Nic Naitanui was the most influential player in Saturday night’s elimination final at Optus Stadium, according to Adam Simpson and Nathan Buckley.

The senior coaches afforded West Coast’s marquee big man a perfect 10 AFL Coaches Association Gary Ayres Award votes for a performance that boasted 24 hitouts, 17 disposals, seven clearances and five inside 50 entries.

Only Naitanui and Brisbane’s Daniel Rich polled 10 AFLCA votes in the opening week of the finals.

Simpson and Buckley saw Liam Ryan as the next best Eagle afield.

The 2020 All Australian forward did everything he could to will the Eagles over the line, amassing 16 disposals, nine contested possessions, six marks, six score involvements and a goal against Collingwood.

The only other Eagle to poll was Jack Darling, who collected two votes for his 13-disposal, six-mark and three-goal effort against the Magpies.

WEST COAST v COLLINGWOOD

10 Nic Naitanui (WCE)
4 Brody Mihocek (COLL)
4 Taylor Adams (COLL)
3 Liam Ryan (WCE)
3 Mason Cox (COLL)
2 Jack Darling (WCE)
2 Adam Treloar (COLL)
1 Levi Greenwood (COLL)
1 Josh Daicos (COLL)