Sydney Swans midfielder Luke Parker has returned to football with a bang earning a perfect 10 votes by the coaches for his outstanding performance against Collingwood on Saturday night at the SCG.
Parker had 40 disposals, eight marks and a goal in his first match back since breaking his leg against the same opponent at the SCG in Round 20 last season.
It was all red and white in the coaches votes with Jake Lloyd and Tom Mitchell each receiving six votes from John Longmire and Nathan Buckley.
Co-captain Kieren Jack was rewarded with five votes for his 35 touches and four tackles while Lance Franklin received three votes after kicking four goals in a half of football.
Parker was one of six players to receive a maximum ten votes from the coaches in Round 1, along with Richmond’s Kane Lambert, Melbourne’s Jack Viney, Gold Coast’s Aaron Hall, Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray and Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield.
Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery is the reigning AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year pipping Fremantle’s Brownlow Medallists Nat Fyfe by one vote in the final round of the 2015 season.
AFL Coaches Association 2016 Player of the Year Votes
Sydney Swans v Collingwood
10 – Luke Parker
6 – Jake Lloyd
6 – Tom Mitchell
5 – Kieren Jack
3 – Lance Franklin
Round 1 Leaderboard
10 – Luke Parker (Sydney Swans)
10 – Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
10 – Aaron Hall (Gold Coast)
10 – Kane Lambert (Richmond)
10 – Jack Viney (Melbourne)
9 – Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
9 – Matt Priddis (West Coast)
8 – Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
8 – Josh Caddy (Geelong)
Parker's perfect ten
Luke Parker has returned to football with a bang earning a perfect 10 votes by the coaches for his outstanding performance against Collingwood on Saturday night.
