Fremantle Dockers star Caleb Serong closing in on AFL rivals after perfect 10 coaches votes for western derby
Fremantle star Caleb Serong is quickly closing in on the competition’s best, overtaking Brownlow favourite Patrick Cripps with a perfect 10 in the coaches’ votes following a western derby masterclass.
Serong was unanimously voted best on ground, claiming his third Glendinning-Allan Medal in the Dockers’ 35-point victory over West Coast at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
The 23-year-old was also given top votes by coach Justin Longmuir and Eagles coach Jarrad Schofield, moving him to third on the coaches’ votes leaderboard behind Collingwood star Nick Daicos (94) and Sydney gun Isaac Heeney (92).
Serong leapfrogged Cripps (86), who did not poll a vote in round 20. The Dockers vice-captain has now polled votes in 15 out of 19 games.
Glendinning-Allan Medal runner-up Andrew Brayshaw was given eight coaches’ votes, while midfielder Hayden Young was not recognised by either coach despite being named the third-best player on the ground by all three derby judges.
Camera IconCaleb Serong. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images
Instead, star forward Josh Treacy earned five votes after leading the Dockers’ fightback with three majors in the second half to turn a half time deficit into a nearly six-goal victory.
Despite being relentlessly booed by Fremantle fans, West Coast young gun Harley Reid was the top-rating Eagle with three votes, while star midfielder Tim Kelly polled two.
Veteran recruit Jaeger O’Meara (Fremantle) and premiership defender Tom Cole (West Coast) both received one vote each.
The AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year Award has never been claimed by a player from a West Australian club, dating back to 2003.
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