COLLINGWOOD superstar Nick Daicos has polled a record-breaking 147 votes to win the AFL Coaches Association's Champion Player of the Year Award, surpassing the mark set by Richmond great Dustin Martin in 2017.

Daicos passed Martin's record of 122 votes with four games still to play and had 130 when voting went behind closed doors after round 21, securing his win with a perfect 10 against West Coast the following week. 

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The brilliant midfielder won the award for the second time after prevailing in 2024, with Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (109 votes) in second place and Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn (99) in third. 

Dual Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft (91) and last year's joint winner Bailey Smith (85) rocketed home to round out the top five in an award dominated by midfielders and ruckmen, with Brodie Grundy and Luke Jackson also snaring top-10 finishes.

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The 38-vote margin to Bontempelli in second place is almost the equivalent of four perfect games, while his tally of 147 is two-and-a-half perfect games better than Martin's previous record.

Daicos joins Greater Western Sydney midfielder Clayton Oliver (2021-22) and Geelong and Gold Coast champion Gary Ablett jnr (2007-09) as the only multiple winners of the prestigious award, which is voted on by the coaches after every home and away match of the season. 

The decorated 23-year-old's record total and winning margin highlights his dominance over the competition this season as its premier player, averaging a career-high 34.9 disposals, 6.7 inside 50s, 5.7 clearances, and booting 24 goals. 

The Brownlow Medal favourite polled votes in an incredible 20 games, including eight perfect 10s as best afield. 

"Nick is the ultimate competitor and this award tonight is great recognition for the season he has had," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said.

"We are incredibly proud of what he has achieved and even more so for the way he approaches his game in all phases. 

"On-field and off-field, Nick sets the standard at our club and is a wonderful leader."

AFLCA chief executive Alistair Nicholson described Daicos' season as exceptional and said it was an outstanding achievement for the midfielder to win the award voted on by the coaches for a second time so early in his career. 

"The AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award is particularly meaningful because the votes are cast by the coaches immediately following each game," Nicholson said. 

"The 18 coaching groups have a unique view of the game and a deep understanding of the roles players are being asked to perform for their teams.

"To establish a new single-season voting benchmark demonstrates the extraordinary level and, importantly, consistency of his performances throughout the year."

The AFL coaches also crowned their Best Emerging Player on Tuesday night, with Fremantle star Murphy Reid and St Kilda midfielder Max Hall sharing the honour.  

Reid and Hall finished level on 66 votes, ahead of Melbourne midfielder Harvey Langford, with the award decided by coaches' vote tallies and recognising players in their first two seasons at AFL level following their debut.

Reid, 20, enjoyed a remarkable second season after joining the Dockers' midfield rotation, establishing himself as a matchwinner with his skill, creativity and football IQ.

Hall, meanwhile, flourished in his third season since joining the Saints as a mid-season recruit in 2024, with the 24-year-old growing in stature as the year progressed. 

The League's coaches introduced a new award in 2026 to recognise the player with the best defensive impact, crowing St Kilda backman Callum Wilkie as the inaugural AFLCA Defensive Player of the Year.  

The new award was an initiative of the coaches to recognise players and defensive roles that are critical to winning games, with Wilkie polling 42 votes to win, ahead of Harris Andrews (Brisbane), Tom McCartin (Sydney) and Connor O'Sullivan (Geelong), who all polled 30 votes. 

The award is voted on by the 18 coaching panels on a 2,1 basis after each home and away game, with the AFLCA conducting a pilot of the voting system in 2025. 

Voting recognises defensive impact across a range of roles and actions, the AFLCA said, including match-ups on opposition players, intercept marks, effective tackles and spoils.

AFLCA CHAMPION PLAYER LEADERBOARD

147 Nick Daicos (Collingwood)  
109 Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) 
99 Max Gawn (Melbourne)   
91 Will Ashcroft (Brisbane)   
85 Bailey Smith (Geelong) 
84 Isaac Heeney (Sydney) 
81 Patrick Cripps (Carlton)  
80 Jordan Dawson (Adelaide)  
79 Brodie Grundy (Sydney)  
77 Luke Jackson (Fremantle)