Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli has jumped to first in our MVP rankings after a unanimously-voted BOG performance against the Tigers. Pies superstar Nick Daicos didn't poll a vote and is now facing six weeks on the sidelines with an injury. Despite the great year he's had, he will not be winning the 2023 AFL MVP.

Errol Gulden continues his climb on our leaderboard after another big performance in the Sydney derby. James Sicily absolutely dominated against the Pies as they shocked the flag fancies at the MCG, handing them their second loss in a row.

With only three rounds to go, there's a handful of players still in the running to win our AFL MVP. After 21 rounds, only seven players can mathematically win the MVP award. Those seven are Marcus Bontempelli, Christian Petracca, Tim Taranto, Errol Gulden, Lachie Neale, Toby Greene and Jordan Dawson.

For the rest of the round, performances from Darcy Parish, Gryan Miers and Luke Jackson close out the list of those unanimously voted best-afield.

Western Bulldogs vs Richmond

The Dogs continue to solidify their spot in the top eight after dominating Richmond under Friday night lights. The Dogs were led by skipper Marcus Bontempelli who booted three along with 32 touches and 10 clearances. Teammate Tom Liberatore aided through the midfield with 31 disposals and 12 tackles himself.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan managed to kick five goals, four of which came in the first quarter in an early Bulldogs blitz. Bailey Dale was instrumental for the Dogs with 30 possessions, his transition from half-back provided his side with great speed. Ruckman Tim English was quality once gain with a goal and 19 touches.

It was a night to forget for the Tigers, however, Tim Taranto and Liam Baker put in decent shifts with 25 and 18 possessions respectively. The latter booted a goal also.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 Marcus Bontempelli Marcus Bontempelli Marcus Bontempelli Marcus Bontempelli
4 Tom Liberatore Tom Liberatore Tom Liberatore Tom Liberatore
3 Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
2 Liam Baker Bailey Dale Bailey Dale Tim Taranto
1 Bailey Dale Tim Taranto Tim English Bailey Dale

Essendon vs West Coast

The Bombers survived a serious scare from the Eagles, managing to win by one point at Marvel Stadium. Darcy Parish led from the front for the Dons with 33 touches, a goal and nine clearances. Skipper Zach Merrett continued his form with 29 possessions and eight tackles, a true captain's performance.

Kyle Langford continued his impressive form as a key forward, booting five against an Eagles backline featuring a returning Jeremy McGovern. Nick Hind was crucial off half-back with 31 disposals, moving higher up the ground as a rebounding defender.

For the Eagles, Tim Kelly was the standout with 30 touches and 10 marks. Liam Duggan was solid with 29 touches and five clearances.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 Darcy Parish Darcy Parish Darcy Parish Darcy Parish
4 Kyle Langford Kyle Langford Mason Redman Tim Kelly
3 Tim Kelly Tim Kelly Liam Duggan Zach Merrett
2 Zach Merrett Zach Merrett Kyle Langford Liam Duggan
1 Nick Hind Liam Duggan Zach Merrett Kyle Langford

Adelaide vs Gold Coast

The Crows continue their finals push after defeating the Suns at Adelaide Oval by 28 points. Matt Crouch and Mitchell Hinge were elite with 31 touches each and the former booting a goal. Darcy Fogarty was solid up forward, kicking three along with eight tackles.

Adelaide debutant James Borlase was fantastic with 18 possessions and nine marks. He also held his opponent Levi Casboult to just two goals and a minor influence on the game. Brodie Smith and Rory Laird were crucial, the latter racking up a game-high 10 tackles.

Skipper Jarrod Witts attempted to lead the Gold Coast as he managed 19 disposals around the ground along with 39 hitouts. Midfielder Sam Flanders was solid with 27 touches but it was an overall average afternoon for the sliding Suns.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 Mitchell Hinge Matt Crouch Mitchell Hinge Matt Crouch
4 Matt Crouch Mitchell Hinge Matt Crouch Mitchell Hinge
3 Darcy Fogarty Brodie Smith Brodie Smith Sam Flanders
2 Jarrod Witts James Borlase Rory Laird Rory Laird
1 James Borlase Rory Laird James Borlase Darcy Fogarty

Hawthorn vs Collingwood

In a shock victory, the Hawks toppled the Pies convincingly at the MCG. Skipper James Sicily was absolutely dominant with 37 possessions and a game-high 19 marks. The defender was aided by teammate Jack Scrimshaw down back who had 20 touches and six marks.

The young Hawks midfield was electric. Will Day had 29 possessions, Conor Nash with 31 and Jai Newcombe with 28 touches and a goal. James Worpel was also influential with 23 disposals and seven clearances. Dylan Moore and Mitch Lewis were great up forward kicking a pair of goals each.

The big story of the game was the tag from Finn Maginness on young Pie Nick Daicos. Maginness had Daicos' number from the get-go, keeping the star to a mere five possessions. Daicos did manage to kick a goal from a free kick, however, his influence was kept to the bare minimum.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 James Sicily James Sicily James Sicily James Sicily
4 Will Day Jai Newcombe Conor Nash Jai Newcombe
3 Dylan Moore Finn Maginness Mitchell Lewis Will Day
2 Jai Newcombe Will Day Will Day Dylan Moore
1 Jack Scrimshaw Dylan Moore James Worpel Mitchell Lewis

Geelong vs Port Adelaide

Port continues to slide as they suffer their third straight loss at the hands of the Cats. Gryan Miers was clearly the best afield with two goals, 24 disposals and 10 marks.

Tom Stewart was great defensively with 23 possessions and 10 marks, whilst at the other end of the field young forward Ollie Henry booted four. For the Power, midfielder Jason Horne-Francis performed well with a goal and 23 disposals.

Along with Horne-Francis' performance was midfielder Zak Butters who racked up 30 touches and booted a goal. Midfield forward Connor Rozee had 27 possessions along with eight tackles whilst forward Willie Rioli booted four goals.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 Gryan Miers Gryan Miers Gryan Miers Gryan Miers
4 Zak Butters Zak Butters Tom Stewart Zak Butters
3 Tom Stewart Tom Stewart Jason Horne-Francis Tom Stewart
2 Connor Rozee Oliver Henry Oliver Henry Oliver Henry
1 Oliver Henry Connor Rozee Zak Butters Willie Rioli

GWS vs Sydney

In the second Sydney derby of 2023, the Swans managed to get a win back against the Giants after falling to them earlier in the season. They were led by winger Errol Gulden who has just about solidified his first All-Australian blazer. He had a huge 32 touches along with two goals and seven tackles.

James Rowbottom and Jake Lloyd were huge for John Longmire's side with 24 and 27 disposals respectively. Midfielder Callum Mills was handy with 28 possessions and nine marks. Hayden McLean was the star forward for the Swans after booting four goals as they look towards life without Lance Franklin.

The Giants were led by Tom Green who put on an absolute clinic with 38 touches. Along with his performance was that of ruckman Kieren Briggs who continues to impress in his breakout season. Briggs tallied up 20 possessions along with eight clearances and 28 hitouts, an impressive performance despite the overall result.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 Errol Gulden Errol Gulden Errol Gulden Errol Gulden
4 Tom Green James Rowbottom Jake Lloyd Hayden McLean
3 James Rowbottom Jake Lloyd Tom Green James Rowbottom
2 Jake Lloyd Tom Green Kieren Briggs Tom Green
1 Hayden McLean Hayden McLean Callum Mills Jake Lloyd

North Melbourne vs Melbourne

Despite an early scare from the Kangaroos, Melbourne stormed home in Tasmania booting seven goals to two after halftime to secure a win. Christian Petracca continues to make a case for a Brownlow Medal with two goals and 27 disposals. Teammate Angus Brayshaw led all-comers with 37 possessions in one of his best games this season.

Winger Lachie Hunter was solid on the wing with 33 touches whilst forward Alex Neal-Bullen provided the goalscoring threat with three. Luke Davies-Uniacke was solid once again for the Roos racking up 27 disposals and eight clearances.

For the rest of the Kangaroos, nothing went right after half-time apart from a handful of key performers. Jy Simpkin was solid with 28 and a goal along with Bailey Scott who managed a goal and 31 touches. Tarryn Thomas was also impressive through traffic with 23 disposals and 10 clearances.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 Christian Petracca Christian Petracca Christian Petracca Max Gawn
4 Max Gawn Angus Brayshaw Angus Brayshaw Lachie Hunter
3 Alex Neal-Bullen Lachie Hunter Lachie Hunter Christian Petracca
2 Luke Davies-Uniacke Jy Simpkin Bailey Scott Alex Neal-Bullen
1 Tarryn Thomas Luke Davies-Uniacke Jy Simpkin Luke Davies-Uniacke

St Kilda vs Carlton

The Blues are well and truly back after defeating the Saints and sending them even further down the ladder. Carlton was surprisingly led by Blake Acres who had 27 touches and a goal. He was a great target around the ground also as he took 11 marks. Nic Newman was solid off half-back and also moving into midfield as he racked up 35 touches.

Patrick Cripps was decent once again with 24 disposals and 11 clearances whilst defensively Jacob Weitering set the tone with 16 touches and 10 marks against an average Max King. Tom De Koning showed his worth with a solid 14 possessions and a goal.

Defensively for the Saints, Callum Wilkie did the job on Charlie Curnow and kept him to a single goal. He also racked up 23 disposals and 10 marks for his troubles. Rowan Marshall won the ruck battle with a goal and 30 hitouts whilst midfielder Brad Crouch continued his form with 31 disposals, nine tackles and a goal.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 Blake Acres Blake Acres Blake Acres Patrick Cripps
4 Nic Newman Jacob Weitering Jacob Weitering Jacob Weitering
3 Jacob Weitering Nic Newman Patrick Cripps Nic Newman
2 Tom De Koning Patrick Cripps Nic Newman Rowan Marshall
1 Patrick Cripps Rowan Marshall Brad Crouch Callum Wilkie

Fremantle vs Brisbane

The Lions managed to hold on in a thriller against the Dockers, winning by three points at Optus Stadium. Luke Jackson did all he could for his side with 24 touches, a goal and a whopping 44 hitouts. Caleb Serong was solid through midfield as he has been for most of the year. He racked up 35 disposals along with nine clearances and seven tackles.

Defender Hayden Young was also solid for the Dockers with 29 touches and 10 marks despite the narrow loss to the Lions. Lachie Neale escaped a tag with 25 touches against his former side and was influential through midfield.

Hugh McCluggage was great with his 22 disposals and a goal along with teammate Jarrod Berry who managed to get 28 and a goal himself. Lincoln McCarthy played the small forward role to perfection with a goal and 17 possessions.

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Jack Jovanovski Nick Splitter
5 Luke Jackson Luke Jackson Luke Jackson Luke Jackson
4 Jarrod Berry Jarrod Berry Jarrod Berry Jarrod Berry
3 Caleb Serong Hugh McCluggage Caleb Serong Caleb Serong
2 Hayden Young Caleb Serong Lachie Neale Hugh McCluggage
1 Lincoln McCarthy Lachie Neale Hugh McCluggage Hayden Young

 

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