PORT Adelaide midfielder Robbie Gray has unofficially clenched this year's AFL Coaches Association best player award, on the back of Friday night's remarkable individual display. 

Gray was clearly best on ground in his side's 103-point thrashing of Carlton, booting four goals to compliment his 31 possessions. 

Power coach Ken Hinkley confirmed after the game that he would award Gray the full five votes, which alone would be enough to see him overtake Fremantle's suspended midfielder Nat Fyfe and join the likes Gary Ablett, Scott Pendlebury, Nathan Buckley and Warren Tredrea as past winners.

But an even more coveted award could be waiting for Gray – the Brownlow Medal.

Friday night's performance saw some agencies drop his odds of winning the highest individual honour in the game from $21 on Friday afternoon to $13 by Saturday morning.

Power ruckman Matthew Lobbe told AFL.com.au that if the rules were different, he knew exactly who he'd have his money on.

"If I could bet, I'd put it on Robbie for sure," Lobbe said.

"As a ruckman, it's great because you can put him somewhere and you know he's going to read it, whether you win the hit or whether they win the hit.

"He's just so clean inside."

Gray's impressive season, in which he's averaged almost 25 disposals a game, kicked 32 goals and led the competition for goal assists, continues his even more remarkable comeback from a serious knee injury suffered in round four, 2012.

In the dying seconds against Collingwood on that afternoon, Gray landed awkwardly and his knee hyper-extended to a sickening angle.

He underwent a traditional knee reconstruction and returned to SANFL football inside 12 months, before winning senior selection on the one-year anniversary of the injury – round four, 2013.

Lobbe said Gray's change in mentality during his extensive rehabilitation was as obvious as the benefit it had on his football.

"He worked his arse off that year," the ruckman said.

"He changed the way he went about things and now he's the ultimate professional, plus he's got that creative side to his game that's just so good."

Lobbe said Friday night's demolition was proof Port's game had again taken full flight.

The Power booted 16 goals from Carlton turnovers, testament to their defensive intensity all over the ground. 

The timing of the club's return to form couldn't be better; it travels to Perth next weekend to face Fremantle in an encounter that will likely decide fourth spot.

"When you get the defence right it creates turnovers and brings on that attacking, quick-fire game that we want," he said.

"Next weekend's pretty much going to be like a final for us, I'm already looking forward to it.

"They (Fremantle) showed last week that they're back to their best so it's going to be a great test for us and I think we're all excited about what we can do."

Twitter: @AFL_Harry