Raiders midfielder Nicky Orr and Adelaide Blue Eagles speedster Fortunato Filletti have claimed the inaugural Pelé Sports Australia Coaches MVP Award.

The pair tied for the honour on 32 votes, one ahead of Croydon gun Alemayo Kabede and four in front of Filletti’s ABE team-mate Jace Cummins.

Orr went into the final round on 32 votes and was a clear leader by two, however Filletti joined him after polling in Blue Eagles’ Round 18 win over Adelaide City.

Raiders faced off against the Kings on the last day of the season and while Orr failed to collect a vote, Kabede starred and polled maximum votes from both coaches to storm from 25 votes to 31 to narrowly finish as runner up.

Orr, who tied for the 2007 Sergio Melta Medal at Para Hills with current Knights coach Simon Catanzaro, admitted it was pleasing to have been recognised by the coaches.

“I suppose it is good recognition for the good year,” Orr, 26, told The Messenger.

“I think that is one of the good things about it - to be recognised by the coaches, who are seeing things from a technical side and how you are playing as part of a team.”

Filletti polled votes in every game he played in, but missed three matches in the second half of the campaign with a groin injury.

The 23-year-old also said he was happy to have been acknowledged by the coaches in the Devine Super League.

`I'm pretty grateful to have won this award and to recognised for a good year by my peers in the competition,'' he said. 

The award saw the 10 Devine Super League coaches vote at the completion of the match for the best player on the day using a 3, 2, 1 voting system, with The Messenger publishing an updated, weekly leaderboard.

The pair will share a $1000 cash prize kindly donated by Pele Sports Australia, along with a $500 voucher from the online Pelé-inspired brand.

Orr and Filletti will be presented with their prize at the Devine Super League Grand Final.