Sydney Swans midfielder Callum Mills polled seven votes from the coaches following Saturday’s clash against Melbourne in Round 8.

Sydney Swans midfielder Callum Mills led the way for the Swans, polling seven votes for the AFL Coaches Association’s AFL Champion Player Award following Saturday’s clash against Melbourne.

In his 100^th game, Mills was put in a star performance with one goal, 33 disposals and 10 tackles.

Mills led the way for the Swans with seven votes whilst Tom Hickey also polled one vote.

Melbourne’s Tom McDonald polled the full 10 votes, whilst Clayton Oliver (6), Steven May (3), James Harmes (2) and Christian Salem (1) also polled votes.

VOTES PLAYER (CLUB)
10 Tom McDonald (MELB)
7 Callum Mills (SYD)
6 Clayton Oliver (MELB)
3 Steven May (MELB)
2 James Harmes (MELB)
1 Tom Hickey (SYD)
1 Christian Salem (MELB)

The AFL Coaches Association’s AFL Champion Player Award is an award voted by the 18 coaching panels on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort by an individual player in a season.

Brisbane Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage leads the way, topping the leaderboard with 42 votes after eight rounds. Tom Hickey tops the Sydney poll with 25 votes.

VOTES PLAYER CLUB
42 Hugh McCluggage BL
38 David Mundy FRE
34 Max Gawn MELB
34 Touk Miller GCFC
34 Ollie Wines PORT
33 Jack Macrae WB
32 Marcus Bontempelli WB
32 Clayton Oliver MELB
32 Christian Salem MELB
31 Samuel Walsh CARL
29 Zach Merrett ESS
28 Christian Petracca MELB
28 Taylor Walker ADEL
26 Travis Boak PORT
25 Tom Hickey SYD
24 Darcy Moore COLL
24 Jaeger O'Meara HAW

The Carey-Bunton Medal recognises the best NSW-bred player in the AFL, with the medal will be awarded to the NSW player who records the most votes in the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year Award. The leaderboard after round three is below.

Mills is now on 20 votes for the season and is closing in on the award leaders Adelaide forward Taylor Walker on 28 and Jacob Hopper of GWS Giants with 23.

Meanwhile, last year’s medal winner Tom Hawkins (Geelong) scored three votes for the Cats in their stunning victory over reigning premier Richmond.

VOTES ROUND 8
28 Taylor Walker (North Broken Hill) – Adelaide
23 Jacob Hopper (Leeton-Whitton) - GWS Giants
20 Callum Mills (Mosman) - Sydney Swans (R8 7 votes v MEL)
10 Sam Wicks (Manly-Warringah) – Sydney Swans
9 Errol Gulden (UNSW-Eastern Suburbs) - Sydney Swans
8 Lachie Schultz ((Moama) – Fremantle
5 Braeden Campbell (Pennant Hills) – Sydney Swans
6 Jacob Koschitzke (Albury) – Hawthorn
5 Tom Hawkins (Finley) – Geelong (R8 3 votes v RIC)
4 Isaac Heeney (Cardiff) - Sydney Swans
3 Matthew Flynn (Narrandera) - GWS Giants
3 Harry Perryman (Collingullie) - GWS Giants 
2 Jarrad Witts (Sydney University) – Gold Coast
2 Todd Marshall (Deniliquin) – Port Adelaide (R8 1 vote v ADL)
1 Harry Cunningham (Turvey Park) - Sydney Swans
1 Isaac Smith (Cootamundra) – Geelong