West Coast star Nic Naitanui will be awarded the unique best afield trophy from Saturday’s victory over Sydney after receiving the maximum 10 votes from both coaches.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the normal on-field presentations of the HMAS Sydney II trophy to the winning team and player adjudged best afield were not held at Metricon Stadium.

It was agreed the winning player would be decided by the AFL Coaches Association votes and Naitanui edged out Elliot Yeo (eight) to claim the honour, which will be bestowed upon him during 2021.

The Finding Sydney Foundation donates the trophies, with the best afield award based on the casing of a 78mm shell (pictured below) fired by the HMAS Sydney IV.

Naitanui was deemed to have displayed the greatest courage, skill in adversity, teamwork and fighting spirit of any player as the talismanic Eagle led the team to a much-needed 34-point triumph.

He amassed 39 hit-outs, 11 disposals, seven clearances and laid four tackles against the Swans as West Coast recorded its first victory over the club’s fierce rivals since 2017.

Naitanui also receives a pure silver 2008 HMAS Commemorative Coin as a keepsake, minted after the ship’s discovery, by the Perth Mint.

Eagles players claimed all the coaches votes from Saturday’s match, with Dom Sheed and Oscar Allen earning four apiece, while Liam Duggan (three) and Brad Sheppard (one) also polled.