Dustin Martin has taken the lead in the AFL Coaches Association’s Gary Ayres Award for the best player of the 2017 finals series.

The outstanding Richmond midfielder received eight votes for another trademark powerhouse performance, in the Tigers’ preliminary win against Greater Western Sydney at the MCG, to take his overall tally to 17 from two finals.

He finished the match with 20 disposals, including 13 contested possessions, four clearances, 13 score involvements, 13 pressure acts and three goals.

Exciting, young Richmond small forward Daniel Rioli also picked up eight votes following his electrifying exhibition in the preliminary final – 14 disposals, an equal game-high eight inside-50s, five marks, six tackles, and four team-lifting goals.

Tigers captain Trent Cotchin moved into second place in the Gary Ayres Award, on 15 votes, after being rewarded for his inspirational efforts throughout the preliminary final with seven votes.

Cotchin had a team-high 26 disposals, with a game-high 17 contested possessions, equal game-high seven clearances, six intercepts, five inside-50s, four rebound-50s, a game-high nine tackles, equal team-high 21 pressure acts, six score involvements, and a team-high 514 metres gained.

Star key backman Alex Rance rounded out the Richmond preliminary final voting in the Gary Ayres Award.

Rance was given two votes for a typically strong defensive display throughout the match that netted him 16 disposals, an equal game-high 11 intercepts, equal team-high seven marks, a game-high six intercept marks and 337 metres gained.

The Gary Ayres Award is named in recognition of the five-time Hawthorn premiership great and dual Norm Smith Medallist.

Full voting details for the Richmond v Greater Western Sydney preliminary final

8 – Dustin Martin (Richmond)

8 – Daniel Rioli (Richmond)

7 – Trent Cotchin (Richmond)

4 – Callan Ward (GWS)

Overall progressive voting details for Richmond & Adelaide

17 – Dustin Martin (Richmond)

15 – Trent Cotchin (Richmond)

11 – Brad Crouch (Adelaide)