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.
3. Collingwood Magpies
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.
