THE AFL Coaches Association's Gary Ayres Award is presented in recognition of the player who has been adjudged as the best player throughout the AFL finals series, as voted by the coaches on a weekly basis.

Blake Acres kicked off Carlton’s votes, earning nine votes for his stellar performance in the elimination final against Sydney. 

Acres was adjudged best afield by the coaches on Friday night, where his 26 disposals, 11 contested possessions and seven score involvements helped him gained 570 metres across the night (a team-high figure). 

If all that wasn’t enough, Acres slotted the game-clinching goal when momentum was well and truly against the Blues, lifting the capacity crowd at the MCG to their collective feet.

Another gut runner in Sam Walsh was next in the votes, where he tallied eight AFLCA votes in an electric game. 

Along with 20 disposals, 16 contested possessions and nine inside 50s, Walsh’s flair and physicality were a strong characteristic of his game for the 23-year-old’s first finals game. 

He produced arguably the play of the night deep in the final term, producing a typically lung-bursting run to stop a certain goal to Sydney's key forward Logan McDonald.

Next up is 52-gamer Matt Cottrell, who received four votes for a stunning cameo in the elimination final.

Going with two impressive goals in the first half, Cottrell accumulated 17 disposals (13 in the first half) at 94 per cent disposal efficiency and seven score involvements to get the game going for his boyhood club.

Rounding out the votes were a pair of Adams, with Cerra and Saad both receiving one vote each.

Cerra managed 24 disposals, seven tackles, seven score involvements and one goal in a solid outing for the young midfielder, replicating the type of comprehensive performance he’s executed all year.

Saad’s influence across half-back was commanding, where the speedster picked up 23 disposals, 11 intercept possessions and five score involvements, as well as gaining 505 metres.

Elimination final votes 

9 - Blake Acres (CARL)
8 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
5 - Tom McCartin (SYD)
4 - Matthew Cottrell (CARL)
2 - Errol Gulden (SYD)
1 - Adam Cerra (CARL)
1- Adam Saad (CARL)