Tight at the top as Docker, Dee and Lion poll strongly: 2022 AFL MVP – Round 13

The second bye round only saw 12 teams playing games this week, but there was still enough action to go around in what was another exciting weekend of footy.

Fremantle's Andy Brayshaw, GWS' Harry Himmelberg and Melbourne's Clayton Oliver highlighted the Round 13 list of outstanding performers, as we saw a heavyweight clash in Queensland, a battle of young, up-and-coming sides in the West and a stirring Collingwood victory over the Demons on the Queen's Birthday.

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.'

Richmond vs. Port Adelaide

The Tigers prevailed over Port Adelaide in a nail-biting affair at the mostly-empty MCG on Thursday night. Despite Richmond's stranglehold on the game for large parts, the Power stayed in the contest and managed to take the lead early in the fourth, only to be run over by the fast-finishing Tigers. Liam Baker (26 disposals and a goal) and Dion Prestia (25 possessions) were irrefutably Richmond's best, while Shai Bolton (19 disposals and five behinds) had a night of almosts. As for Port, captain Travis Boak (25 possessions, six marks and four tackles) put in a signature performance, while Connor Rozee (24 disposals and a classy goal) did his best to make things happen.

LIAM BAKER
Defender

Richmond

ROUND 13 STATS

1
Marks

26
Disposals

1
Goals

Essendon vs. Carlton

Despite a symbolic and uplifting pre-game show of Essendon Football Club unity, the Blues always had the Bombers at arm's length and were simply too good on Friday night, winning by 26 points and cementing a spot in the top four. Sam Docherty (33 disposals, nine marks and four tackles), Sam Walsh (29 possessions and six marks) and Patrick Cripps (28 disposals, five tackles and a goal) were everywhere for Carlton, while Dylan Shiel (27 possessions, ten tackles and a goal) had an impressive outing and was one of the Bombers' best.

SAM DOCHERTY
Midfield

Carlton

ROUND 13 STATS

33
Disposals

4
Tackles

9
Marks

Fremantle vs. Hawthorn

Fremantle's unrelenting ball-getter, Andy Brayshaw (37 disposals, six marks, six tackles and a crucial goal), was prolific once again, helping put the Dockers over the top of the gallant Hawks in Nat Fyfe's return to senior action. Caleb Serong (33 possessions and four tackles) was Brayshaw's partner-in-crime in the Freo midfield, as he continues to showcase his wide range of talents. Meanwhile, it was hard to go past Jaegar O'Meara (30 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles and a goal) for Hawthorn's best on the day, while Tom Mitchell (28 possessions) was typically accumulative.

ANDREW BRAYSHAW
Midfield

Fremantle

ROUND 13 STATS

37
Disposals

6
Tackles

2
Clearances

Brisbane vs. St Kilda

The Brisbane Lions overwhelmed St Kilda in the second half on Saturday night, powering to their tenth win of the season to move into first position on the ladder after Melbourne's Queen's Birthday collapse. Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale (37 disposals and six marks) was his usual dominant self as he firms for a second 'Charlie', while Hugh McCluggage (33 possessions, five marks and a goal) continues his meteoric rise to AFL stardom. Meanwhile, for the Saints, Jack Sinclair (30 disposals and four marks) continued his All-Australian-level of play and Brad Crouch (26 possessions, ten tackles and a goal) was industrial in the middle of the ground.

HUGH MCCLUGGAGE
Midfield

Brisbane

ROUND 13 STATS

33
Disposals

3
Tackles

7
Clearances

North Melbourne vs. GWS Giants

The sole Sunday game was a non-contest between the Kangaroos and Giants. The North Melbourne fans in attendance were subject to constant skill errors and turnovers, as well as a lack of resistance against the Giants' forward movements. GWS utility Harry Himmelberg had a career outing at Marvel Stadium, notching a whopping 37 disposals, 16 marks and a goal, while midfielder Stephen Coniglio (34 possessions, six marks and three goals) continued his form-of-old as he relishes his time back in the midfield. Luke Davies-Uniacke (33 disposals and a goal) was among North's best.

H. HIMMELBERG
Defender

GWS

ROUND 13 STATS

16
Marks

37
Disposals

1
Goals

Collingwood vs. Melbourne

The Magpies toppled the Demons in a thrilling Queen's Birthday affair at the MCG. Melbourne, through the ball-winning dominance of the best-on-ground Clayton Oliver (43 disposals) and the goalkicking of Ben Brown and Bayley Fritsch (three combined goals), claimed 20-point leads multiple times throughout the contest. However, Collingwood's amped-up pressure led to a second-half overpowering of the Demons, with Brody Mihocek (four majors), Jack Crisp (29 disposals and six tackles) and skipper Scott Pendlebury (21 possessions and five marks) leading the way to a famous Pies victory.

MASON COX
Forward

Collingwood

ROUND 13 STATS

1
Goals

8
Marks

1
Goal Assists

LEADERBOARD

RANK			LAST ROUND	TOTAL
1		Andrew Brayshaw	19	136
2		Clayton Oliver	15	126
3		Lachie Neale	16	125
4		Patrick Cripps	9	124
5		Callum Mills	0	120
6		Christian Petracca	0	113
7		Touk Miller	0	107
8		Max Gawn	0	91
9		Jeremy Cameron	0	90
10		Ben Keays	0	88

VIEW FULL 2022 ZERO HANGER MVP LEADERBOARD