Atley, 24, played 17 games with the Bombers VFL team this season and made four appearances with his home town Tigers in the Goulburn Valley league when the Bombers had a bye.
He won the award ahead of Sam Conforti and promising Bombers ruckman Nick Bryan.
Atley averaged 21 possessions, almost six tackles and seven clearances for Essendon this season as the team finished the year with eight wins and in 15th position on the 21-team ladder.
The middle brother of the three Atleys played with his elder brother Shaun and younger brother Jacob at Rochester for the first time at senior level in 2022.
He played the opening game of the season, then appeared again in round six when he and brother Shaun had a combined 70-possession game.
He didn’t play again with the Tigers until rounds 17 and 18, assisting Rochester in making it to the elimination final.
Atley was taken Port Adelaide at number 32 in the 2016 national draft and played four games at senior level in a four-season career.
He played nine games with the Bombers VFL team last season, having arrived at the club after playing predominantly in the SANFL with the Port Magpies.
He was outstanding for Bendigo Pioneers in 2015-16, when he first appeared at senior level with Rochester.
In his four games with Rochester in the Goulburn Valley league this season he averaged 27 disposals and six clearances, with a season-high 32 disposals against Shepparton Swans.
– Rochester’s best and fairest count will be held on Saturday (October 8) at 4.30pm.
Christopher Jansen and Shaun Atley are expected to fight out the honour of being named the team’s best senior footballer of 2022.
Shaun Atley played 12 games, including the final, for Rochester this season. He averaged 31 possessions, five inside-50s and almost eight clearances a game.
Jansen had a similarly impressive return from his season, playing 15 games and averaging 30 disposals.
He kicked 17 goals for the season and had 40-plus possessions on three occasions, including a memorable 48-possession five-goal game against Tatura late in the season before suffering some injury problems to end the season.
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