Four players have begun their 2024 finals campaigns perfectly, with all week one matches featuring a unanimously regarded best-on-ground performance.
The three blowouts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday were led by prolific efforts from Geelong running machine Max Holmes, Hawthorn beast Jai Newcombe and Lions' veteran Dayne Zorko.
None of these even remotely compared to Isaac Heeney's showing, however, as the All-Australian put the Swans on his back to lead a second-half charge down by five goals to come out qualifying final winners over GWS.
Like the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year Award, both coaches from each game will provide votes on the match in a 5-4-3-2-1 format.
Across the four weeks of finals, the player who has polled the most votes will be awarded the Gary Ayres Award as the player adjudged the best in the post-season.
The AFLCA have noted that votes in the Grand Final will receive a 1.5 times loading for the results.
Here are the votes from week one of the 2024 AFL finals...
10 - Max Holmes (GEEL)
7 - Shaun Mannagh (GEEL)
4 - Mark Blicavs (GEEL)
3 - Jeremy Cameron (GEEL)
3 - Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL)
2 - Tyson Stengle (GEEL)
1 - Zach Guthrie (GEEL)
10 - Jai Newcombe (HAW)
6 - James Sicily (HAW)
4 - Karl Amon (HAW)
4 - Lloyd Meek (HAW)
3 - Calsher Dear (HAW)
2 - Massimo D'Ambrosio (HAW)
1 - Connor Macdonald (HAW)
10 - Isaac Heeney (SYD)
5 - Tom Green (GWS)
5 - Jake Lloyd (SYD)
4 - Josh Kelly (GWS)
4 - Jack Buckley (GWS)
2 - Tom Papley (SYD)
10 - Dayne Zorko (BRIS)
8 - Hugh McCluggage (BRIS)
6 - Cameron Rayner (BRIS)
4 - Lachie Neale (BRIS)
1 - Darcy Wilmot (BRIS)
1 - Brandon Starcevich (BRIS)
| Votes | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Isaac Heeney | SYD |
| 10 | Max Holmes | GEEL |
| 10 | Jai Newcombe | HAW |
| 10 | Dayne Zorko | BL |
| 8 | Hugh McCluggage | BL |
| 7 | Shaun Mannagh | GEEL |
| 6 | Cameron Rayner | BL |
| 6 | James Sicily | HAW |
| 5 | Tom Green | GWS |
| 5 | Jake Lloyd | SYD |