Richmond star Brett Deledio capped off a return to his best form by gaining the most votes in the AFL Coaches Association’s Player of the Year award for the Round 19 match against Greater Western Sydney.

Deledio has cast aside his early-season Achilles injury problem to be a driving force in the Tigers’ run of five consecutive wins.

He scored nine votes from respective coaches Damien Hardwick (Richmond) and Leon Cameron (GWS) for his superb display in the twilight fixture against the Giants at the MCG.

The dual Jack Dyer Medallist finished the match with 31 disposals, including a game-high 10 score involvements, seven inside-50s, four rebound-50s, four clearances and two goals, along with 10 marks.

Quality key defender Alex Rance received seven votes for another top-class, all-round performance in the Tigers’ back half.  Rance had 22 disposals, including four rebound-50s, four inside-50s, and he took an equal-team high 12 marks.

Richmond’s No. 1 ruckman Ivan Maric earned five votes for his valuable bullocking work right throughout the four quarters, opposed to Giants’ star Shane Mumford.

And, the other Tiger to poll in the match was ‘running machine’, Brandon Ellis, who picked up four votes for another 30-disposal-plus effort.  He finished with 34 touches, including eight score involvements, five inside-50s and five rebound-50s.

Ellis, who turned 21 last Sunday, has now joined another young gun, Dustin Martin, as the Tigers’ leading vote-getter in the prestigious AFLCA Player of the Year award.

Both Ellis and Martin have 43 votes, with four rounds to go.  They are three ahead of Richmond captain Trent Cotchin.