Sydney superstar Lance Franklin has been voted as the game's most valuable player by the coaches in a recent survey, with over half of those surveyed voting in favour of the Swans forward.
17 of the 18 league coaches took part in the anonymous questionnaire for AFL.com.au, with nine of them voting for Franklin due to his ranging skill-set.
Coaches were asked to choose their most valuable player based on on-field ability, their position, their ability to draw a crowd, as well as their leadership qualities.
Franklin just edged out Geelong star and reigning Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield, who gathered seven votes.
Adelaide small forward Eddie Betts was the only other player who received a vote.
The coaches also predicted the winner of the AFL Rising Star award, with all believing it would be between just three men.
Port Adelaide's Sam Powell-Pepper garnered six votes and is the coaches' favourite for the award, with Essendon's Andrew McGrath (five votes) and Hawthorn's Ryan Burton (four votes) rounding out the standouts.
Interestingly, the coaches also decided the Brownlow Medal is not the game's best individual award, and said club best and fairest awards are just as important.
Both accolades gathered seven votes each, with three coaches suggesting the AFLCA coaches' award was the greatest.
You can read the full survey in the round 20 edition of the AFL Record. Coaches also voted on a range of other issues, which you can read about here.
