The AFL's Mr. September, Will Ashcroft, has rocketed into the lead of the AFLCA's Gary Ayres Award.
After six votes from the coaches for his handiwork in Brisbane's win over Hawthorn, Ashcroft leapfrogged Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson, who was awarded two votes for his combative performance, lined up against veteran Swans ruckman, Brodie Grundy.
Ashcroft sits on 14 votes, one ahead of Jackson's 13, with both men expected to line up at the first centre ball up of Saturday's AFL Grand Final.
The Grand Final carries with it a 1.5x multiplier as far as the prestigious Gary Ayres Award is concerned, meaning whoever takes the chocolates on Saturday is all but certain to claim the title of the AFL's premier finals performer for the 2026 season.
Ashcroft is seeking to add to the Gary Ayres Award he claimed last season. Already boasting two Norm Smith Medals, a second Gary Ayres Award would see Ashcroft join legendary Tiger Dustin Martin (2017, 2019, 2020) as the only multiple-time winners of the gong.
| Votes | Player | Team |
| 10 | Caleb Serong | Fremantle |
| 8 | Hayden Young | Fremantle |
| 5 | Tom McCartin | Sydney |
| 3 | Shai Bolton | Fremantle |
| 2 | Luke Jackson | Fremantle |
| 1 | Andrew Brayshaw | Fremantle |
| 1 | Errol Gulden | Sydney |
| Votes | Player | Team |
| 10 | Nick Watson | Hawthorn |
| 7 | Hugh McCluggage | Brisbane |
| 6 | Will Ashcroft | Brisbane |
| 5 | Josh Ward | Josh Ward |
| 2 | Kai Lohmann | Brisbane |
LEADERBOARD
| Votes | Player | Team |
| 14 | Will Ashcroft | Brisbane |
| 13 | Luke Jackson | Fremantle |
| 13 | Nick Watson | Hawthorn |
| 12 | Hayden Young | Fremantle |
| 11 | Caleb Serong | Fremantle |
| 10 | Zac Bailey | Brisbane |
| 10 | Josh Worrell | Adelaide |
| 9 | Josh Battle | Hawthorn |
| 9 | Shai Bolton | Fremantle |
| 9 | Patrick Dangerfield | Geelong |
| 9 | Errol Gulden | Sydney |
| 9 | Shaun Mannagh | Geelong |
| 9 | James Sicily | Hawthorn |
