Each round this season, the Zero Hanger team - consisting of editor Mitch Keating, senior reporter Jack Fitzpatrick, general manager Nick Splitter, and deputy editor Ed Carmine - will vote on every game to establish our AFL MVP for 2022.

Votes will be given out on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 system for each game, meaning the maximum score any player can record in any game is 20.

Round 7 had it all. Absolute thrashings, nail-biting, close call victories, and the game’s heavy hitters back at their best. The usual stars came out to prove a point, with some big names back amongst the votes.

Brisbane’s Lachie Neal deservingly stole most of the headlines for this week with his outstanding performance against the Swans, while Max Gawn, Tom Stewart and Josh Kelly also put up some incredible numbers of their own.

West Coast vs Richmond

The Tigers were far too good for the unfortunate Eagles, with the 109-point-victory making life miserable for West Coast, who currently sit last on the ladder. Tom Lynch stole the show, kicking seven goals and five behinds. Jack Riewoldt chipped in with a bag of four, while Shai Bolton completely took over with three goals and 30 disposals. Jayden Short also ran the midfield with a modest 31 disposals.

SHAI BOLTON
Midfield
Richmond
ROUND 7 STATS
30
Disposals
4
Tackles
7
Clearances

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Shai Bolton Shai Bolton Tom Lynch Shai Bolton
4 Tom Lynch Tom Lynch Shai Bolton Tom Lynch
3 Jayden Short Jayden Short Jayden Short Nick Vlastuin
2 Nick Vlastuin Nick Vlastuin Nick Vlastuin Jayden Short
1 Kamdyn McIntosh Daniel Rioli Kamdyn McIntosh Kamdyn McIntosh

Geelong vs Fremantle

An absolute blockbuster at the Cattery, with the Dockers only narrowly getting over the line by three points at the final siren. Despite the loss, Tom Stewart was the clear man of the match, boasting an incredible 40 disposals, with 11 intercepts to go with it. Cameron Guthrie also put up a solid 35 disposals of his own. For the winning team, Blake Acres took control of the midfield with 27 disposals and a goal. Andrew Brayshaw put in a shift with 28 disposals, while Rory Lobb looked good in the forward line with 15 disposals and two majors.

TOM STEWART
Defender
Geelong
ROUND 7 STATS
14
Marks
40
Disposals
9
Rebound50s

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Tom Stewart Tom Stewart Tom Stewart Blake Acres
4 Blake Acres Blake Acres Blake Acres Tom Stewart
3 Griffin Logue Andrew Brayshaw Andrew Brayshaw Andrew Brayshaw
2 Andrew Brayshaw Cameron Guthrie Griffin Logue Lachlan Schultz
1 Mark Blicavs Griffin Logue Mark Blicavs Mark Blicavs

Adelaide vs GWS Giants

A convincing 59-point win for GWS showed that, despite their inconsistencies, the Giants are still a force to be reckoned with. Josh Kelly culled the strings in the midfield with a quiet 41 disposals, while Toby Greene was at his fiery best with 17 disposals and a bag of four. Stephen Coniglio, Jesse Hogan and Lachie Whitfield chipped in with three majors each, while Rory Laird was at his usual best for the Crows with 35 disposals.

JOSH KELLY
Midfield
GWS
ROUND 7 STATS
41
Disposals
6
Tackles
8
Clearances

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Josh Kelly Isaac Cumming Josh Kelly Josh Kelly
4 Isaac Cumming Lachie Whitfield Jesse Hogan Isaac Cumming
3 Toby Greene Toby Greene Toby Greene Toby Greene
2 Stephen Coniglio Stephen Coniglio Isaac Cumming Stephen Coniglio
1 Rory Laird Jesse Hogan Lachie Whitfield Rory Laird

Melbourne vs Hawthorn

Despite the Hawks putting up a formidable fight, nothing looks like slowing down the rampaging Demons, who seem to just keep getting better. Max Gawn went from strength to strength with 29 disposals and 35 hit-outs, while Ben Brown ran the show in the forward line with four goals to his name. Dynamic duo Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver were at their usual antics with 31 and 33 disposals respectively, while Dylan Moore looked solid for the Hawks with 33 disposals and a goal.

MAX GAWN
Ruck
Melbourne
ROUND 7 STATS
35
Hit Outs
6
Marks
29
Disposals

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Max Gawn Max Gawn Max Gawn Max Gawn
4 Christian Petracca Christian Petracca Christian Petracca Christian Petracca
3 Clayton Oliver Clayton Oliver Dylan Moore Clayton Oliver
2 Dylan Moore Dylan Moore Clayton Oliver Ben Brown
1 Ben Brown Angus Brayshaw James Sicily Dylan Moore

St Kilda vs Port Adelaide

Another incredible Round 7 nail-biter, with Port Adelaide only getting over the line against the Saints by a point. Sebastian Ross looked solid with 31 disposals for the Saints, while Jack Steele kept his usual consistency with a standard 27 disposals. Oliver Wines was at his best for the winning team with 27 disposals and a goal, while Ryan Burton stepped up with 25 disposals and nine marks. Robbie Gray also chipped in with two goals and 15 disposals from the forward line in a match-winning performance.

ROBBIE GRAY
Forward
Port Adelaide
ROUND 7 STATS
2
Goals
4
Marks
1
Goal Assists

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Robbie Gray Robbie Gray Jack Steele Jack Steele
4 Jack Steele Jack Steele Ollie Wines Robbie Gray
3 Ollie Wines Ollie Wines Robbie Gray Dan Houston
2 Ryan Burton Sebastian Ross Ryan Burton Aliir Aliir
1 Sebastian Ross Ryan Burton Sebastian Ross

Carlton vs North Melbourne

A comfortable win for Carlton saw the struggling Roos continue to underperform, despite putting up a fight for the first two quarters. The Carlton midfield absolutely slaughtered the Roos, with 35 disposals for Patrick Cripps, 33 for Sam Docherty and 29 for Sam Walsh completely shutting out the North mids. Harry McKay was a force up front with four goals and 15 disposals, while Charlie Curnow chipped in with three of his own. Nick Larkey did his best for North with a bag of three goals.

PATRICK CRIPPS
Midfield
Carlton
ROUND 7 STATS
35
Disposals
4
Tackles
10
Clearances

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Patrick Cripps Patrick Cripps Patrick Cripps Patrick Cripps
4 Harry McKay Harry McKay Harry McKay Sam Walsh
3 Todd Goldstein Sam Docherty Sam Docherty Harry McKay
2 Sam Walsh Adam Saad Sam Walsh Todd Goldstein
1 Sam Docherty Lewis Young Todd Goldstein Jack Martin

Collingwood vs Gold Coast

A comfortable 25-point win saw the Pies see off the Suns in a pretty standard victory. Despite the loss, Touk Miller gave his all with an impressive 36 disposals and two goals, while Noah Anderson chipped in with 32 disposals of his own. A four-goal effort from veteran Levi Casboult was matched by Brody Mihocek with four of his own, while 30 disposals from Patrick Lipinski helped shift the tide in Collingwood’s favour. Jack Ginnivan was also back amongst the goals with three majors.

TOUK MILLER
Midfield
Gold Coast
ROUND 7 STATS
36
Disposals
6
Tackles
10
Clearances

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Touk Miller Jack Crisp Touk Miller Jack Crisp
4 Jack Crisp Touk Miller Jack Crisp Touk Miller
3 Brody Mihocek Jarrod Witts Levi Casboult Brody Mihocek
2 Levi Casboult Jack Ginnivan Brody Mihocek Josh Daicos
1 Patrick Lipinski Taylor Adams Jarrod Witts Noah Anderson

Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

The usual ball-winners for both sides stole most of the votes in the Dogs' comfortable 32-point victory, which sees the Bombers fall to 16th on the ladder. Despite the loss, ball magnet Zach Merrett put up a solid 36 disposals, while Darcy Parish looked his usual self with 32 disposals himself. For the winning side, Caleb Daniel looked tidy with a modest 32 disposals, while Josh Dunkley ran the show with 29 disposals and two goals. Jack Macrae did his job with 28 disposals, while Peter Wright also chipped in for the Bombers with a bag of four.

JOSH DUNKLEY
Midfield
Bulldogs
ROUND 7 STATS
29
Disposals
6
Tackles
1
Clearances

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Josh Dunkley Josh Dunkley Josh Dunkley Josh Dunkley
4 Bailey Dale Caleb Daniel Bailey Dale Bailey Smith
3 Jordan Ridley Bailey Dale Caleb Daniel Caleb Daniel
2 Caleb Daniel Bailey Smith Sam Draper Jordan Ridley
1 Bailey Smith Jordan Ridley Peter Wright Peter Wright

Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions

The Lions proved a point in Round 7 with a standout 24-point away win abasing the Swans, who boast a historically impressive home record. Lachie Neale looked almost untouchable in the midfield with 37 disposals and a goal, while Luke Parker and Callum Mills held their own for the Swans with 33 and 30 disposals respectively. Lance Franklin carried the Swans forwards with six goals to his name, while Cam Rayer, Charlie Cameron and Daniel McStay were accurate in front of goals for the winning team with three goals each.

LACHIE NEALE
Midfield
Brisbane
ROUND 7 STATS
37
Disposals
9
Tackles
11
Clearances

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Fitzpatrick Nick Splitter
5 Lachie Neale Lachie Neale Lachie Neale Lachie Neale
4 Lance Franklin Callum Mills Lance Franklin Callum Mills
3 Callum Mills Lance Franklin Callum Mills Lance Franklin
2 Hugh McCluggage Dayne Zorko Dayne Zorko Dayne Zorko
1 Daniel McStay Cameron Rayner Daniel McStay Cameron Rayner

 

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FULL 2022 ZERO HANGER MVP LEADERBOARD