Star Western Bulldogs midfielder Marcus Bontempelli has been crowned the 2019 Shadforth Financial Group AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year.

Bontempelli became the first ever Bulldogs player to win the prestigious award, which is in its 18^th year.

The 23-year-old polled 107 votes to finish 17 clear of Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield and a further two votes ahead of Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe.

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The Bulldogs had three players in the top 10, with Jack Macrae in ninth place (75 votes) and Josh Dunkley finishing 10^th (72 votes).

Bontempelli’s scintillating form in the second half of the year clinched the award - he was in ninth place after 12 rounds and had stormed into the lead by Round 20.

He was given five votes in Round 21, six in Round 22 and eight in the final round.

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Bontempelli polled votes in 16 out of 22 games this season - the most by any player in the competition.

The AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year is voted on by the 18 club coaching panels on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort to an individual player in a season. 

For the final leaderboard, click here.