Much like the AFL ladder, our MVP leaderboard is shaping in a surprising fashion, with some lesser-known players from previously projected poor clubs leading the charge at the top.
This week, the voters were again on the same page, with four players unanimously judged best on ground and four others one vote away from the honour.
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.
Searching for the first win of the year, it was a week of reflection for the Western Bulldogs, who few picked to beat an in-form Brisbane side at Marvel Stadium.
It was an inspired performance and iconic gesture from Indigenous star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan however, which silenced the doubters in a Thursday night scrap. Five goals and a Nicky Winmar tribute from the young star headlined a famous Bulldogs win to get their season kickstarted.
Captain Marcus Bontempelli led from the front with 28 possessions at crucial stages of the match. He was supported gallantly in the guts by ruckman Tim English, who beat Oscar McInerney with 39 hit-outs, 16 touches and eight marks, while Jack Macrae and Adam Treloar chimed in with 58 disposals collectively.
For the Lions, Harris Andrews dominated the air, while Lachie Neale and former Bulldog Josh Dunkley were valuable in the midfield.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli |
| 4 | Tim English | Jamarra Ugle-Hagan | Jamarra Ugle-Hagan | Adam Treloar |
| 3 | Harris Andrews | Tim English | Jack Macrae | Tim English |
| 2 | Jamarra Ugle-Hagan | Jack Macrae | Lachie Neale | Harris Andrews |
| 1 | Oskar Baker | Harris Andrews | Adam Treloar | Josh Dunkley |
Friday night saw another scrappy spectacle as an inaccurate Collingwood fought their way to a 14-point victory over the Tigers.
Jordan De Goey continued his in-form start to the season with 35 disposals. Had his three shots at goal resulted in majors he would have easily taken the perfect 20 home with him.
Josh was the lead Daicos act according to the voters this week as he finished with 28 touches and a goal. Brother Nick wasn't bad either with his 33 at 87%. On the other wing, Steele Sidebottom is shaping as one of the surprises of 2023 as he turns back the clock, collecting an effective 24 disposals this week and lacing out targets with both feet.
Jamie Elliott, Ash Johnson and Scott Pendlebury round out the Collingwood votes, while Liam Baker's hard-fought 32 possessions were enough to earn him six votes in a losing side.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Jordan De Goey | Jordan De Goey | Josh Daicos | Josh Daicos |
| 4 | Steele Sidebottom | Josh Daicos | Jordan De Goey | Jordan De Goey |
| 3 | Jamie Elliott | Steele Sidebottom | Liam Baker | Steele Sidebottom |
| 2 | Liam Baker | Liam Baker | Steele Sidebottom | Jamie Elliott |
| 1 | Ashley Johnson | Ashley Johnson | Scott Pendlebury | Liam Baker |
The apprentice got the better of the master this time around as Sam Mitchell's Hawks notched their first win of the season, upsetting the red-hot Clarko-led Roos at UTAS.
Dylan Moore and Will Day led the vote count with their 55 disposals and 23 marks combined; these two look to be the future of the club.
James Sicily is on track to smash the record for most marks in a season as he climbs to 13.3 per game after a typical 28-disposal, 18-mark display.
Tyler Brockman likely held his spot in the side with his three goals while Jack Scrimshaw and Karl Amon round out the Hawthorn votes.
Ben Cunnington and Harry Sheezel polled the remaining votes with their efforts in the loss.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Dylan Moore | Dylan Moore | Dylan Moore | Will Day |
| 4 | Will Day | Will Day | Will Day | Dylan Moore |
| 3 | James Sicily | James Sicily | James Sicily | Todd Goldstein |
| 2 | Harry Sheezel | Tyler Brockman | Ben Cunnington | Tyler Brockman |
| 1 | Jack Scrimshaw | Ben Cunnington | Tyler Brockman | Karl Amon |
While the elite skill and accuracy of AFL wasn't on display in this clash between the Giants and Blues, the drama of footy most certainly was as Carlton scraped home with nine goals and 20 behinds, plus an all-time gift from a controversial umpire decision against the Giants.
Patrick Cripps was sensational with 42 disposals and Sam Docherty stuffed the stat sheet with 39 and 10 marks, albeit with seven clangers.
Nic Newman played an excellent role on Toby Greene, keeping him to just five disposals while collecting 24 and 11 marks himself.
Jack Silvagni and Charlie Curnow were threatening for the Blues while Josh Kelly and Tom Green were gallant in a losing effort for the Giants.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Patrick Cripps | Patrick Cripps | Patrick Cripps | Patrick Cripps |
| 4 | Nic Newman | Nic Newman | Sam Docherty | Josh Kelly |
| 3 | Sam Docherty | Sam Docherty | Josh Kelly | Nic Newman |
| 2 | Josh Kelly | Josh Kelly | Nic Newman | Tom Green |
| 1 | Jack Silvagni | Tom Green | Tom Green | Charlie Curnow |
The undermanned Saints continued their shock start to the season under Ross Lyon by defeating Essendon and astoundingly claiming the top spot on the ladder after round three.
Mason Wood would be an All-Australian wingman at this point of the season; his 27 dipsosals, 11 marks and goal were critical to the win. Unfortunately, he adds to the endless injury list at Moorabbin after a big shoulder collision in the fourth quarter.
Callum Wilkie also made his All-Australian case with a dominant performance in defence, halting countless Essendon scoring efforts with seven intercept marks.
Jack Higgins and Dan Butler changed the match with four goals each while Brad Crouch and Jack Sinclair were typically productive.
For the Bombers, Jake Kelly got plenty of it while Nic Martin was damaging with the ball in hand.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Mason Wood | Mason Wood | Mason Wood | Mason Wood |
| 4 | Callum Wilkie | Callum Wilkie | Callum Wilkie | Callum Wilkie |
| 3 | Jack Higgins | Brad Crouch | Brad Crouch | Jack Sinclair |
| 2 | Jake Kelly | Jack Higgins | Nic Martin | Jack Higgins |
| 1 | Brad Crouch | Nic Martin | Jack Higgins | Dan Butler |
The 2023 showdown dramatically amplified the pressure on Ken Hinkley as the Crows' final quarter flurry proved too much for the Power.
The Zero Hanger voters were not in agreement with the Showdown Medal voters on the night, as Izak Rankine took home a perfect 20 with a coming-of-age performance; kicking four goals with 17 dangerous disposals. He and Riley Thilthorpe look like a dynamic duo for the future up forward at Adelaide, with Thilthorpe demanding his continued spot in the team with five goals.
Rory Laird and Showdown Medal winner Jordan Dawson were dynamic in the middle and off half-back while Reilly O'Brien got the better of Lycett in the ruck with 35 hit-outs and 16 touches.
For the Power, Connor Rozee played his best game for the season so far, earning seven votes from his 28-disposal, one-goal performance.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Izak Rankine | Izak Rankine | Izak Rankine | Izak Rankine |
| 4 | Riley Thilthorpe | Riley Thilthorpe | Riley Thilthorpe | Riley Thilthorpe |
| 3 | Rory Laird | Jordan Dawson | Connor Rozee | Rory Laird |
| 2 | Jordan Dawson | Rory Laird | Jordan Dawson | Connor Rozee |
| 1 | Connor Rozee | Connor Rozee | Reilly O'Brien | Jordan Dawson |
Geelong are the shock of 2023 thus far after falling to 0-3 with a 19-point loss to a high-pressure Gold Coast outfit.
The standout of the match was Jack Lukosius with his five goals, including a 73-metre bomb from well inside the centre square; he may have found a home in the Suns forward line for the near future.
Jarrod Witts continued his ruck dominance, smashing Ceglar and Blicavs all day and providing quality service for the likes of Touk Miller.
Lachie Weller and Nick Holman also stood out with their run and ball use, while Darcy MacPherson had a rare stellar performance with his 24 touches and nine marks.
For the Cats, Tom Stewart was sensational in his return while Isaac Smith and Jeremy Cameron helped keep the Cats in it.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Jack Lukosius | Jack Lukosius | Jarrod Witts | Jack Lukosius |
| 4 | Nick Holman | Nick Holman | Jack Lukosius | Tom Stewart |
| 3 | Lachie Weller | Jarrod Witts | Tom Stewart | Nick Holman |
| 2 | Tom Stewart | Tom Stewart | Touk Miller | Darcy MacPherson |
| 1 | Isaac Smith | Lachie Weller | Jeremy Cameron | Touk Miller |
Melbourne made a statement to the rest of the competition with their 72-point turnaround from last year's qualifying final against the Swans, belting the '22 grand finalists with a fourth-quarter onslaught, eventuating in a 50-point win.
Clayton Oliver showed out in his 150th, kicking two goals with 25 touches and seven tackles; earning his most votes for the year thus far. Christian Petracca was nearly as damaging with his 33 touches, while Brodie Grundy stepped up brilliantly in the absence of Max Gawn with his 21 disposals and dynamic coverage of the field.
Lachie Hunter continued his good form with 23 and two goals, while Jacob Van Rooyen lit up the crowd with three goals and a hanger on debut.
For the Swans, Callum Mills was quality with 25 disposals while juggling the Clayton Oliver matchup.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Clayton Oliver | Clayton Oliver | Christian Petracca | Clayton Oliver |
| 4 | Brodie Grundy | Brodie Grundy | Clayton Oliver | Brodie Grundy |
| 3 | Christian Petracca | Christian Petracca | Brodie Grundy | Lachie Hunter |
| 2 | Lachie Hunter | Lachie Hunter | Callum Mills | Christian Petracca |
| 1 | James Jordon | Jacob Van Rooyen | Jacob Van Rooyen | Callum Mills |
The final match of the round saw Freo get their first win against a gallant West Coast side cursed with injuries to star players, as a six-goal to nil final quarter sealed a 41-point Fremantle victory.
Caleb Serong was pivotal out of the midfield with 35 touches and eight tackles while big 'Shrek' Sean Darcy dominated the ruck battle with a whopping 52 hit-outs to go with 20 disposals and a goal.
It was the smalls who did the damage up forward for the Dockers as Sam Switkowski, Michael Walters and Michael Frederick all pitched in with eight goals between them and placed high pressure on Eagles defenders. Luke Jackson also enjoyed his best game for the club, snagging two goals himself.
While West Coast were forced to deal with bad injuries to McGovern, Shuey, Ryan, Witheren and Cripps, they were helped on the day by the services of Tim Kelly with his 33 touches and Oscar Allen with his three goals.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Dani Sorati | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Caleb Serong | Sean Darcy | Caleb Serong | Caleb Serong |
| 4 | Sean Darcy | Caleb Serong | Sam Switkowski | Sean Darcy |
| 3 | Sam Switkowski | Sam Switkowski | Michael Walters | Sam Switkowski |
| 2 | Michael Frederick | Michael Frederick | Tim Kelly | Michael Walters |
| 1 | Tim Kelly | Michael Walters | Oscar Allen | Andrew Brayshaw |
| 1 | Mason Wood | 20 | 42 |
| 2 | Luke Davies-Uniacke | 0 | 40 |
| 3 | Jordan De Goey | 18 | 37 |
| 4 | Nick Daicos | 0 | 32 |
| 5 | Clayton Oliver | 19 | 31 |
| 6 | Harry Sheezel | 2 | 30 |
| 7 | Darcy Parish | 0 | 29 |
| 8 | Izak Rankine | 20 | 28 |
| 9 | Steele Sidebottom | 12 | 25 |
| 10 | Callum Mills | 3 | 23 |
| 10 | Tim Kelly | 3 | 23 |