Gray a shoe-in for All-Australian selection: Hinkley
Four goals and 30 touches shows the class of Power midfielder.
That's what Ken Hinkley reckons, after the evasive midfielder clocked yet another impeccable performance against Carlton on Friday night at the Adelaide Oval.
Gray had 31 disposals, four goals, and seven clearances to post another best-on-ground performance for the Power.
Hinkley didn't hide the heights of his regard for Gray, who only two seasons ago was sidelined with a sickening anterior cruciate ligament injury, saying the All-Australian selection panel would need to be "blind" to overlook him in this years team.
Gray's story is once of persistence and dedication.
He returned to football 12 months after his ACL injury in Round 4, 2013 and began to recapture his best form at the end of Port Adelaide's breakout year under Hinkley.
With regular 'plus-30' efforts throughout the year and the ability to damage the scoreboard, Gray's selection in an All-Australian midfield or forward line continues to firm.
On Friday night he shortened to eighth-favourite to take home the Brownlow Medal.
And Hinkley made Gray's chances of taking home the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player award firm after confirming him as his best player for the Power.
"I reckon he gets three [Brownlow] votes tonight," Hinkley said.
"He was pretty special tonight ... his form's just got better and better and I'm really proud of Robbie because I know the challenges he's faced in my short time here.
"The fact that he's come back and influenced the competition like he has is just a great credit to him."
Gray's individual performance capped a strong team effort from the Power playing group and Hinkley now expects the team to run into next Saturday's game against Fremantle in good form.
"Nothing disappointed me [tonight], I was really pleased with the way they played for four quarters," Hinkley said of his side.
"I liked their ruthlessness and the way they went about it was really good.
"They were strong."