St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan has been recognised for his eye-catching return against Sydney at the SCG, earning three votes from Alan Richardson and John Longmire.
After being recalled from the VFL for the trip to New South Wales, the 22-year-old produced one of the best performances of his short career in the Saints’ 42-point loss on Saturday night.
Dunstan received three coaches votes after he collected an equal career-best 29 disposals and 11 contested possessions, along with game-highs for inside 50s (eight) and clearances (seven).
Sydney ruckman-forward Callum Sinclair was voted a unanimous best on
Monday Wash-Up: Round 18 v Sydney
Three-time Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin and young key defender Lewis Melican, who won the Round 18 Rising Star nomination, also featured prominently in the voting, earning a handful of votes each.
After 18 rounds, Richmond game breaker Dustin Martin (92 votes) has surged to the front of the coaches award following his best on ground effort against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
Martin has now moved one vote ahead of Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield (91 votes), with Hawthorn ball magnet Tom Mitchell (69 votes) further behind in third.
Emerging star Seb Ross still remains in the top 10 on 58 votes, narrowly behind Gary Ablett (61 votes) and Joel Selwood (59 votes).
Round 18 AFLCA Champion Player of the Year votes
Sydney v St Kilda
10 Callum Sinclair
5 Lance Franklin
5 Lewis Melican
4 Heath Grundy
3 Luke Dunstan
2 Isaac Heeney
1 Josh Kennedy
