Cripps extends lead, talls dominate votes: 2022 AFL MVP Round 8

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 8 wasn't the most exciting week of footy as convincing wins were aplenty and sides began to show signs of their potential ceiling for 2022.

However, the weekend wasn't all too bland as we were treated to the return of three-time Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin, another blinder from Blues skipper Patrick Cripps, and Melbourne continuing to go unbeaten as they keep chugging along in cruise control.

Port Adelaide 86 def Western Bulldogs 69

The 2021 runners-up were convincingly beaten by a resurgent Port outfit as an explosive third quarter proved the difference. The Power were uber-efficient when entering their forward 50 as they managed to clunk an astonishing 21 marks from 44 entries, whereas the Bulldogs' injury woes continued to pile up in the loss. Ports stalwart Travis Boak starred with 30 touches, a goal and six tackles, while forward Todd Marshall was in career-best form.

TRAVIS BOAK
Midfield

Port Adelaide

ROUND 8 STATS

30
Disposals

6
Tackles

6
Clearances

Fremantle 102 def North Melbourne 24

Fremantle weren't even close to being challenged as they managed to back up their season-defining win at the Cattery with a defensive clinic against the 17th-placed Roos. The win was Freo's sixth consecutive victory whereas North suffered their sixth straight loss in convincing fashion. Andrew Brayshaw starred for the Dockers as he gathered 34 disposals, 10 clearances and seven tackles while imposing ruckman Sean Darcy got his fair share of touches as he finished his night with 17 disposals, 42 hit-outs and seven marks.

ANDREW BRAYSHAW
Midfield

Fremantle

ROUND 8 STATS

34
Disposals

7
Tackles

10
Clearances

Richmond 113 def Collingwood 86

The Tigers appeared to have weathered the storm that was their underwhelming start to 2022 as consecutive displays of dominance have silenced their doubters. After a tightly contested opening quarter, the Tigers began to kick away as their signature playstyle seemed to spring into gear with the return of club champion Dustin Martin. Tom Lynch was a revelation as he dismantled the Magpies' defence, gathering 25 touches, 11 marks and six majors, whereas Tigers co-skipper Toby Nankervis responded to his critics with 23 disposals and 33 hit-outs.

TOM J. LYNCH
Forward

Richmond

ROUND 8 STATS

6
Goals

11
Marks

25
Disposals

Gold Coast 75 def Sydney 61

Gold Coast continues to be the Swans' kryptonite as their third win in their last four appearances at the SCG has forced Sydney from the top four. It was the Suns' game to lose as they were the more assertive team all day in a contest that saw an assortment of the Bloods' top stars fail to perform. The Suns even managed to withstand a late rally from the home side as they emerged 14-point victors. Gold Coast's co-skippers Jarrod Witts and Touk Miller put forth solid displays, while former captain David Swallow had 24 touches and forward Izak Rankine flashed brilliance as he finished the outing with two snags.

DAVID SWALLOW
Midfield

Gold Coast

ROUND 8 STATS

24
Disposals

7
Tackles

6
Clearances

Geelong 88 def Greater Western Sydney 35

It was an all too familiar tale For GWS as they never really seemed able to mount a holistic attack on the ageing, yet classy, Cats. Furthering the blow dealt with their abysmal 2-6 start to the season was that former Giant Jeremy Cameron was the tone-setter for Geelong, quickly booting three majors in the first to open up a lead that continued to grow. Geelong has re-steadied the ship and continues to be firmly entrenched in the eight as they sit 5-3 en route to games against St Kilda, Port Adelaide, Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs before their Round 13 bye. Cameron starred with five goals while Tyson Stengle chipped in with three majors in addition to his 20 touches, while Mitch Duncan dominated in the guts with 33 disposals and 12 marks.

MITCH DUNCAN
Defender

Geelong

ROUND 8 STATS

12
Marks

33
Disposals

4
Rebound50s

Essendon 108 def Hawthorn 81

The Bombers were able to keep in touch with the Hawks all night despite a bevy of injuries, late changes and lacklustre efforts in recent weeks. Hawthorn's transition game appeared to be enough to secure victory heading into the fourth, but Essendon managed to pile on eight majors in what proved to be an unstoppable blitz. Peter Wright starred as he booted six goals, including three in the final term, while Darcy Parish bounced back from criticism around his laissez-faire intent when in possession en route to 32 touches, seven tackles, six clearances and a goal.

DARCY PARISH
Midfield

Essendon

ROUND 8 STATS

32
Disposals

7
Tackles

6
Clearances

Brisbane 105 def West Coast 30

Although the Lions managed to pump the uber-depleted Eagles by 75 points, it took a half of footy before Brisbane decided to put their kicking boots on and finally put a desperately aggressive West Coast side out of their misery. An early injury to power-forward Dan McStay saw him quickly subbed out of the contest and proves to be a major inconvenience as Brisbane already has star Joe Daniher on the sidelines for the next several weeks. Lions winger Hugh McCluggage was all over the field as he gathered 26 disposals, 10 tackles and four goals in slippery conditions, while Lions skipper Dayne Zorko tallied 26 touches, 10 marks and eight tackles.

HUGH MCCLUGGAGE
Midfield

Brisbane

ROUND 8 STATS

26
Disposals

10
Tackles

3
Clearances

Melbourne 93 def StKilda 55

In what was billed as a test for the validity of St Kilda's premiership hopes and an actual challenge for the reigning premiers, Melbourne dominated and never seemed phased by the Saints' challenge. It was truly a contest that summed up the gap between the Dees and the rest of the comp. The Melbourne midfield obliterated St Kilda as Ed Langdon, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw all accumulated an excess of 30 disposals, while Kysaiah Pickett and Ben Brown chipped in with three goals apiece. 

CLAYTON OLIVER
Midfield

Melbourne

ROUND 8 STATS

38
Disposals

4
Tackles

8
Clearances

Carlton 116 def Adelaide 68

The Blues find themselves in the top four after a convincing win against the Crows where they never looked likely to relinquish control of the bout. Their physical brand of footy was too much for a young Adelaide outfit who struggled to effectively move the ball through the Blues' defensive zone and exceptional pressure around the contest. Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps continued with his career-best form as he racked up 35 touches, 10 clearances, seven tackles and two goals, while key-forward Charlie Curnow casually booted six majors to go along with his 25 disposals.

PATRICK CRIPPS
Midfield

Carlton

ROUND 8 STATS

35
Disposals

7
Tackles

10
Clearances

LEADERBOARD

RANK			LAST ROUND	TOTAL
1		Patrick Cripps	19	115
2		Andrew Brayshaw	19	97
3		Clayton Oliver	8	82
4		Ben Keays	0	78
5		Callum Mills	0	78
6		Christian Petracca	2	77
7		Lachie Neale	10	74
8		Max Gawn	0	71
9		Jack Steele	0	65
10		Jayden Short	14	64

FULL 2022 ZERO HANGER MVP LEADERBOARD