Hard nut Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins has received his first coaches votes for the year after a standout performance during the Cats 24 point loss to Richmond on Friday night. 

Atkins had 24 touches, eight score involvements and seven intercept possessions to go along with game highs in contested possessions (15) and clearances (6) and a team high six tackles. 

His 24 touches was a season high and eight above his season average. 

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.

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Round 9 | Daisy Pearce

Join Daisy Pearce in a Member Exclusive as she summarises Geelong's Round 9 performance against Richmond.

Coaches. Votes

8 - Nathan Broad (RICH)
7- Jayden Short (RICH)
6 - Dustin Martin (RICH)
5 - Daniel Rioli (RICH)
3 -Tom Atkins (GEEL)
1 - Liam Baker (RICH)

Leaderboard 

51 - Nick Daicos (COLL)
43 - Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
43 - Christian Petracca (MELB)
41 - Zak Butters (PORT)
38 - Clayton Oliver (MELB)
36 - Jordan De Goey (COLL)
34 - Jeremy Cameron (GEEL)
34 - Jordan Dawson ADEL)
34 - Callum Wilkie (STK)
32 - Noah Anderson (GC)