In just his 21^st AFL match, Sydney Swans forward Isaac Heeney was the star of the show on Saturday night against the Bombers collecting nine votes from the coaches for his eye-catching performance.

The livewire forward, who celebrated his 20^th birthday last week, kicked a career-high five goals to go with his 22 possessions and nine marks.

With 29 goals in seven matches, Lance Franklin’s hot start to the season was rewarded with seven votes from John Longmire and John Worsfold.

Franklin has now surged into the top 10 of the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year award for the first time this season.

The forward duo weren’t the only Swans to impress on Saturday night with Josh Kennedy’s 40-disposal effort earning him seven votes while Dan Hannebery picked up two votes and Heath Grundy one vote.

For the Bombers, David Zaharakis was the only player in red and black to register votes picking up four from the coaches.

AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year Award

Round 7 – Swans v Essendon
9 – Isaac Heeney
7 – Lance Franklin
7 – Josh Kennedy
4 – David Zaharakis
2 – Dan Hannebery
1 – Heath Grundy

Overall leaderboard
39 – Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
39 – Joel Selwood (Geelong)
36 – Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
36 – Jack Viney (Melbourne)
34 – Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)
34 – Luke Parker (Sydney)
28 – Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
28 – Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne)
26 – Lance Franklin (Sydney)
26 – Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)