With six rounds of football officially in the books for the 2023 AFL season, plenty of players have made their mark on the competition already.
Young Pie Nick Daicos has emerged as a Brownlow favourite in just his second season and looks to be topping Collingwood's best and fairest count, while plenty of others have had standout seasons for their clubs.
After a month and a bit of footy, we've taken a look at where each club's best and fairest count stands, naming the favourites for the award so far, with part one of the series covering Adelaide-Fremantle.
An explosive start to the season for the Adelaide Crows has produced many standout performers, none better than newfound leader Jordan Dawson.
Dawson has been a force to be reckoned with on the field this season, consistently racking up impressive performances at a rate of 25.2 disposals, 5 marks and 4.5 tackles per game. He ranks second in the AFL for Total Metres Gained, launching countless Adelaide attacks in game.
Some of his games as captain this season have been sensational. He was instrumental in the Crows' 3-point win over Hawthorn on the weekend, with 24 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, and a goal, before directing the final minutes of play in defence. He was even better in launching Gather Round, with 32 disposals, 4 marks, and 9 tackles in a dominant 56-point win over Carlton.
His impact hasn't gone unnoticed by fans and experts alike. He has been praised for his leadership on the field and ability to read the game. His ability to impact both offensively and defensively has set the tone for the rest of the group who are shining so far this year.
Given their strong start to the season however, it's worth acknowledging the many contenders currently in the fight for the Crows' best & fairest.
One such player is 20-year-old Josh Rachele, who has had a blistering start to his sophomore season. With some standout performances already under his belt, including a 21-disposal, 6-mark, and 7-tackle effort in the round 6 win over Hawthorn, Rachele has proven he will be a star of the comp if he is not already.
Izak Rankine is another player impacting tremendously in this dynamic forward line. The Gold Coast recruit has stunned the public so far this season, crucially affecting important games with performances including a 4-goal, un-offical best on ground effort in the round 3 Showdown win over Port Adelaide. His ability to impact the scoreboard makes him a valuable asset to the Adelaide Crows especially as the season progresses.
Rory Laird also cannot be overlooked. He has been a consistent performer for the Adelaide Crows for several seasons now, and his 2023 campaign has been no exception. With some impressive statistics and a knack for getting involved in scoring plays, Laird could well be one of many All-Australian contenders at the Crows.
The Brisbane Lions have been steadily putting together another great home & away season but we are still waiting for their superstars to truly take over and lift their side to a storied win away from home. One name helping the Lions get there however, is Harris Andrews.
Andrews has been the cornerstone of the Lions' defence for half a decade now, consistently proving himself as one of the premier key defenders in the comp. He's going at a routine 15.3 disposals and ranking 10th in the league for marks per game with 8. Importantly, he ranks 5th in the league for one percenters, a testament to his ability to make crucial defensive plays.
His aerial dominance has been on display this year and he has grown into one of the smartest leaders in the competition both on and off the field. As co-captain, he leads by example, steadying the ship when needed and keeping gun forwards quiet where he can.
Perhaps going under the radar this season, recruit Josh Dunkley has also been a standout performer, averaging 23.3 disposals, 4.8 marks, and 5.2 tackles per game. He's shown his versatility, performing to his typical high standard on both sides of the ball, applying pressure at a level sometimes unmatched by his Lion teammates.
Co-captain Lachie Neale is another contender, averaging an impressive 26.2 disposals per game on condensed midfield minutes and still ranking 4th in Clearances Per Game. The Brownlow Medalist's ability to powerfully win the ball in the midfield and distribute it to his teammates has been and will continue to be key to the Lions' success.
Blues fans would likely have hoped for more competition for their best & fairest honours this year, but the one player who stands out is Charlie Curnow.
Curnow has been in blistering form this season, scoring 21 goals in six games at an average of 3.5 per game. His ability to dominate the forward line almost single-handedly has been critical to their first three wins and has forced the opposition to create defensive plan focussed solely on him. Still, he has taken 6.5 marks per game, showcasing his aerial and athletic prowess in the process.
Curnow's impact extends beyond just scoring goals. He ranks 4th in total score involvements and 2nd in total contested marks, two crucial stats in assessing key forward production.
His top performances this year have been coming of age material. With 16 disposals, 9 marks and 6 goals in round 4 against North Melbourne, he was just about the difference in their 23-point victory. His 5-goal haul in round 2 against Geelong was also a standout performance and a crucial factor in Carlton's 8-point win.
At the other end, Carlton's defence has produced a couple of B&F contenders this season also. Adam Saad has been a quality point of difference in the backline, ranking fifth in the league for intercepts per game but maintaining all of the explosive run and flare that fans have come to enjoy from him, and doing it at volume.
Weitering, on the other hand, has been a tower of strength in the air, ranking second in the league for marks per game and seventh for total contested marks. He's also ranked ninth for total one percenters, making him one of the most well-rounded defenders in the league.
After just five games, Nick Daicos has established himself as the early favourite for the Brownlow medal, and is making a strong case for undeniably being one of the top three players in the league, let alone Collingwood's best & fairest. His ability to completely cut teams apart with his ball use and his work rate off the ball is just breathtaking and has the entire AFL population on edge as to what he could achieve in his second year of senior footy.
He was the clear-cut 2022 Rising Star, and has been nothing short of exceptional this season. He's averaging a whopping 36 disposals per game and his effective disposal rate is the best in the league. He takes territory like no other, ranking atop the comp in metres gained per game.
Beyond being the Brownlow favourite, Daicos is strongly arguing his case as the best player in the league, while not single-handedly altering the ascendency of games like Jeremy Cameron, he is perhaps the greatest surgeon with the footy we have ever seen.
He has been the heart of the Magpies' success this season, earning more plaudits with every one of the six matches this season. His recent ANZAC Day medal performance may generate further discussions and comparisons with all-time legends. He is a generational talent who will continue to produce stellar games this year and beyond
Beside Daicos is Scott Pendlebury, the former captain and one of the most consistent performers in Magpie history. At 35 years-old, he continues to shine and be a key contributor to a contending side, impacting with his poise and typical leadership. Watching the entire field spread once he gets his hands on the ball is something to behold, particularly on the big stage.
Nick's brother, Josh has also had a strong start to the season on the wing, averaging a near 27 disposals per game and showing off one of the best kicks in the competition while doing it.
Finally, Jordan De Goey is another player who has made a significant impact in 2023 as a powerful and explosive beast who poses a significant scoring threat to the opposition. His 23.2 disposals per game, 1.2 goals per game, and 5.5 inside 50's per game are top tier midfield numbers in this competition.
Darcy Parish is emerging as an early favourite for Essendon's best & fairest with his impressive 33.2 disposals, 8.2 clearances and 7.6 inside 50s per game in one of the form sides in the AFL.
Ranked first in Inside 50s per game and second in Effective Disposals per game, Parish has capitalised on his knack to win the footy by penetrating the opposition defence and setting up the Bomber forwards. His ability to find space and create scoring opportunities has improved with just about every season he plays and some Bomber fans will be hoping his efforts haven't gone unappreciated by contract negotiators at Essendon.
So far this year, Parish is ranking third in both Clearances per game and Disposals per game. He has been terrific in every game, but his standout performance probably came against Melbourne. He had 34 disposals and 5 marks in one of the biggest Essendon wins in recent memory. These numbers are hard to replace and should have Parish leading the Bombers best & fairest so far.
However, captain Zach Merrett, second-year player Nic Martin, and Jordan Ridley all have had impressive seasons and could challenge Parish for the honour down the line.
Merrett has been a stalwart for the Bombers, averaging 29.6 disposals per game and 4.8 tackles per game, showcasing his toughness and leadership. Martin, with 1.2 goals per game and a tireless work rate, has emerged as a scoring threat and has been instrumental in launching the Essendon offence. Finally, Ridley has dominated the air with 8.2 marks per game and has been a key contributor to Essendon's defensive efforts.
Merrett's best games include a 35-disposal performance against Melbourne, while Martin shone in the win against GWS with 24 disposals and two goals. Ridley's 14-mark effort against St Kilda demonstrated his aerial dominance and was a key factor in Essendon's competitive showing against the ladder leaders.
Caleb Serong has seemingly been the exclusive workhorse for Fremantle so far this season, averaging a top tier 32.5 disposals and 5.5 tackles per game in a dismally struggling side. He ranks 4th in the comp for clearances per game, demonstrating his ability to win the ball at the contest and launch offensive plays for his team.
His impact also expands beyond his impressive stats, he's a tough player who never shies away from a physical contest and is hurting opposition at a young age. His work-rate is second to none, and he is hopefully pushing his teammates to start leading by example in their next few weeks. With limited standout contributors, he's been a shining light for the Dockers and has played a significant role in keeping his team competitive in matches.
In terms of standout performances, Serong has had a number of impressive games this season. In round 5; 37 disposals and 6 tackles in a gutsy win over Gold Coast, while his 35 disposals and 6 tackles were gallant in a 49-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Sean Darcy is probably the only notable contender to Serong for the Dockers' Best & Fairest award after a challenging start to the year. He is the league's top-ranked player in hitouts per game and his strength and ruck dominance have been on full display, especially in some standout wins against West Coast and Gold Coast. With an average of 42.8 hitouts per game, Darcy's contribution to the Dockers' midfield has been invaluable, and his 3.3 tackles and 4.7 clearances per game have been a key asset.