FOR THE SECOND consecutive season, Clayton Oliver has claimed the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year Award, tying with Gold Coast’s Touk Miller.

The Demons’ superstar polled 98 votes from his 21 matches – 16 shy of his 114-vote tally last year – including four perfect outings and just four vote-less weeks.

His most recent 10-vote haul came against the Lions in the final round of the season, seeing him leap to the top of the leaderboard and retain his crown.

In 2022, the 25-year-old averaged a league-high 33.5 disposals, 17.7 contested possessions and 8.7 clearances per game.

Oliver also racked up 6.5 loose ball gets, 6.1 hard ball gets and 5.4 inside 50s per outing, ranking among the game’s best players in a range of key statistical categories.

But the midfielder’s impact transcends numbers, taking his side to second position on the AFL ladder.

His senior coach, Simon Goodwin, who has consistently voted for the on-baller, was full of praise on Wednesday night.

"Clayton’s desire to be great, teamed with an enormous will to win and his ability to perform at consistently high levels, has seen him produce another unbelievable season,” Goodwin said.

“To be recognised by the coaches as their Champion Player for a second straight season, an award I believe is the best a player can receive, is a real credit to Clayton.

“He is thoroughly deserving of the recognition, and I couldn’t be prouder of how he goes about bringing his best for the team week in, week out.” 

Oliver will be adding to a trophy cabinet that already consists of three Melbourne best and fairest awards (2017, 2019, 2021), three All-Australian blazers and a 2021 premiership medal.

Teammate Christian Petracca was neck and neck with Oliver on the leaderboard for much of the season, finishing in fourth place with 89 votes, behind Brisbane’s Lachie Neale (92).

The AFLCA award has been handed out since 2003, with coaches from both sides casting their votes after each home-and-away game in a 5-4-3-2-1 format.