Sydney Swans trio Logan McDonald, Tom Papley and Errol Gulden have each claimed eight votes from the coaches following the side's 53-point victory over Brisbane in a fiery qualifying final at the SCG on Saturday evening.

The three, alongside with teammates Charlie Curnow and James Rowbottom swept the coaches votes following the side's victory.

Midfielder Errol Gulden had a game high 34 disposals, 915m gained, eight clerances  and a goal in his standout performance, while McDonald (six goals) and Papley (five goals) led the charge in the forward line. 

Charlie Curnow also kicked give majors to earn four votes while Rowbottom was impactful with his defence with a team high seven tackles, seven clearances and 13 disposals.

Votes Player (Club)
8 Logan McDonald (SYD)
8 Tom Papley (SYD)
8 Errol Gulden (SYD)
4 Charlie Curnow (SYD)
2 James Rowbottom (SYD)

 

View the leaderboard for the Gary Ayres Award (Best Finals Player)

11:17

One of the greatest wins in Sydney Swans history | Inside Sydney

Go behind the scenes for our historical 53 point win over the Lions to book our spot in a home preliminary final.

QUALIFYING FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • 11:17

    One of the greatest wins in Sydney Swans history | Inside Sydney

    Go behind the scenes for our historical 53 point win over the Lions to book our spot in a home preliminary final.

    AFL
    Inside Sydney
  • 05:27

    In the rooms after our historic QF win

    Special scenes in the changerooms after one of the best win's in Sydney Swans history

    AFL
  • 00:23

    Play of the week - Qualifying Final

    Two elite tackles in the first half to set the tone for our defensive pressure Play(s) of the week, presented by IREN

    AFL
  • 10:27

    Full post-match, QF: Swans

    Watch Sydney’s press conference after their qualifying final match against Brisbane

    AFL
  • 02:25

    Victory Paps: Watch five-goal Swan turn September into pure theatre

    Tom Papley lights up the finals with a stunning five-goal haul, feeding off the SCG energy and delivering a performance to remember

    AFL
  • 00:25

    Team Song: Sydney

    Watch the Swans celebrate their qualifying final win

    AFL
  • 03:29

    Quick Recap: Sydney v Brisbane

    Short highlights of the Swans and Lions clash in the second qualifying final of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

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  • 08:18

    Highlights: Sydney v Brisbane

    The Swans and Lions clash in the second qualifying final of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

    AFL
  • 00:41

    Charlie's latest piece of magic sends stadium and coaches' box wild

    Charlie Curnow produces another dazzling finish in a rampant third term, sending the crowd and Dean Cox into a frenzy

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Goal of the finals? Gulden's epic burst brings the house down

    Errol Gulden charges through the middle, gets the footy back and finishes brilliantly on his left to send the SCG into a frenzy

    AFL
  • 00:51

    The Papley show continues in full box-office mode

    Tom Papley bags another two goals in the third term and celebrates with trademark passion as the SCG erupts around him

    AFL
  • 00:55

    'It looked like it was missing': Swan's sweet shot bends back from nowhere

    Tom Papley's brilliant tackle sparks another forward surge before Logan McDonald somehow squeezes one home

    AFL
  • 01:09

    Horror Swans scenes as skipper suffers worrying knee injury

    Sydney is dealt a massive blow as captain Callum Mills is helped from the field after suffering a knee injury

    AFL
  • 01:10

    SCG gets louder as Lion's 'deliberate' rushed behind fuels the fire

    Tom Papley cashes in after Jaspa Fletcher is pinged for rushing the footy through as Sydney's relentless early siege rolls on

    AFL
  • 00:59

    Charlie goes full circus early as one-hander sparks opener

    Charlie Curnow pulls down an eye-catching grab before Logan McDonald finishes the chain for the opening goal of the game

    AFL
  • 09:10

    "The intensity goes up a notch" - Rowbottom

    Hear from Swans midfielder James Rowbottom ahead of our Qualifying Final against Brisbane.

    AFL

The AFL Coaches Association Gary Ayres Award is presented in recognition of the player who has been adjudged as the best player throughout the AFL Finals series, as voted by the coaches on a weekly basis throughout the duration of the AFL Finals Series. 

Votes are issued after every game of the AFL Finals series by the competing coaches, with each coach providing their 5-4-3-2-1 for the match. 

From 2022 any AFL Grand Final votes issued will receive 1.5 times loading.

ABOUT GARY AYRES

Gary Ayres was a member of 5 Hawthorn premiership teams – 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1991 and is a two time Norm Smith Medallist, adjudged best on ground in 1986 and 1988.

Ayres coached 223 AFL games between 1995 and 2004: 116 with Geelong and 107 with Adelaide.