Hard-running, determined, disciplined Richmond midfielder Kane Lambert polled maximum votes in the AFL Coaches Association’s Player of the Year award for Round 20.
Lambert, who has maintained an impressive level of consistency throughout the 2017 season, was excellent for the Tigers in last Sunday’s victory over Hawthorn at the MCG.
He had 30 disposals, including a team-high eight inside-50s, 11 score involvements, plus four tackles, 25 pressure acts, five marks and 455 metres gained.
The 25-year-old received 10 votes from respective coaches Damien Hardwick (Richmond) and Alastair Clarkson (Hawthorn).
Josh Caddy, who produced the best performance of his first season at Tigerland against the Hawks, was awarded eight votes.
Caddy thrived on more midfield time, finishing the match with a season-high 28 disposals, season-high six inside-50s, season-high 20 uncontested possessions, equal season-high nine marks, game-high 17 score involvements, AFL career-high four goals and 480 metres gained.
Dion Prestia, who also had his finest game in Tiger colors, picked up four votes.
The talented midfielder gathered 31 disposals, including 13 contested possessions, a team-high seven clearances, equal team-high four centre clearances, four inside-50s, nine score involvements and a goal, plus 28 pressure acts and 294 metres gained.
Brilliant midfielder Dustin Martin rounded out Richmond’s Round 20 voting in the prestigious coaches’ award, with three, after another dynamic display – 32 disposals, including 14 contested possessions, six clearances, equal team-high four centre clearances, six inside-50s, 10 score involvements, two goals, six marks and a game-high 509 metres gained.
Martin now has a 10-vote lead in the 2017 AFLCA Player of the Year award. He’s on 104 votes, with Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield on 94, while Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell and Adelaide’s Rory Sloane are equal third with 69 apiece.
Full voting details for the Round 20 Richmond v Hawthorn match are . . .
10 – Kane Lambert (Richmond)
8 – Josh Caddy (Richmond)
5 – James Sicily (Hawthorn)
4 – Dion Prestia (Richmond)
3 – Dustin Martin (Richmond)
