Hannebery wins AFL coaches award

Sydney midfielder Dan Hannebery has polled seven votes in the final-round win over Gold Coast to edge out Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe and win the AFL Coaches Association player of the year award.

Hannebery polled 101 votes, one clear of Fyfe.

West Coast’s Coleman Medal winner Josh Kennedy was third on 87 votes with his Eagles teammate and 2014 Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis in fourth spot on 75.

“It’s a really humbling award – something you do hold in high regard because you do respect all of the senior coaches,” said the 24-year-old Hannebery.

It capped a big day for the onballer, who was also named in the preliminary 40-man All-Australian squad.

“It’s probably been my most consistent season,” Hannebery told Fox Footy.

“A couple of years ago I probably had a better first half of the year.

“I was challenged at the end of last season to come back (fitter) and that I’d probably play a bit more inside and not just purely on the wing.

“To be able to adapt to that role has been exciting.”

Fyfe missed four of the Dockers’ last six games due to injury and did not poll any votes after round 13.

He also finished runner-up last year in the AFLCA player of the year award to Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray.

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