<p>The 2025 AFL Finals series is here!</p> <p>Eight teams are set to play for keeps in their quest to be crowned this year’s premiers and write new chapters of history for themselves and their footy clubs.</p> <p>The bigger the stage, the more individual performances are amplified. And for the best of the best over the four biggest games of the year, there’s another prestigious individual honour to be won — one that adds serious gravitas to any player's CV.</p> <p>It’s the Gary Ayres Award.</p> <p>Introduced in 2016, the Gary Ayres Award is presented to the player who accrues the most votes from the coaches throughout the Finals Series.</p> <p>Using the same 5-4-3-2-1 voting structure as the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year (for the home-and-away season), this award recognises the standout performer of September.</p> <p>So, who are the contenders to take it home in 2025? Here are Sportsbet’s picks for the players in the running for the coveted Gary Ayres Award:</p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p> <h2>Jordan Dawson</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Crows' captain has been front and centre in everything this season, almost single-handedly leading his team from 15th to the minor premiership.</p> <p>Already named All-Australian vice-captain, and tipped to poll well on Brownlow night, Dawson is primed to elevate even further as he steps back into finals footy — one of the few Crows with previous September experience.</p> <p>With Izak Rankine set to miss, Dawson will attract plenty of attention. But he’s shown all year he can shake a tag by pushing forward or behind the ball — and still draw both the footy and a man.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Nick Daicos</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Is there an award in the next 10–15 years that Nick Daicos won’t be among the favourites for?</p> <p>Maybe the Coleman… although we wouldn’t put it past him once he’s finished being one of the greatest midfielders of all time.</p> <p>The little champion carries so much of Collingwood’s hopes this September. As one of their prime movers in the middle and around the ground, he’s always in the game — and constantly influencing the outcome.</p> <p>How many votes he polls may well depend on how far the Pies go.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Lachie Neale</h2> <p>Last year’s winner returns fresh after sitting out the final three rounds with a quad strain.</p> <p>For most players, that kind of layoff would be a red flag. But considering Neale won this award last year while playing much of the finals series with a broken foot, we’d say he’s as good a chance as anyone.</p> <p>The Lions skipper lives for this time of year and consistently elevates when it matters most.</p> <p>While Brisbane’s star-studded lineup means votes could be shared around, Neale’s leadership and ability to step up in key moments make him hard to ignore for coaches.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Bailey Smith</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the recruits of the season, Bailey Smith’s first year at Geelong has been almost note-puurfect.&nbsp;</p> <p>In his last finals series with the Dogs, he finished fourth in the Gary Ayres Award voting — including a semi-final performance against the Lions that he won off his own boot… followed by an ice-cold celebration for the Gabba crowd.</p> <p>Can he produce more September heroics this year? If so, some extra silverware might be coming his way</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hugh McCluggage</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Now universally recognised as one of the AFL’s elite, Hugh McCluggage has gone to another level in 2025.</p> <p>He finished just outside the top 10 in AFLCA voting this season, but like many of his Lions teammates, he knows how to rise to the occasion when September rolls around.</p> <p>Will this be the series where he cements himself among the game’s absolute best?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Jordan De Goey</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Dustin Martin might be the greatest big-game player in the modern era, but Jordan De Goey wouldn’t be too far behind.</p> <p>The Magpies' superstar has been carefully managed this season as he’s dealt with some injury issues, mainly to get him right for this time of year. A time of year when he has a track record of producing his absolute best.</p> <p>Can he explode on several occasions and deliver for the Pies when they need him the most?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Caleb Serong</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>He might be the key to the ‘Flagmantle dream’</p> <p>Caleb Serong’s standing as one of the games elite midfielders was confirmed when he was awarded his third consecutive All-Australian berth in 2025. While he’s been able to be clamped by some of the game's best stoppers, when he gets off the chain, he’s the most influential player on the park.</p> <p>He’ll likely need to play three or four finals to go close, but he’s the best chance we feel from the sides facing off in Elimination games from the outset.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>2025 Gary Ayres Award Betting Odds:&nbsp;</h2>