Pearce Hanley’s impressive start to the 2013 season has been recognised by both his own and opposition coaches – with the 24 year-old Irishman leading the way for the Lions in the AFL Coaches Association's Champion Player of the Year award.

Hanley currently ranks equal fourth in the race for the prestigious award with a total of 17 votes.

He received an equal game-high nine votes from last Saturday’s night’s QClash 5 – the same number awarded to eventual Marcus Ashcroft Medallist Jonathan Brown – after polling eight votes in the side’s Round 2 loss against Adelaide.

Sam Mayes earned a vote from the coaches for his stunning AFL debut, while Jack Redden also received his first vote for 2013.

The AFLCA’s Player of the Year award is determined by the AFL coaches, who award votes to the five players who they consider ‘best’ at the end of their respective matches (using the 5-4-3-2-1 format).

A player can therefore receive a maximum of 10 votes on any given week.

Hanley is currently just three votes shy of Sydney Captain Jarrad McVeigh, who leads the star-studded field with 20 votes from three games, while Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin is outright second with 19 votes.

AFLCA Round 3 Votes: Suns v Lions  
9 - Jonathan Brown (BL)
9 - Pearce Hanley (BL)
5 - Jared Brennan (GC)?
3 - Harley Bennell (GC)?
2 - Greg Broughton (GC)
1 - Sam Mayes (BL)
1 - Jack Redden (BL)

LEADERBOARD?
20 - Jarrad McVeigh (Syd)
19 - Trent Cotchin (Rich)
18 - Travis Boak (Port)
18 - Kieren Jack (Syd)?
18 - Justin Westhoff (Port)
17 - Nathan Fyfe (Frem)?
17 - Pearce Hanley (BL)
17 Jobe Watson (Ess)
16 Grant Birchall (Haw)
15 David Armitage (St K)