Two tied for No.1 as Neale makes case for the crown: 2022 AFL MVP – Round 2

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.

Round 2 offered a number of unexpected results, and with it came unexpected players stepping onto the big stage to deliver their side four points.

Blue Patrick Cripps and Demon Christian Petracca backed up their 20-vote performances in Round 1 with further best-on-ground outings against the Bulldogs and Suns respectively.

VIEW: FULL 2022 ZERO HANGER MVP LEADERBOARD

Here are the Round 2 MVP votes for each game.

Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

Patrick Cripps looks to be at the peak of his powers this season, displaying a second successive best-on-ground performance in dismantling the Bulldogs on Thursday night. The Carlton captain was again supported by his midfield ensemble of George Hewett and Matt Kennedy, who have also featured among the votes in consecutive weeks.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Patrick Cripps	Patrick Cripps	Patrick Cripps	Patrick Cripps
4	George Hewett	George Hewett	Harry McKay	Charlie Curnow
3	Charlie Curnow	Charlie Curnow	Ed Curnow	George Hewett
2	Tim English	Matthew Kennedy	Jack Macrae	Harry McKay
1	Jack Macrae	Tim English	Matthew Kennedy	Tom Liberatore

Sydney vs Geelong

On a night that will go down in history, plenty of Swans players stood up to the occasion as Lance Franklin booted his milestone major to reach 1000 career goals. Isaac Heeney's blistering form rolled into the win over Geelong, while Callum Mills was accountable in negating Cats star Patrick Dangerfield while winning his own ball.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Callum Mills	Isaac Heeney	Isaac Heeney	Isaac Heeney
4	Isaac Heeney	Callum Mills	Callum Mills	Callum Mills
3	Errol Gulden	Errol Gulden	Paddy McCartin	Errol Gulden
2	Chad Warner	Paddy McCartin	Errol Gulden	Lance Franklin
1	Bradley Close	Lance Franklin	Lance Franklin	Paddy McCartin

Collingwood vs Adelaide

The Magpies notched up their second win in as many weeks as they impress under new senior coach Craig McRae. The seven-goal win over Adelaide saw incumbent trio Jack Crisp, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom shine, while Crows midfielder Ben Keays was a standout for the away side.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Jack Crisp	Jack Crisp	Jack Crisp	Ben Keays
4	Scott Pendlebury	Scott Pendlebury	Scott Pendlebury	Jack Crisp
3	Ben Keays	Ben Keays	Ben Keays	Jeremy Howe
2	Jack Ginnivan	Jack Ginnivan	Steele Sidebottom	Scott Pendlebury
1	Steele Sidebottom	Beau McCreery	Jeremy Howe	Jack Ginnivan

Essendon vs Brisbane

Lachie Neale has quickly placed himself back into Brownlow contention, enjoying a dominant evening against a hapless Essendon engine room. Collecting 41 disposals and booting two goals, Neale was earned unanimous votes as the best-afield from Saturday's clash.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Lachie Neale	Lachie Neale	Lachie Neale	Lachie Neale
4	Dayne Zorko	Daniel Rich	Dayne Zorko	Dayne Zorko
3	Daniel Rich	Dayne Zorko	Hugh McCluggage	Daniel Rich
2	Jake Kelly	Hugh McCluggage	Daniel Rich	Hugh McCluggage
1	Hugh McCluggage	Jarryd Lyons	Peter Wright	Darcy Parish

Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn

A stunning upset saw the Hawks soar into top spot on the ladder after Round 2, with many thanks coming toward key forward Mitchell Lewis. Along with Jack Gunston and Dylan Moore, Lewis was a constant threat as Hawthorn entered their attacking third at Adelaide Oval.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Mitchell Lewis	Mitchell Lewis	Mitchell Lewis	James Sicily
4	James Sicily	Tom Mitchell	Jack Gunston	Mitchell Lewis
3	Travis Boak	Travis Boak	James Sicily	Jack Scrimshaw
2	Jack Scrimshaw	Dylan Moore	Tom Mitchell	Travis Boak
1	Dylan Moore	James Sicily	Dylan Moore	Dylan Moore

Gold Coast vs Melbourne

After a 20-vote outing in the season opener, Demons superstar Christian Petracca backed up his scintillating performance with a 40+ disposal night in handing the Suns their first loss of the year. Ruck-forward Luke Jackson continued on his meteoric rise, while young defender Jake Bowey was also among the lead ball winners in the victory.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Christian Petracca	Christian Petracca	Christian Petracca	Christian Petracca
4	Luke Jackson	Luke Jackson	Luke Jackson	Jake Bowey
3	Touk Miller	Jake Bowey	Jake Bowey	Luke Jackson
2	Jake Bowey	Clayton Oliver	Touk Miller	Touk Miller
1	Clayton Oliver	Touk Miller	Clayton Oliver	Clayton Oliver

North Melbourne vs West Coast

The severely undermanned Eagles stuck with North Melbourne until the end in what was a valiant effort away from home. Roo Nick Larkey took advantage of the occasions, booting six majors while recruit Hugh Greenwood impressed in midfield.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Nick Larkey	Nick Larkey	Nick Larkey	Nick Larkey
4	Hugh Greenwood	Hugh Greenwood	Jack Ziebell	Willie Rioli
3	Jack Ziebell	Willie Rioli	Willie Rioli	Aaron Hall
2	Willie Rioli	Jack Ziebell	Hugh Greenwood	Hugh Greenwood
1	Jeremy McGovern	Liam Duggan	Luke Shuey	Luke Shuey

Richmond vs Greater Western Sydney

The Tigers pounced back onto the winner's list on Sunday in what was a strong four-quarter effort by Damien Hardwick's men. Defender Jayden Short ran the show from the back third, while forward pair Noah Balta and Tom Lynch combined for seven goals.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Jayden Short	Jayden Short	Jayden Short	Jayden Short
4	Trent Cotchin	Tom Green	Josh Kelly	Josh Kelly
3	Noah Balta	Noah Balta	Tom Green	Noah Balta
2	Tom Green	Shai Bolton	Shai Bolton	Nathan Broad
1	Josh Kelly	Josh Kelly	Noah Balta	Tom Green

Fremantle vs St Kilda

The Saints and Dockers will both enter Round 3 with one win and one loss after the former were able to notch up a come-from-behind victory at Optus Stadium. Josh Battle enjoyed a career-best outing, while Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw did everything he could to keep the game in the balance.

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Josh Battle	Andrew Brayshaw	Andrew Brayshaw	Josh Battle
4	Andrew Brayshaw	Josh Battle	Max King	Andrew Brayshaw
3	Max King	Max King	Josh Battle	Max King
2	Luke Ryan	Luke Ryan	Luke Ryan	Luke Ryan
1	Bradley Hill	Bradley Hill	Bradley Hill	Daniel McKenzie

 

2022 ZERO HANGER MVP LEADERBOARD

RANK	CLUB	PLAYER	LAST ROUND	TOTAL
1		Patrick Cripps	20	40
2		Christian Petracca	20	40
3		Isaac Heeney	19	33
4		Andrew Brayshaw	18	33
5		Ben Keays	14	32
6		Lachie Neale	20	31
7		Touk Miller	8	26
8		Tom Green	10	22
9		Nick Larkey	20	20
10		Jayden Short	20	20