The standout performance of Cale Hooker in Sunday afternoon’s win against Port Adelaide has been recognised by Ken Hinkley and James Hird who awarded him a maximum 10 votes in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year Award.

Hooker starred in his most impressive performance of the season collecting a career high 30 disposals, 13 marks and 8 intercept marks against the Power.

It is Hooker’s first ever best on ground performance form the in the coaches award in a sign of his improvement throughout the last 12 months.

Tom Bellchambers was also recognised for his five-goal haul on Sunday in collecting seven votes from the coaches following the 30-point win.

Bellchambers was the second best Bomber in the AFLCA voting with midfielder David Zaharakis gathering four votes for his 27 disposals.

Zaharakis’s ability to step up in the absence of skipper Jobe Watson shone through as he proved his ability to run and carry the ball setting up the Bombers forward thrusts.

Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert collected five votes as the best Port Adelaide player while Dyson Heppell and Jake Melksham both received two votes from the coaches.

Watson is the top ranked Bomber after Round 15 sitting on 54 votes behind Gary Ablett but his hopes of winning the award look to be dashed following his broken collarbone that will see him miss the next month.

Round 15 - Essendon v Port Adelaide votes
10 Cale Hooker (Essendon)
7 Tom Bellchambers (Essendon)
5 Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide)
4 David Zaharakis (Essendon)
2 Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
2 Jake Melksham (Essendon)

AFLCA Player of the Year Leaderboard – Round 15
75 Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
62 Kieren Jack (Sydney)
57 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
54 Daniel Hannebery (Sydney)
54 Scott Pendelbury (Collingwod)
54 Jobe Watson (Essendon)
47 Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs)
46 Joel Selwood (Geelong)