Max Holmes and Bailey Smith have both climbed into the top eight on the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award leaderboard, both receiving nine votes to lead the way as Geelong recorded a clean sweep of the votes in Gather Round. 

Moving to half back, Holmes was instrumental with his run and carry collecting 34 disposals and seven score involvements, while also picking off six intercept possessions in a well-rounded display. 

Now sitting on 21 votes for the season, Holmes has moved into outright seventh spot on the leaderboard and is just 13 votes behind Zak Butters in first place. 

Smith was unstoppable with his elite running capacity on show throughout Sunday's game, also finishing the contest with 34 disposals to go with seven clearances and a game-high 13 score involvements. 

The star Cat finished just one inside 50 shy of the all time V/AFL record for the most entries in a single-game, but his overall Coaches' Votes tally moves to 20 and he sits narrowly behind Holmes on the leaderboard. 

Four Geelong players received their first votes of the year, led by Tanner Bruhn who received six votes for another exceptional performance on Sunday afternoon. 

Playing predominantly through the midfield, Bruhn recorded 28 disposals and seven tackles along with 11 score involvements, putting the Eagles to the sword with his speed and ability to shift the ball downfield. 

Tom Atkins received three votes after amassing 30 disposals for just the second time in his career, also adding his usual 11 tackles and six clearances which are two statistics he leads the Cats in this year. 

Mark O'Connor had never kicked more than one goal in a game across his career heading into Sunday, but booted three in the opening half against West Coast and was rewarded with three votes from the coaches. 

In his 150th AFL game, James Worpel was also outstanding and ultra effective on the narrow confines of Norwood Oval, collecting 20 disposals and 11 clearances to earn one coaches vote. 

The AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player Award is an award voted by the 18 coaching panels on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort by an individual player in a season.

Round 5 Coaches' Votes | Geelong v West Coast

Geelong Cats 2026 Coaches' Votes Leaderboard