Dominant defender Daniel Talia topped the coaches’ votes at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Talia, 24, was impassable in his team’s record 138-point win over the Brisbane Lions.
The All Australian and Crows Club Champion fell just one possession short (27) of equalling his personal best tally of 28, and operated at an elite 96.3 per cent efficiency.
He recorded 15 intercept possessions – the most of any player in the AFL on the weekend – as part of a backline that held the Lions to its lowest score of the season. Talia also took 13 marks and was involved in 12 Adelaide scores. He received seven votes from Don Pyke and Justin Leppitsch.
Midfielders Rory Sloane and Brad Crouch, and rebounding defender Rory Laird continued their strong form, collecting five votes each.
For the second straight week, Laird was the leading possession-winner on the ground with 36. He had an equal-round high 15 score involvements and took nine marks.
Sloane and Crouch both amassed 34 disposals. Sloane also generated eight forward 50m entries and kicked two goals, while Crouch led the clearance count (nine), laid six tackles and slotted a goal.
Forwards Taylor Walker and Tom Lynch, who each kicked four goals, received three votes. Lynch took a game-high 15 marks and was involved in a total of 14 scores. Walker chalked up 22 possessions, 12 marks and seven inside 50ms in his return from a minor ankle injury.
Dashing half-back Brodie Smith rounded out the voting with two. Smith laid a team-high eight tackles, collected 25 touches, seven marks and kicked a goal which was nominated for Goal of the Year.
Only four players, Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn, Gold Coast defender Steven May and Josh Kennedy of West Coast earned maximum votes in Round 20.
Sloane (93 votes) remains in second place overall on the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year leaderboard, clawing back one vote on leader Patrick Dangerfield (99). Tiger Dustin Martin remains in third spot (84), while Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli (78) has moved to fourth.
Adelaide v Brisbane Lions
7 – Daniel Talia (Adel)
5 – Brad Crouch (Adel)
5 – Rory Laird (Adel)
5 – Rory Sloane (Adel)
3 – Tom Lynch (Adel)
3 – Taylor Walker (Adel)
2 – Brodie Smith (Adel)
Round 20 Leaderboard
99 Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)
93 Rory Sloane (Adel)
84 Dustin Martin (Rich)
78 Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
73 Joel Selwood (Geel)
72 Dan Hannebery (Syd)
70 Luke Shuey (WCE)
69 Luke Parker (Syd)
67 Tom Lynch (GC)
62 Robbie Gray (Port)
Crows Leaderboard
93 – Rory Sloane
50 – Eddie Betts
42 – Rory Laird
34 – Tom Lynch
24 – Taylor Walker
23 – Daniel Talia
22 – Josh Jenkins
19 – Scott Thompson
18 – Brodie Smith
17 – Matt Crouch
11 – Charlie Cameron
11 – Brad Crouch
9 – Luke Brown
7 – Sam Jacobs
3 – Rory Atkins
3 – Kyle Cheney
3 – Richard Douglas
3 – Ricky Henderson
3 – Jake Lever
3 – Jarryd Lyons
1 – Kyle Hartigan
