HAWTHORN small forward Luke Breust’s five-goal haul deemed him best afield in the eyes of the coaches in Saturday’s 48-point victory over Brisbane in Tasmania.
Breust received eight of a maximum 10 votes from Alastair Clarkson and Justin Leppitsch in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year Award.
Dangerous around goals, Breust also gathered 22 disposals, took six marks (four marks inside 50), had two clearances, laid two tackles and had two score assists.
It was an outstanding start to the season by the former rookie, who has kicked 30, 45 and 40 goals in his last three seasons.
But the coaches were obviously split in their assessments of the best player on the ground, with Breust missing out on the maximum 10 votes.
Jarryd Roughead, who also booted five goals in the victory was awarded six votes for his role in the win, while Tasmanian Grant Birchall enjoyed another outstanding game in his home state.
Birchall was the leading disposal getter on the ground with 31, took eight marks and had three inside 50s. He also used the ball with great efficiency, running at 80 per cent by hand and foot.
Brisbane midfielder Tom Rockliff was also awarded six votes for his defensive job on gun Hawks midfielder Sam Mitchell. While Mitchell still managed 21 disposals, his influence on the game was nullified.
Rockliff gathered 19 disposals of his own and kicked three goals.
Emerging Hawthorn midfielder Liam Shiels also received votes, awarded three for his 21 disposal and two goal effort.
Allowed to play mostly as a free-wheeling midfielder, Shiels showed he could be the Hawks’ next big thing in the midfield, with his running capacity and ability to find and dispose of the ball among the best.
Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko also received a vote for his 28 disposal performance.
The votes: Hawthorn v Brisbane
8 Breust (Haw)
6 Birchall (Haw)
6 Rockliff (BL)
6 Roughead (Haw)
3 Shiels (Haw)
1 Zorko (BL)
Round 1 Leaderboard
10 Gary Ablett (GC)
10 Mark LeCras (WC)
10 Joel Selwood Geel)
10 Callan Ward (GWS)
9 Nick Riewoldt (StK)
9 Justin Westhoff (Port)
8 Luke Breust (Haw)
8 Nat Fyfe (Fre)
8 Brendon Goddard (Ess)
8 Cale Hooker (Ess)
8 Clinton Jones (StK)
8 Adam Treloar (GWS)
8 Jobe Watson (Ess)
