Richmond midfielder Kane Lambert further enhanced his growing reputation in last Tuesday night’s Anzac Eve victory over Melbourne, producing an excellent display that was rewarded with a perfect score in the Round 5 voting for the AFL Coaches’ Association’s 2018 Player of the Year award.
Lambert, who had a team-high 29 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, five inside-50s, seven score involvements, two goals, eight tackles and 345 metres gained, received the maximum 10 votes from rival coaches Damien Hardwick (Richmond) and Simon Goodwin (Melbourne).
Clever Tiger playmaker Shane Edwards picked up seven votes after finishing the match with 26 disposals, including 13 contested possessions, five clearances, five inside-50s, five intercepts, eight score involvements, three goal assists and 414 metres gained.
Star Richmond defender Bachar Houli earned four votes for his fine rebounding efforts throughout the match, which netted him 26 disposals, five marks, six rebound-50s, seven inside-50s and an outstanding, game-high, 835 metres gained.
Young Tiger forward Jason Castagna was given three votes for a typically lively performance – 16 disposals, six marks, four inside-50s, a game-high four goal assists, game-high 10 score involvements, two goals and 354 metres gained.
Reliable Richmond key backman David Astbury was in the coaches’ votes again this season, awarded two for his top-class game – 20 disposals, seven marks, including four intercept grabs, eight intercepts all-up, a game-high seven rebound-50s and a highly-impressive 522 metres gained.
The 2017 winner of the prestigious AFLCA Player of the Year award, Tigers superstar Dustin Martin, collected one vote after finishing the Round 5 match with 26 disposals, including 14 contested possessions, a game-high 10 clearances, game-high six centre clearances, three inside-50s, seven score involvements and 291 metres gained.
Full voting details for the Round 5 Richmond v Melbourne match are . . .
10 – Kane Lambert (Richmond)
7 – Shane Edwards (Richmond)
4 – Bachar Houli (Richmond)
3 – Jason Castagna (Richmond)
2 – David Astbury (Richmond)
2 – Oscar McDonald (Melbourne)
1 – Jesse Hogan (Melbourne)
1 – Dustin Martin (Richmond)
