waddell (Gee); K. Briggs, C. Brown, W. Derksen, X. O’Halloran, Z. Sproule (GWS); P. Curtis, J. Goater (NM); K. Dawson (NM/Wil); J. Cucinotta (PM); K. Lambert, R. Mansell (Ric); J. Geary, C. Henness, J. Peris (San); Z. Foot, M. Johnson (Sou); B. Campbell (Syd); B. Myers (Wil)
4 M. Cox, J. Madden, J. Prior (BL); J. Boyd, J. Honey, T. Lieu, J. Motlop, S. Radovanovic, A. Stevens (Car); J. Hunt (Cas); J. Baddeley-Kelly, L. Nelson (Cob); D. Eggmolesse-Smith, N. Murphy (Col); T. Hird, S. Rasinac, D. Smith (Ess); Z. Cordy (Foo); J. Ceglar, M. Holmes, N. Stevens, B. Worme (Gee); D. Lawrence, L. Mackie, L. Podhajski (NB); F. Roberts, M. Signorello (PM); S. Banks, M. Parker, S. Tucker (Ric); D. Hipwell (San); K. Boakye (Sou); Corey Warner (Syd); S. Conway, B. Malual (Wer); C. Polson (Wil)
3 W. Buzza, B. Coleman, D. Wilmot (BL); A. Mirkov (Car); R. Baldi, M. Buntine, M. Daw, T. McDonald (Cas); J. Corigliano, C. Ellis (Cob); A. Begg, I. Chugg (Col); C. Brand, A. Francis, B. Hobbs, Z. Reid (Ess); L. Butler, J. Sweet (Foo); J. Begley, B. O’Leary, J. Voss (Fra); S. Higgins, O. Tate (Gee); A. Davies, O. Markov (GC); B. Stewart (GWS); T. Powell, B. Stevens, J. Watkins (NM); M. King, B. Murphy (NB); C. Szust, J. Weidemann (PM); O. Lowe (San); R. Clark, A. Fyfe, M. Gahan, J. Williams (Sou); J. Dahlhaus, L. Wagener (Wer); J. Ottavi (Wil)
2 J. Morris (Box); T. Abberley (BL); B. Kemp, C. Stephens (Car); A. Moniz-Wakefield, D. Smith (Cas); A. Draper, S. Glover, T. Ruscoe, T. Wilson (Col); J. Eyre (Ess); J. Kellet (Foo); L. Bond (Gee); J. Farrar (GC); R. Angwin, L. Chisholm, C. Fleeton, A. Kennedy (GWS); K. Answerth, A. Bonar, F. Perez (NM); K. Dunkley (NB); T. Hofert (PM); T. Dow (Ric); S. Dunell, C. Sharman (San); C. O’Riordan, C. Sinclair (Syd); C. Ham (Wer); H. Bertoli-Simmonds, J. Greiser, D. Henderson, J. Toner (Wil)
1 S. Butler, M. De Wit, J. Saunders (Box); K. Lane, J. Payne (BL); L. Parks, S. Philp (Car); J. Jordan (Cas); A. Clarke, H. Nolan (Cob); M. Wtering (Col); W. Golds, N. Hind, J. Iacobaccio, E. Mackinlay, A. McDonald-Tipungwuti (Ess); R. Smith, B. vander Heuvel, M. Wallis (Foo); A. Grant (Fra); Z. Guthrie, G. Miers (Gee); C. Graham (GC); L. Aleer, T. Taranto (GWS); B. Knight (NB); T. Cameron (PM); F. Elliot, T. Young (Ric); G. Lok (San); H. Morrison, L. Rankin, S. Reid (Syd); D. Andrews, J. Gallucci, P. Taban (Wil)

CLUB-BY-CLUB

BOX HILL HAWKS
40 Callum Porter
34 Dan Howe
32 Liam Shiels
24 Fergus Greene
23 Ben Cavarra
Players 21; Votes 300

BRISBANE LIONS
72 Rhys Mathieson
46 Deven Robertson
33 Tom Berry
33 Ryan Lester
29 Kai Lohmann
Players 21; Votes 366

Rhys Mathieson of the Lions warms up before the 2022 AFL Round 23 match between the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Demons at The Gabba on August 19, 2022. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

CARLTON
81 Paddy Dow
40 Will Hayes
25 Ben Crocker
22 Lachie Fogarty
19 Alex Cincotta
Players 26; Votes 330

CASEY DEMONS
64 Luke Dunstan
40 Kade Chandler
37 Jimmy Munro
35 Mitch White
31 Oskar Baker
Players 26; Votes 390

COBURG
20 Jack Maibaum
19 Nathan Boucher
14 Flynn Gentile
14 Braeden Gillard
11 Peter McEvoy
11 Charlie Thompson
Players 17; Votes 139

COLLINGWOOD
47 Fin Macrae
46 Callum Brown
37 Trent Bianco
20 Tyler Brown
20 Mason Cox
Players 24; Votes 301

ESSENDON
28 Nick Bryan
28 James Stewart
25 Joe Atley
20 Brad Bernacki
13 Billy Cootee
13 Tom Cutler
Players 27; Votes 232

FOOTSCRAY
81 Lachie Sullivan
31 Josh Schache
16 Buku Khamis
15 Stefan Martin
14 Joel Garner
Players 27; Votes 293

FRANKSTON
50 Will Fordham
32 Trent Mynott
32 Josh Newman
18 Ryley Stoddart
16 Taylin Duman
Players 17; Votes 215

Will Fordham was best-on-ground as Frankston produced a comeback for the ages against Carlton. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

GEELONG
31 Jye Chalcraft
28 Luke Dahlhaus
26 Ollie Dempsey
24 Quinton Narkle
18 Francis Evans
Players 23; Votes 234

GOLD COAST
47 Brayden Fiorini
31 Chris Burgess
30 Charlie Constable
30 Jeremy Sharp
27 Ned Moyle
Players 21; Votes 322

GWS
39 Jarrod Brander
20 Josh Fahey
19 Brayden Preuss
17 James Peatling
16 Ryan Hebron
Players 26; Votes 246

NORTH MELBOURNE
30 Marty Hore
24 Callum Coleman-Jones
20 Harry Jones
18 Dom Tyson
12 Charlie Comben
12 Jason Horne-Francis
12 Tarryn Thomas
12 Tom Williamson
Players 21; Votes 199

NORTHERN BULLANTS
37 Tom Wilson
18 Jackson Barling
9 Jean-Luc Velissaris
8 Will Mitchell
6 Jack Boyd
6 Mutaz El Nour
Players 13; Votes 105

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Ethan Phillips of Port Melbourne wins the 2022 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal during the 2022 VFL & VFLW Awards Night at the Palladium at Crown on September 12, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

PORT MELBOURNE
52 Ethan Phillips
36 Harvey Hooper
33 Eli Templeton
12 Jake Gasper
12 Nash Holmes
Players 17; Votes 213

RICHMOND
55 Jake Aarts
29 Riley Collier-Dawkins
18 Jack Ross
18 Samson Ryan
17 Judson Clarke
17 Will Martyn
Players 26; Votes 300

SANDRINGHAM
51 Tom Campbell
28 Tom Highmore
23 Ryan Byrnes
21 Jack Bytel
15 Marcus Windhager
Players 23; Votes 255

SOUTHPORT
120 Jacob Dawson
87 Boyd Woodcock
24 Brayden Crossley
18 Billy Gowers
18 Fraser Thurlow
Players 20; Votes 367

SYDNEY
51 Joel Amartey
51 Lewis Taylor
38 Ryan Clarke
35 James Bell
31 Matthew Roberts
Players 25; Votes 378

WERRIBEE
64 Tom Gribble
40 Kye Declase
38 Ollie Hanrahan
37 Matt Hanson
29 Shaun Mannagh
Players 18; Votes 315

WILLIAMSTOWN
44 Tom Downie
25 Teia Miles
16 Liam Hunt
13 Fin O’Dwyer
13 Corey Preston
Players 19; Votes 170

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

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