RHYS Mathieson responded to being deposed in second spot in the Smithy’s VFL Coaches Player of the Year award with another Beast Mode display as the Brisbane Lions downed Collingwood at the AIA Centre on Saturday.

Mathieson polled the perfect 10 votes for his 43-disposal, seven-mark, seven-clearance, 10-inside-50, two-goal masterclass to regain the outside spot on the front row of the grid from Boyd Woodcock, who picked up five votes in Southport’s win over Frankston, but leader Jacob Dawson extended his lead with yet another seven votes.

Carlton’s Paddy Dow (37 disposals, six marks, seven clearances, one goal) and Footscray captain Lachie Sullivan (27 disposals, seven clearances, eight tackles, three goals) both strengthened their positions in the top 10 with perfect games against Coburg and Box Hill Hawks respectively, while Casey Demon Mitch Brown (21 disposals, 10 marks, 6.6) and Richmond’s Jake Aarts (24 possessions, seven marks, seven clearances, two goals) were also unanimously best-on-ground in their matches.

Sydney now has three players in the top 10 after Joel Amartey earned seven votes against Sandringham to move ahead of Ryan Clarke and Lewis Taylor, neither of whom lined up against the Zebras due to AFL duty.

Shark Mike Manteit, Swan James Bell and North Melbourne’s Harry Jones all polled nine votes for their excellent performances in victories, while Ethan Phillips' eight votes lifted the star Port Melbourne defender into the top 10.

As with the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year, the VFL award is voted on by the coaches of each club after every game.

The coaches are awarding 5-4-3-2-1 to their best players in the game from either team, with those votes collated and revealed each week on vfl.com.au.

A total of 18 new players attracted the coaches’ attention in Round 14, making it 382 to have polled so far this season.

ROUND 14 VOTES

Port Melbourne 9.7 (61) def Werribee 7.16 (58)
8 Ethan Phillips (PM)
6 Anthony Anastasio (PM)
6 Matt Hanson (Wer)
4 Nick Coughlan (Wer)
3 Marcus Lentini (PM)
2 Shaun Mannagh (Wer)
1 Tom Cameron (PM)

Southport 16.19 (115) def Frankston 4.11 (35)
9 Mike Manteit (Sou)
7 Jacob Dawson (Sou)
5 Boyd Woodcock (Sou)
5 Ryley Stoddart (Fra)
2 Tom Fields (Sou)
1 Joe Lloyd (Fra)
1 Max Pescud (Sou)

Sydney 13.12 (90) def Sandringham 10.9 (69)
9 Joel Amartey (Syd)
9 James Bell (Syd)
4 Tom Campbell (San)
4 Tom Highmore (San)
4 Corey Warner (Syd)

Collingwood 11.6 (72) lost to Brisbane Lions 14.13 (97)
10 Rhys Mathieson (BL)
7 Darcy Fort (BL)
6 Tom Fullarton (BL)
3 Josh Carmichael (Col)
2 Tahj Abberley (BL)
1 Callum Ah Chee (BL)
1 Finlay Macrae (Col)

Footscray 14.10 (94) def Box Hill Hawks 6.10 (46)
10 Lachie Sullivan (Foo)
4 Sam Darcy (Foo)
4 Riley Garcia (Foo)
4 Lachie Hunter (Foo)
3 Buku Khamis (Foo)
2 Zaine Cordy (Foo)
2 Toby McLean (Foo)
1 Joel Garner (Foo)

Gold Coast 9.13 (67) lost to Casey Demons 21.17 (143)
10 Mitch Brown (Cas)
7 Luke Dunstan (Cas)
7 Jake Melksham (Cas)
2 Oskar Baker (Cas)
2 Kade Chandler (Cas)
1 Rory Atkins (GC)
1 Daniel Macpherson (GC)

Williamstown 10.12 (72) lost to Essendon 16.14 (110)
7 Joe Atley (Ess)
5 Tom Downie (Wil)
5 Cian McBride (Ess)
4 Jye Menzie (Ess)
3 Teia Miles (Wil)
3 Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Ess)
2 Tom Hird (Ess)
1 Stefan Rasinac (Ess)

Carlton 7.13 (55) def Coburg 7.9 (51)
10 Paddy Dow (Car)
4 Ben Crocker (Car)
4 Liam Stocker (Car)
4 Joel Trudgeon (Car)
3 Jesse Corigliano (Cob)
2 Nathan Boucher (Cob)
2 Will Hayes (Car)
1 Mitch Podhajski (Cob)

Geelong 13.11 (89) lost to Richmond 16.7 (103)
10 Jake Aarts (Ric)
7 Jye Chalcraft (Gee)
7 Noah Cumberland (Ric)
3 Jason Castagna (Ric)
2 Cooper Stephens (Gee)
1 Will Martyn (Ric)

North Melbourne 13.12 (90) def Northern Bullants 6.12 (48)
9 Harry Jones (NM)
7 Callum Coleman-Jones (NM)
4 Mat Walker (NM)
3 Jack Watkins (NM)
3 Tom Wilson (NB)
3 Jack Mahony (NM)
1 Josh Goater (NM)

GWS bye

SMITHY’S VFL COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR LEADERBOARD

85 Jacob Dawson (Sou) 7
67 Rhys Mathieson (BL) 10
63 Boyd Woodcock (Sou) 5
62 Paddy Dow (Car) 10
47 Luke Dunstan (Cas) 7
46 Lachie Sullivan (Foo) 10
40 Joel Amartey (Syd) 9
38 Ryan Clarke (Syd) dnp
38 Lewis Taylor (Syd) dnp
35 Ethan Phillips (PM) 8

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

All Smithy’s VFL matches in 2022 are live streamed free. The match of the round is screened on Channel 7 and 7Plus, while all other matches are live and available on demand via afl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. Radio station 3WBC 94.1 also broadcasts Box Hill Hawks matches.
To access live scores, results, ladder, stats and to link to live streams/replays, download the VFL/W Official App from the Apple or Google Play app stores.