Round 20 was a tipster's nightmare come to life. Upsets were everywhere across a round of uncertainty as the season heads towards its end.
Friday night's fixture added yet another twist to an already enthralling rivalry as the Pies and Blues clashed once more. Saturday was a day of upsets as the Dockers, Giants, Suns, Crows and Swans overcame their opposition, most of them away from home. Sunday provided some interesting games with the Tigers and Hawks both being in the contest however overrun in the last term. It had been a long time coming but the Eagles finally got another win on the board whilst North Melbourne continue to plummet.
Unanimous votes were everywhere with Charlie Curnow, Toby Greene, Touk Miller, Errol Gulden, Taylor Walker, Matt Crouch and Max Gawn all being named best afield for their respective clubs. Nick Daicos maintains his lead by a single vote whilst Christian Petracca moves only a vote behind second-placed Marcus Bontempelli.
Reminder:Â Votes are given out in a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 system for each game, meaning the maximum number of votes any player can record in any game is 20.
Sweet revenge was the name of the game for the Blues as they defeated the Pies under Friday night lights. On the back of their Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow, the Blues look all but certain to play finals as they extend their winning streak to six on the trot.
Jacob Weitering was phenomenal down back keeping the Collingwood forward line quiet all night. He took a game-high 11 marks along with 18 possessions as he controlled the tempo of the game. Skipper Patrick Cripps was dominant through traffic with seven clearances along with 10 tackles. Teammate Adam Cerra was clean early with 20 touches before being subbed out early in the third term.
Jack Martin slotted three goals nicely for the Blues whilst the Pies relied heavily on defender Jeremy Howe up front. The defender booted three in a last-quarter move up forward to try and get the Pies back into the game.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Charlie Curnow | Charlie Curnow | Charlie Curnow | Charlie Curnow |
| 4 | Jacob Weitering | Jacob Weitering | Jacob Weitering | Jacob Weitering |
| 3 | Jack Martin | Patrick Cripps | Patrick Cripps | Jeremy Howe |
| 2 | Jeremy Howe | Adam Cerra | Jack Martin | Adam Cerra |
| 1 | Adam Cerra | Jeremy Howe | Jeremy Howe | Patrick Cripps |
The Cats were stunned at home by the Dockers who managed to gain some respect for themselves after such a disappointing year. Skipper Alex Pearce was elite defensively with eight marks and 18 disposals against a misfiring Cats forward line.
Usual suspects in Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw were pivotal in the midfield, their speed was simply too much for the Cats to handle. Luke Ryan was classy down at half-back, transitioning the ball well with his 28 touches.
In an all-around great performance, Luke Jackson was key around the ground with 16 touches despite losing the hitout battle for the game. Lachlan Schultz was a handy little goalscorer with two along with 19 disposals.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Alex Pearce | Alex Pearce | Alex Pearce | Andrew Brayshaw |
| 4 | Caleb Serong | Andrew Brayshaw | Caleb Serong | Alex Pearce |
| 3 | Andrew Brayshaw | Caleb Serong | Luke Ryan | Caleb Serong |
| 2 | Luke Jackson | Luke Ryan | Andrew Brayshaw | Lachlan Schultz |
| 1 | Lachlan Schultz | Luke Jackson | Luke Jackson | Luke Jackson |
It was 'Toby Time' in Ballarat as the Giants overcame a 29-point halftime deficit to defeat the Bulldogs in another classic between the two sides. Toby Greene booted five along with 19 disposals whilst at the other end Sam Taylor held his own once more with eight marks and 18 touches.
Josh Kelly was phenomenal through midfield with 25 touches and 14 tackles. The entire Giants midfield was a standout with Lachie Whitfield and Stephen Coniglio putting in shifts with 36 and 34 possessions respectively.
There wasn't much to write home about for the Dogs after halftime except for the performance of Tom Liberatore. 'Libba' was once again a standout with 35 disposals and 10 clearances.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Toby Greene | Toby Greene | Toby Greene | Toby Greene |
| 4 | Sam Taylor | Sam Taylor | Sam Taylor | Sam Taylor |
| 3 | Josh Kelly | Tom Liberatore | Lachie Whitfield | Tom Liberatore |
| 2 | Tom Liberatore | Josh Kelly | Stephen Coniglio | Josh Kelly |
| 1 | Stephen Coniglio | Lachie Whitfield | Tom Liberatore | Stephen Coniglio |
In their first QClash victory since 2018, the Suns stormed home against a stunned Lions outfit, defeating them convincingly by 41 points. Ben King was back in his goal-scoring groove, booting five off six marks.
Touk Miller led from the front against a slow Brisbane midfield with 29 touches and five clearances. Teammates Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson held their own in the middle with 19 and 29 touches each, along with a goal a piece.
Hugh McCluggage was the standout for the Lions with 28 disposals and a goal whilst for the Suns, Wil Powell continues to shine with 28 himself and six marks.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Touk Miller | Touk Miller | Touk Miller | Touk Miller |
| 4 | Ben King | Noah Anderson | Ben King | Matthew Rowell |
| 3 | Noah Anderson | Ben King | Noah Anderson | Ben King |
| 2 | Matthew Rowell | Wil Powell | Hugh McCluggage | Noah Anderson |
| 1 | Hugh McCluggage | Matthew Rowell | Matthew Rowell | Josh Dunkley |
The Swans held on against the Dons by a mere two points at Marvel Stadium. Errol Gulden continues to make his case for a maiden All-Australian blazer with 37 touches, 10 marks and a goal. Dons captain Zach Merrett did his thing through midfield with a game-high 39 possessions along with nine clearances.
Chad Warner was a standout for the Swans with 26 and a goal whilst defensive teammate Jake Lloyd held his own with 31 disposals in the backline. Braeden Campbell looked solid with 26 disposals and eight marks whilst playing on the wing.
For the Bombers, their main goal threat was makeshift forward Kyle Langford who once again proved he can be a consistent scorer. Swans key forward Joel Amartey booted four in one of his best games so far in his short career.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Errol Gulden | Errol Gulden | Errol Gulden | Errol Gulden |
| 4 | Chad Warner | Chad Warner | Chad Warner | Chad Warner |
| 3 | Kyle Langford | Kyle Langford | Zach Merrett | Kyle Langford |
| 2 | Zach Merrett | Zach Merrett | Kyle Langford | Zach Merrett |
| 1 | Braeden Campbell | Jake Lloyd | Braeden Campbell | Joel Amartey |
For the second time this season, the Crows defeated the Power in a dazzling display. 'Tex' Walker was absolutely enormous booting seven against an injury-depleted Power backline. The forward wasn't the only standout as skipper Jordan Dawson showed his class with 34 touches and a goal.
Matt Crouch was elite through midfield, showing glimpses of his past self. He racked up 32 possessions and a game-high 12 clearances. Wayne Milera was clean off half-back along with teammate Josh Worrell.
Star midfielder Rory Laird displayed his ferocity with a game-high 13 tackles. He accumulated 26 disposals as the Crows stormed home to hand the Power their third straight loss.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Taylor Walker | Taylor Walker | Taylor Walker | Taylor Walker |
| 4 | Matt Crouch | Matt Crouch | Matt Crouch | Rory Laird |
| 3 | Josh Worrell | Jordan Dawson | Jordan Dawson | Matt Crouch |
| 2 | Rory Laird | Josh Worrell | Josh Worrell | Wayne Milera |
| 1 | Wayne Milera | Wayne Milera | Rory Laird | Jordan Dawson |
The Saints continue to make their case for a genuine finals contender as they cruised home to a victory over the Hawks. Saint Brad Crouch was the star of the afternoon with 32 touches and three goals.
Rowan Marshall was solid around the ground despite losing hit outs to his younger opponent Lloyd Meek. Callum Wilkie racked up an impressive 15 marks in the backline along with 19 disposals.
Dan Butler was back to his 2020 best with four goals and 17 touches whilst Hawk Will Day proved to be one of the only standouts with two goals and 22 disposals. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera led the game with 33 possessions whilst booting a goal to aid the Saints.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Brad Crouch | Brad Crouch | Brad Crouch | Brad Crouch |
| 4 | Rowan Marshall | Dan Butler | Rowan Marshall | Rowan Marshall |
| 3 | Callum Wilkie | Rowan Marshall | Dan Butler | Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera |
| 2 | Will Day | Jack Steele | Jack Steele | Dan Butler |
| 1 | Dan Butler | Callum Wilkie | Will Day | Callum Wilkie |
Despite the Tigers' best efforts, the Demons proved why they are a top-four team as they tore Richmond apart in the final term. Skipper Max Gawn once again proved why he should always be the number one ruckman as he had 28 touches, 40 hitouts and 11 clearances.
Jack Viney and Christian Petracca led the way through midfield with 32 and 29 disposals respectively with the latter booting a goal also. Dustin Martin was classy with three goals along with 21 touches.
Harrison Petty was huge in the key forward role booting a game-high six goals against experienced defenders in Noah Balta and Dylan Grimes.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Max Gawn | Max Gawn | Max Gawn | Max Gawn |
| 4 | Jack Viney | Harrison Petty | Harrison Petty | Harrison Petty |
| 3 | Harrison Petty | Jack Viney | Christian Petracca | Christian Petracca |
| 2 | Christian Petracca | Christian Petracca | Jack Viney | Jack Viney |
| 1 | Dustin Martin | Dustin Martin | Dustin Martin | Jake Lever |
The Eagles finally got another win on the board against North Melbourne at Optus Stadium. Jamie Cripps was solid with a couple of goals and 18 possessions. Key forward Jack Darling was a key reason for the Eagles' hot start, finishing with a goal and 18 touches. Dom Sheed led the Eagles in possessions with 26 along with nine marks.
Bailey Williams was great around the ground with 23 disposals, six clearances and five marks against a lacklustre North Melbourne side. Shannon Hurn kept Nick Larkey under wraps all afternoon, even managing to rack up 21 touches along with nine marks.
In no surprise, the shining light for the Kangaroos was Luke Davies-Uniacke. The 24-year-old racked up 30 possessions, eight clearances and booted a goal despite his club seemingly reaching a new low.
| Mitch Keating | Ed Carmine | Jack Jovanovski | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Jack Darling | Tim Kelly | Jack Darling | Dom Sheed |
| 4 | Jamie Cripps | Jamie Cripps | Jamie Cripps | Luke Davies-Uniacke |
| 3 | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Tim Kelly | Tim Kelly |
| 2 | Bailey J. Williams | Bailey J. Williams | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Jack Darling |
| 1 | Shannon Hurn | Shannon Hurn | Bailey J. Williams | Bailey J. Williams |
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| PLAYER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Daicos | 0 | 197 |
| 2 | Marcus Bontempelli | 0 | 196 |
| 3 | Christian Petracca | 10 | 195 |
| 4 | Tim Taranto | 0 | 177 |
| 5 | Lachie Neale | 0 | 160 |
| 5 | Toby Greene | 20 | 160 |
| 7 | Jordan Dawson | 7 | 156 |
| 8 | Errol Gulden | 20 | 144 |
| 9 | Zach Merrett | 9 | 141 |
| 10 | Jack Sinclair | 0 | 133 |
Check out the full leaderboard here.