Just two players remain in the race to win our MVP Award for 2023 with just two rounds remaining in the home and away season, with Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and Melbourne star Christian Petracca further breaking away from the pack after polling votes in Round 22.
With Collingwood sensation and third-placed runner, Nick Daicos ruled out of the final fortnight before finals, the gap between Bontempelli in first and Richmond's Tim Taranto in fourth is over 40 votes with two rounds left.
The only man able to chase down Bontempelli is Petracca, who sits seven votes shy of the summit with games against Hawthorn and Sydney to come. Bontempelli has a strong chance to seal the crown this weekend if Petracca fails to poll the needed votes, with the Dogs to take on the 18th-placed Eagles in Round 23.
Seven players polled perfect games over the weekend, while a number of players in our top 10 failed to have an influence.
Reminder: Votes are given out in a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 system for each game, meaning the maximum number of votes any player can record in any game is 20.
Collingwood gun Josh Daicos was comfortably seen as the Magpies' best performer in his side's win over the Cats, flourishing in the absence of his younger brother, Nick. Forward Brody Mihocek kicked five goals in a return to form, polling nine votes, with Patrick Lipinski, Taylor Adams and Nathan Murphy also earning recognition for their efforts.
Cats spearhead Jeremy Cameron came away from the loss with 16 votes after booting seven goals as he too found his shooting boots.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Josh Daicos | Josh Daicos | Josh Daicos | Josh Daicos |
| 4 | Jeremy Cameron | Jeremy Cameron | Jeremy Cameron | Jeremy Cameron |
| 3 | Brody Mihocek | Brody Mihocek | Patrick Dangerfield | Patrick Lipinski |
| 2 | Patrick Dangerfield | Patrick Dangerfield | Brody Mihocek | Tom Atkins |
| 1 | Nathan Murphy | Taylor Adams | Taylor Adams | Brody Mihocek |
Bombers wingman Nic Martin was a standout in his side's narrow win over North Melbourne, collecting 32 possessions and booting three goals in one of the best performances in his young career. Midfielder Darcy Parish was also excellent for Essendon and would gain support from the young duo Ben Hobbs and Archie Perkins in the middle.
Roos bull Luke Davies-Uniacke was stellar in keeping his side in the game, while veteran Ben Cunnington featured among the vote-getters in his farewell game.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Nic Martin | Nic Martin | Nic Martin | Nic Martin |
| 4 | Darcy Parish | Darcy Parish | Darcy Parish | Luke Davies-Uniacke |
| 3 | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Ben Hobbs | Ben Hobbs | Darcy Parish |
| 2 | Archie Perkins | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Harry Sheezel | Ben Hobbs |
| 1 | Nick Larkey | Archie Perkins | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Ben Cunnington |
It was an all-round team effort from the Swans to keep their winnng streak and finals hopes alive over the weekend, with young midfielder Chad Warner leading the charge over the Suns. The fourth-year Swan would poll a perfect game, while Jake Lloyd, James Rowbottom, Nick Blakey and Will Hayward would also poll heavily.
Suns trio Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell and Jarrod Witts all managed to poll votes in the defeat.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Chad Warner | Chad Warner | Chad Warner | Chad Warner |
| 4 | James Rowbottom | Nick Blakey | Jake Lloyd | Will Hayward |
| 3 | Will Hayward | Will Hayward | Nick Blakey | James Rowbottom |
| 2 | Nick Blakey | Jake Lloyd | Will Hayward | Matthew Rowell |
| 1 | Matthew Rowell | James Rowbottom | Noah Anderson | Jarrod Witts |
Brisbane's Hugh McCluggage was unanimously voted as the best player in the Lions' one-goal win over the Crows, thanks to a prolific performance from the outside midfielder. Forwards Zac Bailey and Charlie Cameron would also feature among the vote-getters for the Lions, while Adelaide's midfield also featured heavily.
Rory Laird, Jordan Dawson and Matt Crouch would all come away from the loss with votes to their name, with the latter polling for the third straight week as he re-finds some form.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Hugh McCluggage | Hugh McCluggage | Hugh McCluggage | Hugh McCluggage |
| 4 | Zac Bailey | Charlie Cameron | Zac Bailey | Matt Crouch |
| 3 | Matt Crouch | Ben Keays | Matt Crouch | Harris Andrews |
| 2 | Jordan Dawson | Matt Crouch | Charlie Cameron | Rory Laird |
| 1 | Charlie Cameron | Lincoln McCarthy | Jordan Dawson | Charlie Cameron |
Carlton midfielder George Hewett was one of the seven players in Round 22 to poll 20 votes, with his efforts in a nail-biter against Melbourne seeing the ex-Swan put in arguably his best performance in navy blue. Skipper Patrick Cripps would poll 16 votes, while defensive pair Nic Newman and Jacob Weitering would also poll in the win.
Melbourne's Jack Viney was seen as the Demons' best performer, while Christian Petracca managed to add two votes to his tally to keep pressure on leader Marcus Bontempelli. Clayton Oliver managed to poll four votes in his return to the field.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | George Hewett | George Hewett | George Hewett | George Hewett |
| 4 | Patrick Cripps | Patrick Cripps | Patrick Cripps | Patrick Cripps |
| 3 | Jack Viney | Nic Newman | Jack Viney | Clayton Oliver |
| 2 | Nic Newman | Jack Viney | Nic Newman | Christian Petracca |
| 1 | Clayton Oliver | Jacob Weitering | Jacob Weitering | Nic Newman |
Glendinning-Allan Medal winner Lachie Schultz earned a perfect game for his five-goal, 24-disposal performance in the Western Derby, with star pair Luke Jackson and Caleb Serong sharing the next handful of votes. It was a clean sweep for the Dockers in their 101-point win, with Brennan Cox, Hayden Young and Jye Amiss rounding out the vote-getters.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Lachlan Schultz | Lachlan Schultz | Lachlan Schultz | Lachlan Schultz |
| 4 | Luke Jackson | Luke Jackson | Luke Jackson | Caleb Serong |
| 3 | Caleb Serong | Caleb Serong | Caleb Serong | Luke Jackson |
| 2 | Hayden Young | Jye Amiss | Hayden Young | Hayden Young |
| 1 | Brennan Cox | Hayden Young | Jye Amiss | Jye Amiss |
Hawthorn ace Jai Newcombe was an obvious choice for BOG in the Hawks' upset win over the Bulldogs, collecting 40 disposals and a goal in just his 50th appearance in the brown and gold. Karl Amon and Dylan Moore were also impressive to poll votes from all four members of our team, while Will Day came away from the game with six votes as well.
MVP leader Marcus Bontempelli added six votes to his season tally and extended his lead over Christian Petracca in doing so. He would be the only Bulldog to poll votes from Sunday's loss.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Jai Newcombe | Jai Newcombe | Jai Newcombe | Jai Newcombe |
| 4 | Karl Amon | Karl Amon | Karl Amon | Dylan Moore |
| 3 | Dylan Moore | Dylan Moore | Will Day | Karl Amon |
| 2 | Marcus Bontempelli | Will Day | Dylan Moore | Marcus Bontempelli |
| 1 | Ned Reeves | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli | Will Day |
St Kilda talls Max King and Rowan Marshall were both recognised as the best performers on the field, with the latter amassing 19 votes in his side's win over Richmond on Sunday. The duo would combine for all five and four-vote spots, with teammates Jade Gresham, Jack Sinclair, Seb Ross, Jack Steele and Callum Wilkie also coming away with votes in what was a clean sweep for the Saints.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Rowan Marshall | Max King | Rowan Marshall | Rowan Marshall |
| 4 | Max King | Rowan Marshall | Max King | Max King |
| 3 | Jade Gresham | Jack Sinclair | Jack Sinclair | Jack Sinclair |
| 2 | Jack Sinclair | Sebastian Ross | Jade Gresham | Callum Wilkie |
| 1 | Sebastian Ross | Jack Steele | Sebastian Ross | Jade Gresham |
Port Adelaide recruit Jason Horne-Francis fell one vote shy of a perfect game, with fellow onballer Ollie Wines also earning a five-vote nod from one of our voters. Wines would also claim four votes from the other three voters to receive 17 in the win over GWS, while Connor Rozee and Zak Butters would also feature heavily to remain in the mix for a top 20 finish.
Giants pair Toby Greene and Tom Green both earned votes in the loss, with the former holding onto seventh spot overall.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Jason Horne-Francis | Jason Horne-Francis | Jason Horne-Francis | Ollie Wines |
| 4 | Ollie Wines | Ollie Wines | Ollie Wines | Jason Horne-Francis |
| 3 | Connor Rozee | Connor Rozee | Connor Rozee | Zak Butters |
| 2 | Tom Green | Zak Butters | Zak Butters | Connor Rozee |
| 1 | Zak Butters | Dan Houston | Dan Houston | Toby Greene |
| PLAYER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Bontempelli | 6 | 222 |
| 2 | Christian Petracca | 2 | 215 |
| 3 | Nick Daicos | 0 | 197 |
| 4 | Tim Taranto | 0 | 180 |
| 5 | Errol Gulden | 0 | 164 |
| 6 | Lachie Neale | 0 | 163 |
| 7 | Toby Greene | 1 | 161 |
| 8 | Jordan Dawson | 3 | 159 |
| 9 | Caleb Serong | 13 | 153 |
| 10 | Zach Merrett | 0 | 149 |
FULL LEAADERBOARD CAN BE SEEN HERE