Sam Walsh has taken out the Gary Ayers Award as the best-performing player in the AFL Finals Series.
After each post-season game, the coaches from both clubs will pick their best players using a 5-4-3-2-1 system, with ten being the maximum votes for finals weeks one to three.
The Carlton midfielder polled in all three finals appearances, edging out Brisbane's Keidean Coleman and Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill for the award.
Walsh averaged 32 disposals in September and was the standout in Carlton's first postseason campaign since 2013.
As of 2022, votes received in the AFL Grand Final will receive a 1.5x loading.
The honour is handed down by the AFL Coaches Association, much like the prestigious Champion Player of the Year award.
MORE: AFL Coaches Votes leaderboard 2023
Gary Ayers Award leaderboard
The AFLCA has released votes for the Grand Final, with Hill earning the maximum 15 votes on Saturday and Coleman receiving 10.5 votes to finish second overall.
| Club | Player | Votes |
| Carlton | Sam Walsh | 23 |
| Brisbane | Keidean Coleman | 20.5 |
| Collingwood | Bobby Hill | 19 |
| GWS | Tom Green | 17 |
| Collingwood | Jack Crisp | 16 |
| GWS | Stephen Coniglio | 10 |
| GWS | Josh Kelly | 12 |
| Collingwood | Jordan De Goey | 10 |
| Brisbane | Josh Dunkley | 10 |
| Brisbane | Hugh McClugage | 10 |
| Carlton | Blake Acres | 9 |
| Collingwood | Nick Daicos | 9 |
| Brisbane | Joe Daniher | 8.5 |
Previous Gary Ayres Award winners
| Year | Club | Winner |
| 2022 | Geelong | Patrick Dangerfield |
| 2021 | Western Bulldogs | Jack Macrae |
| 2020 | Richmond | Dustin Martin |
| 2019 | Richmond | Dustin Martin |
| 2018 | Collingwood | Steele Sidebottom |
| 2017 | Richmond | Dustin Martin |
| 2016 | Sydney | Josh Kennedy |
Who is Gary Ayers?
Gary Ayers played 269 AFL games for Hawthorn from 1978 to 1993, retiring with five Hawks premierships to his name.
The legendary defender won two Norm Smith Medals, in 1986 and 1988, and would immediately turn his attention to coaching after an illustrious playing career.
Ayers coached 116 games with Geelong and 107 with Adelaide before resigning in 2004. He made one grand final appearance as a senior coach, in his first season (1995) at the helm of the Cats.
