The first five rounds of voting in the Great Southern Football League coaches’ player of the year award have been revealed, with young guns Ryley Valli and Ryan Lazar at the top of the standings.

Railways midfielder Valli, who came second in the award last year, holds an 11-vote lead over Royals ball-winner Lazar at the conclusion of round five.

All six league coaches cast a 5-4-3-2-1 vote for each GSFL game, and there has been plenty of variety in the opening part of the season.

Albany trio Isaac Baum, Addison Dew and Cameron Jones are in the top five after strong starts to the season, while Mt Barker new recruit Isaiah Hayden and Denmark-Walpole rising star Ryan Hick have also polled prominently.

Valli started strongly with nine votes in the Anzac Day win over North Albany and polled in rounds two and three before grabbing a perfect 10 in the Tigers’ round four victory over Denmark-Walpole.

Lazar picked up five votes in the season opener against the Bulls and polled in two other matches before a 10-vote performance against the Magpies in round five.

Across the first five rounds there have only been a few perfect 10-vote games, as judged by the coaches.

Valli and Lions’ Corey Ward were the first players recognised unanimously by the coaches as best-afield, in round four.

Ward’s efforts came in the Lions’ win over North Albany, while Valli produced a dominant display for the Tigers at McLean Park.

Bulls’ Camball McMahon received 10 votes for his display against North Albany in round five.

Lazar was judged best-on-ground by both Lions coach James Culleton and Magpies player-coach James Charlesworth in round five.

In the Tigers’ first loss of the season, Sharks recruit Addison Dew polled all 10 votes as his side claimed an impressive win at Fitstop Stadium.

2026 Coaches’ Player of the Year Award

Voting

Round 1

North Albany v Railways

9 Ryley Valli (RAIL)

7 Coen Marwick (RAIL)

5 Bodhi Stubber (RAIL)

5 Tom Geddes (RAIL)

2 Brendan Scott (NA)

1 Drew Willcocks (NA)

1 Lorcan McNamara (RAIL)

Denmark-Walpole v Albany

8 Isaac Baum (ALB)

5 Angus Allen (DW)

4 Reagan Hutchinson (DW)

4 James Charlesworth (DW)

3 Jayden Woods (DW)

3 Clay Harrington (ALB)

2 Felix Shackleton (ALB)

1 Cody Kerr (DW)

Royals v Mt Barker

9 Travis Conn (ROY)

6 Kane Pinney (ROY)

5 Ryan Lazar (ROY)

3 Travis Hartzer (MB)

3 Riley Connelly (MB)

2 Ryan Flick (ROY)

1 Darcy Lubcke (MB)

1 Brent Parsons (MB)

Round 2

Railways v Royals

8 Ryan Davies (RAIL)

5 Jayden Scott (RAIL)

4 Ryley Valli (RAIL)

4 Corey Ward (ROY)

4 Kane Pinney (ROY)

3 Bodhi Stubber (RAIL)

2 Teague Valli (RAIL)

Mt Barker v Denmark-Walpole

9 Isaiah Hayden (MB)

6 Tyler Stone (DW)

4 Riley Connelly (MB)

3 Brent Parsons (MB)

3 Travis Hartzer (MB)

3 Ryan Hick (DW)

2 Tarik Hartfield (DW)

Albany v North Albany

9 Addison Dew (ALB)

6 Bryce Blaszkow (ALB)

5 Robbie Lee (ALB)

3 Declan Reid (ALB)

3 Isaac Baum (ALB)

2 Harry Hordacre (ALB)

1 Clay Harrington (ALB)

1 Kobi Keen (NA)

Round 3

Royals v Albany

8 Brayden Parker (ROY)

8 Cameron Jones (ALB)

5 Declan McNamara (ROY)

3 Lewis Bosch (ALB)

2 Isaac Baum (ALB)

2 Ryan Lazar (ROY)

1 Saxon Henrickson (ROY)

1 Nathan Powell (ROY)

Mt Barker v Railways

9 Milan Jaggi (RAIL)

5 Ryley Valli (RAIL)

5 Ryan Davies (RAIL)

4 Bailin Curtis (RAIL)

3 Coen Marwick (RAIL)

2 Lorcan McNamara (RAIL)

1 Brent Parsons (MB)

1 Lachie Cale (RAIL)

Denmark-Walpole v North Albany

8 Reagan Hutchinson (DW)

5 Brendan Girak (DW)

5 James Charlesworth (DW)

4 Ryan Hick (DW)

3 Jayden Pickett (DW)

2 Jyrin Woods (NA)

2 Ted Batchelor (NA)

1 Drew Willcocks (NA)

Round 4

Denmark-Walpole v Railways

10 Ryley Valli (RAIL)

6 Ryan Hick (DW)

5 Tarik Hartfield (DW)

4 Hayden Leo (RAIL)

2 Milan Jaggi (RAIL)

2 Teague Valli (RAIL)

1 Reagan Hutchinson (DW)

North Albany v Royals

10 Corey Ward (ROY)

8 Nic Ashford (ROY)

5 Kobi Keen (NA)

4 Ryan Lazar (ROY)

2 Cameron Lazar (ROY)

1 Regan Lloyd (NA)

Albany v Mt Barker

9 Cameron Jones (ALB)

7 Isaiah Hayden (MB)

6 Lewis Bosch (ALB)

6 Isaac Baum (ALB)

1 Teasjaun Woods (ALB)

1 Seb Ballard (MB)

Round 5

Mt Barker v North Albany

10 Camball McMahon (MB)

8 Keane Griffiths (MB)

6 William Bryars (MB)

2 Dante Wiseman (MB)

2 Seb Ballard (MB)

1 Chad Myors (NA)

1 Kobi Keen (NA)

Royals v Denmark-Walpole

10 Ryan Lazar (ROY)

4 Ryan Flick (ROY)

4 Roc Hughes (DW)

3 James Charlesworth (DW)

3 Ryan Hick (DW)

2 Reagan Hutchinson (DW)

2 Kane Pinney (ROY)

1 Seth Bocian (ROY)

1 Marlon Mastalerz (DW)

Railways v Albany

10 Addison Dew (ALB)

4 Daniel Thomas (RAIL)

4 Ryley Valli (RAIL)

3 Clay Harrington (ALB)

3 Teasjaun Woods (ALB)

2 Tom Geddes (RAIL)

2 Milan Jaggi (RAIL)

1 Morgan Davies (ALB)

1 Cameron Jones (ALB)

Leaderboard

32: Ryley Valli (RAIL)

21: Ryan Lazar (ROY)

19: Isaac Baum (ALB)

Addison Dew (ALB)

18: Cameron Jones (ALB)

16: Isaiah Hayden (MB)

Ryan Hick (DW)

15: Reagan Hutchinson (DW)

14: Corey Ward (ROY)

13: Ryan Davies (RAIL)

Milan Jaggi (RAIL)

12: James Charlesworth (DW)

Kane Pinney (ROY)

10: Coen Marwick (RAIL)

Camball McMahon (MB)