Midfielder Dayne Beams has been recognised for his breakout season, receiving nine votes in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award for his 36-disposal performance against Adelaide.

Beams, 22, was voted best afield by Nathan Buckley and his Adelaide counterpart Brenton Sanderson for a four-quarter effort that saw him collect 14 contested possessions and seven clearances as well as lay five tackles.

It’s the fourth time Beams has polled in the award this year, and he now has 21 votes in total putting him behind only Scott Pendlebury (55 votes), Dane Swan (28) and Steele Sidebottom (25) on the Collingwood leaderboard.

Pendlebury was another beneficiary from the coaches’ votes, polling seven to entrench himself as the outright leader of the award on 55 votes ahead of the likes of Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs), Brent Stanton (Essendon) and Scott Thompson (Adelaide).

The vice-captain gathered 29 quality disposals and kicked a crucial goal early in the final quarter to kick-start the Magpies’ rush of five unanswered goals.

Sidebottom’s excellent form wasn’t forgotten, polling seven votes for his 31 possessions and two goals. It comes on top of his seven votes against Geelong last week, and means that he now has 25 votes for the season.

Captain Nick Maxwell’s leadership and steady head in defence was rewarded with three votes while Dale Thomas’ 13 disposals in the hectic final term saw him earn two votes. Second-year Crow Daniel Talia was his side’s only vote getter, polling two votes.


Adelaide v Collingwood voting

Collingwood leader board for the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year (number of matches the player polled)

Leader board for the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year