The opening votes for Zero Hanger's 2026 MVP Finals are locked in, with Carlton cleanly sweeping Melbourne while a Western Bulldogs champion claimed a perfect game.
Sam Walsh and Marcus Bontempelli led their respective clubs to victory and to the next stage of the season.
Blues guns Jagga Smith and Ben Ainsworth earned multiple nods from the vote-givers, as did Arthur Jones from the Bulldogs after his four-goal performance.
Collingwood pair Nick Daicos and Dan McStay flew the flag for the losing teams, combining for 11 votes.
Each week of this finals series, four Zero Hanger judges will give 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 votes on every game, with votes in the 2026 AFL Grand Final worth double.
Past winners of the Zero Hanger Finals MVP include Will Ashcroft (2024 and 2025) and Bobby Hill (2023).
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Harrison McIlwaine | Jonty Ralphsmith | |
| 5 | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli |
| 4 | Arthur Jones | Arthur Jones | Arthur Jones | Matthew Kennedy |
| 3 | Aaron Naughton | Nick Daicos | Nick Daicos | Arthur Jones |
| 2 | Nick Daicos | Matthew Kennedy | Aaron Naughton | Daniel McStay |
| 1 | Bailey Dale | Aaron Naughton | Dan McStay | Aaron Naughton |
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Harrison McIlwaine | Jonty Ralphsmith | |
| 5 | Sam Walsh | Sam Walsh | Sam Walsh | Sam Walsh |
| 4 | Ben Ainsworth | Jagga Smith | Jacob Weitering | Jagga Smith |
| 3 | Jagga Smith | Ben Ainsworth | Ben Ainsworth | Ben Ainsworth |
| 2 | Harry Dean | Jacob Weitering | Jagga Smith | Jacob Weitering |
| 1 | Jacob Weitering | Harry Dean | Harry Dean | Harry Dean |
2026 MVP AFL FINALS LEADERBOARD
| RANK | PLAYER | LAST ROUND | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Bontempelli |
20 | 20 |
| 1 | Sam Walsh |
20 | 20 |
| 3 | Arthur Jones |
15 | 15 |
| 4 | Jagga Smith |
13 | 13 |
| 4 | Ben Ainsworth |
13 | 13 |
| 6 | Jacob Weitering |
9 | 9 |
| 7 | Nick Daicos |
8 | 8 |
| 8 | Aaron Naughton |
7 | 7 |
| 9 | Matthew Kennedy |
6 | 6 |
| 10 | Harry Dean |
5 | 5 |
