Liam Baker’s superb performance for Richmond in last Thursday night’s victory over Port Adelaide at the MCG earned him the most votes from the match in the 2022 AFL Coaches’ Association’s Champion Player of the Year Round 13 voting.
Baker received nine votes from respective coaches Damien Hardwick (Richmond) and Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide) for the major impact he had in the Tigers’ 12-point win, initially down back and later across the forward line.
The dual premiership Tiger finished the game with a team-high 26 disposals, seven inside-50s, five clearances, one goal, nine score involvements and 531 metres gained.
Star Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin picked up seven votes following his top-class display on the night – 20 disposals, a team-high nine marks, equal game-high eight rebound-50s, team-high 10 intercepts, five score involvements and 374 metres gained.
Rounding out the Tigers’ Round 13 vote-getters in the prestigious coaches’ award were co-captain Dylan Grimes and gun midfielder Dion Prestia with three apiece.
Grimes, in his 200th game, restricted dangerous Port forward Robbie Gray to just one kick, six disposals overall and no goals, while having an impressive eight intercepts and equal team-high eight one-percenters himself.
Prestia had 25 disposals, a team-high 12 contested possessions, six inside-50s, six clearances, a game-high four centre clearances, six score involvements and 489 metres gained.
The full voting details for the Round 13 Richmond v Port Adelaide match are:
9 – Liam Baker (Richmond)
7 – Nick Vlastuin (Richmond)
4 – Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
3 – Dylan Grimes (Richmond)
3 – Dion Prestia (Richmond)
2 – Dan Houston (Port Adelaide)
1 – Todd Marshall (Port Adelaide)
1 – Karl Amon (Port Adelaide)
