Essendon midfielder Dyson Heppell has the opportunity to catapult into the top five of the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award with one round remaining.

The 22-year-old currently sits outright eighth on 68 votes, despite missing last weekend’s match due to a fractured hand.

Port Adelaide midfielder Robbie Gray wrapped up the award last weekend after amassing a substantial lead. The next best vote getter, Fremantle’s Nathan Fyfe, will miss round 23 through to suspension; whilst third placed Josh Kennedy is 19 votes behind Gray with 10 the maximum votes awarded in one round.

No Essendon player has be able to win the award since its inception in 2003, despite Heppell being awarded with the allied AFLCA Best Young Player of the Year just two seasons ago.

It has been a remarkable season for the 82-gamer who has taken it upon himself to lead the Bomber midfield for the majority of the year after the gaping hole left behind by captain Jobe Watson through injury.

In his fourth season the former top-10 draft pick has elevated his game to the heights of the elite in the AFL, averaging 28.4 disposals in 20 matches played, the sixth most of any other player in the competition.

Heppell is expected to return for the round-23 clash against the Blues after missing his first game of the year last weekend due to a fractured hand.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award Leader Board- Round 22