Dynamic Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin has shot into second place in the prestigious AFL Coaches Association’s Player of the Year award following another dominant display, in the Tigers’ Round 3 victory over West Coast.
Martin received maximum votes from respective coaches Damien Hardwick (Richmond) and Adam Simpson (West Coast) after racking up a game-high 40 disposals, including a game-high 21 contested possessions, game-high 15 clearances, game-high nine inside-50s, equal team-high seven score involvements, four rebound-50s, two goals, along with a team-high 22 pressure acts and a game-high 898 metres gained.
He now has 23 coaches’ votes from three games this season, just one behind the leader, Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines.
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin continued his excellent start to the season, picking up seven votes for a performance that netted him 34 disposals, including 19 contested possessions, an equal game-high 12 intercepts, equal team-high seven score involvements, six inside-50s, five rebound-50s, five clearances, plus 450 metres gained.
Cotchin has moved into equal fourth place in the AFLCA Player of the Year award with 18 votes.
Star key defender Alex Rance was the other Tiger to poll in Round 3.
Rance was given seven votes for a trademark, top-class effort – 20 disposals, including an equal game-high 12 intercepts, six rebound-50s, and a game-high 16 one-percenters, four marks and 469 metres gained.
Full voting details for the Round 3 Richmond v West Coast match are . . .
10 – Dustin Martin (Richmond)
7 – Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
7 – Alex Rance (Richmond)
4 – Mark LeCras (West Coast)
1 – Andrew Gaff (West Coast)
1 – Luke Shuey (West Coast)
