Star Western Bulldogs midfielder Marcus Bontempelli has won the AFL Coaches Award for the first time.
Bontempelli capped his win in the prestige coaches association award by polling eight out of a possible 10 votes in Sunday’s big win over Adelaide.
He went into round 23 with an unbeatable lead and finished on 107, while 2016 winner Patrick Dangerfield from Geelong was runner-up on 90.
Bontempelli is certain to be named in the All-Australian team for the second time on Wednesday night.
He, Dangerfield and third-placed Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe are also among the main Brownlow Medal favourites.
Fyfe polled 88 votes, two ahead of Dangerfield’s teammate Tim Kelly.
Fellow Bulldogs Jack Macrae (ninth) and Josh Dunkley (10th) also made the top 10 .
Bontempelli, Macrae and Dunkley were key players as the Bulldogs won seven of their last nine games to storm into the top eight.
The Bulldogs will start favourites on Saturday week in the elimination final against GWS at Giants Stadium.