Rising Richmond star Brandon Ellis has taken over as the Tigers’ leading vote-getter in the prestigious AFL Coaches Association’s Player of the Year award for 2014.

The talented 21-year-old polled eight votes for his superb display in the Round 20 victory over Essendon at the MCG, taking his season’s tally to 51, which is six ahead of fellow Tiger young gun, Dustin Martin, who picked up two votes from the match.

Ellis had an equal team-high 28 disposals, including seven rebound-50s and kicked a goal in another performance that enhanced his growing reputation as one of the competition’s best young players.

The other Richmond player to receive eight votes from respective coaches Damien Hardwick and Mark Thompson in last Friday night’s encounter was Shane Edwards, who is in career-best form at the moment.

Edwards finished with 19 disposals, including 11 contested possessions, five clearances, and he kicked two crucial goals in the last quarter.

Dual Jack Dyer Medallist Brett Deledio continued his strong late-season surge, being awarded two votes, while inspirational Tiger ruckman Ivan Maric was given one vote.

The only two Essendon players to pick up votes were Dyson Heppell (eight votes) and Paul Chapman (one vote).