Patrick Dangerfield has polled his first coaches votes in the 2026 season, receiving six votes for his inspirational display in Adelaide on Thursday night. 

The Cats skipper was instrumental early in an incredible start, collecting 13 disposals and five clearances to go with a goal and a goal assist in the first quarter alone. 

Spending more time in the midfield, he would ultimately finish with 30 disposals, seven clearances and seven score involvements, a brilliant performance from Dangerfield in his 370th AFL game. 

Sam De Koning was thrust into the ruck and performed brilliantly against the Crows, receiving four votes from the coaches after an influential display for the Cats. 

Accumulating a game-high and career-high 11 clearances, De Koning was able to have a strong impact around stoppages, while also collecting 25 disposals (23 contested) and 16 hit-outs to go with five intercept possessions. 

Max Holmes rounded out the votes, taking his season tally to 53 votes and sitting in fifth position on the overall leaderboard, his third consecutive game featuring in the coaches' votes. 

Collecting 30 disposals for the fifth time this year, Holmes also registered five score involvements and seven intercept possessions in another solid outing for the star Cat. 

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 13 Coaches' Votes | Adelaide v Geelong Cats

2026 AFLCA Coaches Votes Overall Leaderboard

Geelong Cats 2026 Coaches' Votes Leaderboard