At the conclusion of Round 9, Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli maintained his lead in our MVP race as the Demons' Christian Petracca makes the jump into the top two on the back of a 19-vote game against the Hawks.
There were five 20-vote performances this round with elite games from four inside midfielders and a key forward.
Collingwood's Nick Daicos polled votes for the first time in two weeks after being nullified with a tag as teammate Jordan De Goey jumps into the top 10 thanks to his performance against the Giants.
The Bulldogs, Melbourne and Collingwood now have two players each sitting in the top ten of our MVP leaderboard.
Reminder: votes are given out in a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 system for each game, meaning the maximum score any player can record in any game is 20.
The Tigers shocked the Cats on the back of a vintage Dustin Martin performance. The Tigers superstar managed four goals in his best performance of the season so far.
Tim Taranto managed to gather plenty of the ball whilst Daniel Rioli and Noah Balta produced a dazzling display in the backline.
Defender Tom Stewart was amongst the best for the Cats in what was a night to forget at the MCG.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Noah Balta | Jayden Short | Jayden Short | Dustin Martin |
| 4 | Daniel Rioli | Tim Taranto | Tim Taranto | Tim Taranto |
| 3 | Dustin Martin | Daniel Rioli | Dustin Martin | Tom Stewart |
| 2 | Nathan Broad | Noah Balta | Daniel Rioli | Daniel Rioli |
| 1 | Jayden Short | Dustin Martin | Noah Balta | Nathan Broad |
Matt Rowell was unanimously named best afield with a standout performance in the midfield as Gold Coast cruised to a 70-point win against a depleted Eagles outfit.
Key defender Charlie Ballard held down the backline for the Suns, taking plenty of intercept marks whilst at the other end of the ground Ben King booted four goals.
Jarrod Witts was dominant in the ruck with Bailey Humphrey and veteran David Swallow also impressive.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Matthew Rowell | Matthew Rowell | Matthew Rowell | Matthew Rowell |
| 4 | Charlie Ballard | Jarrod Witts | Charlie Ballard | Ben King |
| 3 | David Swallow | Charlie Ballard | Jarrod Witts | Charlie Ballard |
| 2 | Bailey Humphrey | Bailey Humphrey | David Swallow | Jarrod Witts |
| 1 | Jarrod Witts | Ben King | Bailey Humphrey | Noah Anderson |
The Dockers' forward line finally found form with new recruit Luke Jackson and small forward Lachie Schultz kicking multiple majors against a makeshift Swans backline.
Sydney midfielder Errol Gulden was a shining light in what was otherwise an average Swans performance as he garnered plenty of the ball and kicked two goals.
Sean Darcy won the ruck battle against a returning Tom Hickey as Caleb Serong made the most of the ruck dominance in the midfield.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Sean Darcy | Sean Darcy | Sean Darcy | Caleb Serong |
| 4 | Errol Gulden | Jaeger O'Meara | Errol Gulden | Sean Darcy |
| 3 | Caleb Serong | Lachlan Schultz | Caleb Serong | Errol Gulden |
| 2 | Luke Jackson | Luke Jackson | Lachlan Schultz | Lachlan Schultz |
| 1 | Lachlan Schultz | Errol Gulden | Luke Jackson | Luke Jackson |
In what was initially believed to be a fierce game for Jason Horne-Francis against his former side, it was the Power who easily overcame a struggling North Melbourne outfit.
All eyes were on Horne-Francis, but it was Zak Butters who dominated the game with a unanimously voted performance. Jeremy Finlayson managed three majors as his young teammate in Connor Rozee continued to shine.
It was a poor game for the Kangaroos, however veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein had a day out producing a complete performance throughout the game.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Zak Butters | Zak Butters | Zak Butters | Zak Butters |
| 4 | Miles Bergman | Miles Bergman | Miles Bergman | Jeremy Finlayson |
| 3 | Connor Rozee | Jeremy Finlayson | Jeremy Finlayson | Willem Drew |
| 2 | Jeremy Finlayson | Ollie Wines | Todd Goldstein | Todd Goldstein |
| 1 | Riley Bonner | Connor Rozee | Connor Rozee | Connor Rozee |
The Hawks continue to struggle as the Demons take care of business against a young side on the back of their midfield dominance.
Major ball-winners Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver were amongst Melbourne's best, with the former polling the most for the game. Hawthorn defender James Sicily produced a solid performance in the backline.
It was a mix of young and old for the Demons as Trent Rivers kept the Hawks forwards in check with veteran Jack Viney playing a damaging role in the midfield.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Christian Petracca | Jack Viney | Christian Petracca | Christian Petracca |
| 4 | Jack Viney | Christian Petracca | Jack Viney | Jack Viney |
| 3 | Trent Rivers | Trent Rivers | Trent Rivers | Clayton Oliver |
| 2 | James Sicily | Clayton Oliver | Clayton Oliver | James Sicily |
| 1 | Clayton Oliver | James Sicily | James Sicily | Steven May |
Lions forward Joe Daniher seems to have found his feet after kicking a game-high six goals against his former side. His performance earned him unanimous votes whilst Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale was amongst the best.
Essendon defender Mason Redman was the only Bomber to poll across the board, while at the other end Harris Andrews put on a defensive clinic, nullifying the Dons' forward line.
Midfield dominance was the name of the game for Brisbane with solid performances from Rising Star contender Will Ashcroft and new recruit Josh Dunkley.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Joe Daniher | Joe Daniher | Joe Daniher | Joe Daniher |
| 4 | Harris Andrews | Lachie Neale | Lachie Neale | Lachie Neale |
| 3 | Lachie Neale | Harris Andrews | Harris Andrews | Josh Dunkley |
| 2 | Mason Redman | Mason Redman | Lachie Neale | Mason Redman |
| 1 | Will Ashcroft | Zach Merrett | Mason Redman | Cameron Rayner |
Despite a gallant effort to start the last quarter from the Blues, it was the Dogs who add yet another loss to a disappointing Carlton season.
It was the Bulldogs midfield that won the game with a unanimously voted effort from Tom Liberatore and a damaging Bailey Smith.
Sam Walsh was the best for the Blues, racking up plenty of possessions and managing a goal to fuel a comeback attempt. Marcus Bontempelli maintains his top spot on the leaderboard after producing yet another solid performance.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Tom Liberatore | Tom Liberatore | Tom Liberatore | Tom Liberatore |
| 4 | Ed Richards | Bailey Smith | Bailey Smith | Bailey Smith |
| 3 | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli |
| 2 | Bailey Smith | Caleb Daniel | Sam Walsh | Sam Walsh |
| 1 | Sam Walsh | Sam Walsh | Ed Richards | Ed Richards |
The Crows made a statement at home against a St Kilda side that looked out of sorts. Major ball-winners Jordan Dawson and Brodie Smith led the charge as the Crows continued to surge this season.
It was a dominant performance up forward for Taylor Walker as he turned back the clock kicking five goals. There wasn't much going right for the Saints although winger Mason Wood continues to push for an All-Australian jacket.
Adelaide defender Wayne Milera was damaging off half-back whilst young forwards Luke Pedlar and Lachlan Murphy had an impact.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Brodie Smith | Jordan Dawson | Jordan Dawson | Brodie Smith |
| 4 | Taylor Walker | Brodie Smith | Brodie Smith | Taylor Walker |
| 3 | Jordan Dawson | Taylor Walker | Taylor Walker | Jordan Dawson |
| 2 | Rory Laird | Luke Pedlar | Wayne Milera | Mitchell Hinge |
| 1 | Lachlan Murphy | Wayne Milera | Lachlan Murphy | Mason Wood |
The Pies got it done against the Giants on Mother's Day thanks to a unanimously voted performance from midfielder Jordan De Goey as he moves into the top ten of our leaderboard.
Nick Daicos seemed to get back to form after Giants coach Adam Kingsley decided against a tag, however, it was Mason Cox who dominated the game. Tom Mitchell and Steele Sidebottom gathered plenty of the ball off of Cox's effort against Matt Flynn.
Giants Josh Kelly and Lachie Ash performed well whilst Pies captain Darcy Moore polled votes also.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Jordan De Goey | Jordan De Goey | Jordan De Goey | Jordan De Goey |
| 4 | Mason Cox | Mason Cox | Mason Cox | Mason Cox |
| 3 | Tom Mitchell | Nick Daicos | Nick Daicos | Nick Daicos |
| 2 | Josh Kelly | Darcy Moore | Tom Mitchell | Lachie Ash |
| 1 | Nick Daicos | Steele Sidebottom | Darcy Moore | Darcy Moore |
| 1 | Marcus Bontempelli | 12 | 108 |
| 2 | Christian Petracca | 19 | 95 |
| 3 | Nick Daicos | 10 | 93 |
| 4 | Jordan Dawson | 16 | 88 |
| 5 | Clayton Oliver | 8 | 86 |
| 6 | Jeremy Cameron | 0 | 76 |
| 7 | Jack Sinclair | 0 | 70 |
| 8 | Noah Anderson | 1 | 67 |
| 8 | Jordan De Goey | 20 | 67 |
| 10 | Tim English | 0 | 65 |
View the full 2023 leaderboard here.