A relatively quiet weekend from the current top three in Touk Miller, Andrew Brayshaw and Patrick Cripps has allowed two other stars to close the gap to the top of the MVP leaderboard.

With just two rounds of home and away football remaining, just nine votes separate the current top five players as the race to the MVP title heats up.

Each round this season, the Zero Hanger team - consisting of editor Mitch Keating, general manager Nick Splitter, deputy editor Ed Carmine and writer Dani Sorati - 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.

Melbourne Demons vs Collingwood Magpies

Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver split the votes in Melbourne's narrow loss to Collingwood on Friday night. Jordan De Goey impressed for the Pies, while Jamie Elliott registered plenty of votes as he continues his impressive season. Recently re-signed Ash Johnson also picked up four votes for his four-goal effort.

CLAYTON OLIVER
Midfield
Melbourne
ROUND 21 STATS
42
Disposals
8
Tackles
14
Clearances

1 Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Max Gawn Max Gawn Clayton Oliver Clayton Oliver
4 Clayton Oliver Clayton Oliver Max Gawn Jordan De Goey
3 Jordan De Goey Jamie Elliott Jamie Elliott Jack Crisp
2 Jamie Elliott Jordan De Goey Jordan De Goey Max Gawn
1 Ashley Johnson Ashley Johnson Ashley Johnson Ashley Johnson

Hawthorn Hawks vs Gold Coast Suns 

Jack Gunston was awarded the unanimous BOG votes for his 14-disposal, 5-goal effort against Gold Coast. Former Sun-turned Hawk Jaeger O'Meara also featured in the votes after he finished the day with 20 touches and eight clearances, while David Swallow flew the flag for the Suns, registering 13 votes.

JACK GUNSTON
Forward
Hawthorn
ROUND 21 STATS
5
Goals
8
Marks
1
Goal Assists

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Jack Gunston Jack Gunston Jack Gunston Jack Gunston
4 Jaeger O'Meara David Swallow Jaeger O'Meara Jaeger O'Meara
3 David Swallow James Sicily David Swallow David Swallow
2 Dylan Moore Elijah Hollands James Sicily James Sicily
1 James Sicily Dylan Moore Dylan Moore Elijah Hollands

GWS Giants vs Essendon Bombers

Lachie Whitfield earned 19 of a possible 20 votes for his best on ground performance against Essendon on Saturday, ending the afternoon with a game-high 29 disposals to his name. Forward Jesse Hogan also starred with four goals, while Darcy Parish featured in the votes for the Bombers.

LACHIE WHITFIELD
Defender
GWS
2022 SEASON AVG
6.4
Marks
22.7
Disposals
0.3
Goals

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Lachie Whitfield Callan Ward Lachie Whitfield Lachie Whitfield
4 Jesse Hogan Lachie Whitfield Jesse Hogan Darcy Parish
3 Harrison Himmelberg Jesse Hogan Darcy Parish Harry Perryman
2 Callan Ward Stephen Coniglio Harrison Himmelberg Toby Greene
1 Darcy Parish Harrison Himmelberg Sam Taylor Harry Perryman

Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle Dockers

Luke Ryan earned perfect votes for his standout performance against the Bulldogs, collecting 32 disposals in the 17-point win. Bulldog Josh Dunkley also earned plenty of praise for his 33 touches and six clearances, while Rory Lobb's four goal haul saw him collect 12 votes.

LUKE RYAN
Defender
Fremantle
ROUND 21 STATS
15
Marks
32
Disposals
11
Rebound50s

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Luke Ryan Luke Ryan Luke Ryan Luke Ryan
4 Josh Dunkley Josh Dunkley Josh Dunkley Josh Dunkley
3 Rory Lobb Rory Lobb Rory Lobb Rory Lobb
2 Jordan Clark Bailey Smith Caleb Serong Caleb Serong
1 Heath Chapman Caleb Serong Bailey Smith Jordan Clark

Geelong Cats vs St Kilda Saints 

The Cats dominated the Saints and the votes this weekend, with Brandan Parfitt, Isaac Smith and Sam De Koning staring on Saturday night to share votes at the top of the table. Sam Menegola earned plenty, while young Max Holmes impressed.

BRANDAN PARFITT
Midfield
Geelong
ROUND 21 STATS
25
Disposals
6
Tackles
10
Clearances

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Isaac Smith Brandan Parfitt Brandan Parfitt Sam De Koning
4 Sam De Koning Isaac Smith Sam De Koning Isaac Smith
3 Brandan Parfitt Sam De Koning Isaac Smith Zach Guthrie
2 Cameron Guthrie Sam Menegola Sam Menegola Brandan Parfitt
1 Max Holmes Max Holmes Max Holmes Sam Menegola

Port Adelaide Power vs Richmond Tigers

Toby Nankervis got plenty of recognition for his impressive performance against Port Adelaide, earning 19 of a possible 20 votes. Dion Prestia continued his stellar season with 32 disposals and 476 metres gained for the match, while Shai Bolton strengthened his hold on a top ten spot with 16 votes.

TOBY NANKERVIS
Ruck
Richmond
ROUND 21 STATS
42
Hit Outs
4
Marks
29
Disposals

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Toby Nankervis Shai Bolton Toby Nankervis Toby Nankervis
4 Shai Bolton Toby Nankervis Dion Prestia Shai Bolton
3 Dion Prestia Dion Prestia Shai Bolton Dion Prestia
2 Trent Cotchin Trent Cotchin Trent Cotchin Tom J. Lynch
1 Daniel Rioli Daniel Rioli Ollie Wines Zak Butters

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Sydney Swans 

Nick Larkey earned full votes for his dominant performance up forward for the Kangaroos, kicking seven goals in a 38-point loss. Chad Warner continued his stellar 2022 campaign with a 20 disposal, three-goal effort, while Isaac Heeney also earned votes for the Swans.

NICK LARKEY
Forward
North Melbourne
ROUND 21 STATS
7
Goals
3
Marks
1
Tackles

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Nick Larkey Nick Larkey Nick Larkey Nick Larkey
4 Chad Warner Chad Warner Chad Warner Chad Warner
3 Luke Parker Luke Davies-Uniacke Luke Davies-Uniacke Tom Hickey
2 Isaac Heeney Lance Franklin Lance Franklin Luke Davies-Uniacke
1 Luke Davies-Uniacke Isaac Heeney Tom Papley Lance Franklin

Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues

The Lions dominated the votes after their strong performance against Carlton, with Lachie Neale earning BOG honours for his impressive display. Zac Bailey earned big votes for his four-goal effort up forward, while big man Oscar McInerney dominated in the ruck.

LACHIE NEALE
Midfield
Brisbane
ROUND 21 STATS
32
Disposals
3
Tackles
9
Clearances

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Lachie Neale Lachie Neale Lachie Neale Lachie Neale
4 Zac Bailey Zac Bailey Zac Bailey Zac Bailey
3 Oscar McInerney Oscar McInerney Oscar McInerney Daniel McStay
2 Hugh McCluggage Rhys Mathieson Rhys Mathieson Oscar McInerney
1 Rhys Mathieson Harris Andrews Hugh McCluggage Rhys Mathieson

West Coast Eagles vs Adelaide Crows

Josh Kennedy dominated one last time in his farewell game, kicking 8.2 and taking eight marks. The other milestone man Rory Laird impressed too, ending the trip to Perth with 36 disposals, five tackles and ten clearances, bringing him to eighth place in the overall standings.

JOSH J. KENNEDY
Forward
West Coast
ROUND 6 STATS
1
Goals
3
Marks
7
Disposals

Mitch Keating Ed Carmine Dani Sorati Nick Splitter
5 Josh J. Kennedy Josh J. Kennedy Josh J. Kennedy Josh J. Kennedy
4 Rory Laird Rory Laird Rory Laird Rory Laird
3 Shane McAdam Darcy Fogarty Jordan Dawson Jordan Dawson
2 Jordan Dawson Jordan Dawson Darcy Fogarty Darcy Fogarty
1 Darcy Fogarty Shane McAdam Thomas Barrass Sam Berry

LEADERBOARD

FULL 2022 ZERO HANGER MVP LEADERBOARD