Round 8 is complete and with it came six 20-vote performances as several superstars have proclaimed themselves as contenders for Zero Hanger's AFL MVP for 2025.
Zach Merrett's legend status continues to grow as he put the Bombers on his back to lead them to a thrilling victory on Thursday night, his 35 disposals and game-high nine score involvements earning him a full 20 votes.
He has now ascended into the top five of the MVP count, with his 71 votes just eight shy of leader Andrew Brayshaw. North Melbourne ruckman Tristan Xerri was excellent as the Kangaroos fought back from an early four-goal deficit in this game, polling 16 votes for his 25 disposals, seven score involvements and a 39-hitout domination over former teammate and mentor Todd Goldstein in the ruck.
Patrick Dangerfield's final quarter explosion saw him poll perfectly on Saturday night, his 13-disposal, five score involvements and goal in the final term sealing a famous victory for the Cats.
Those 20 votes see the Geelong skipper enter the top 10, tied with Brisbane's Hugh McCluggage on 62 votes this season. Bailey Smith was also recognised for his elite ball-winning ability, tallying 14 votes for his 34-disposal night to take his total to 74 for the season. He jumps Collingwood's Steele Sidebottom for second place on the leaderboard, with the Magpies veteran polling just two votes on the night.
Will Ashcroft and Chad Warner dominated their states' respective derbies, each taking home a full 20 votes. Ashcroft snagged the man of the match medal named after his father on Sunday night as his 34 disposals and nine clearances enabled the Lions to roll the Suns in a scrappy affair, while Warner further strengthened Sydney's stranglehold on the Battle of the Bridge with nine score involvements, including two goals assists, from just 24 disposals.
Melbourne continue to fight back from a slow start to their 2025 campaign with another win led by their captain Max Gawn, who polled a perfect 20 votes this weekend. The narrative of Gawn being the greatest ruckman of the modern era has had its credentials strengthened after he won 47 hitouts and nine clearances in an obliteration of the Eagles' tall stocks, also kicking a goal, taking eight marks and recording a career-high 35 disposals.
Christian Petracca's fine form continued in the win in the West also, earning 15 votes with 29 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles and seven score involvements to his name.
Jordan Dawson was the final player to record the full love of our voters this round as the Crows' offensive blitz knocked over Carlton in brutal fashion.
Dawson's scoreboard impact of three goals, as well as his pressure on the contest that saw him rack up six clearances, eight tackles and 11 contested possessions, won him 20 votes, with Izak Rankine closely following with 15 votes after 29 disposals and 12 score involvements of his own, including two goals.
Hawk Massimo D'Ambrosio's two goals and 30 disposals in a blowout win over Richmond gave him 19 votes, the first time he's polled since Round 2. Jack Macrae (19 votes) returned to the form he presented in the first month of action, with his 25 contested possessions and 14 clearances career-highs.
Tim English looked All-Australian calibre in the Bulldogs' 90-point thumping of Port Adelaide, dominating in the ruck (30 hitouts), as well as in the contest (27 disposals) and near the goals (three goals, 17 score involvements) to tally 19 votes.
Essendon vs North Melbourne
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Zach Merrett | Zach Merrett | Zach Merrett | Zach Merrett |
| 4 | Tristan Xerri | Tristan Xerri | Tristan Xerri | Tristan Xerri |
| 3 | Zach Reid | Sam Durham | Archie Perkins | Sam Durham |
| 2 | Will Setterfield | Archie Perkins | Nate Caddy | Luke Davies-Uniacke |
| 1 | Sam Durham | Zach Reid | Jy Simpkin | Nate Caddy |
St Kilda vs Fremantle
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Jack Macrae | Jack Macrae | Cooper Sharman | Jack Macrae |
| 4 | Cooper Sharman | Cooper Sharman | Jack Macrae | Rowan Marshall |
| 3 | Callum Wilkie | Callum Wilkie | Mitchito Owens | Cooper Sharman |
| 2 | Rowan Marshall | Mitchito Owens | Callum Wilkie | Mitchito Owens |
| 1 | Mitchito Owens | Jack Steele | Rowan Marshall | Callum Wilkie |
Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Ed Richards | Tim English | Tim English | Tim English |
| 4 | Tim English | Ed Richards | Marcus Bontempelli | Ed Richards |
| 3 | Marcus Bontempelli | Marcus Bontempelli | Ed Richards | Marcus Bontempelli |
| 2 | Aaron Naughton | Matthew Kennedy | Aaron Naughton | Matthew Kennedy |
| 1 | Bailey Dale | Aaron Naughton | Rhylee West | Aaron Naughton |
Adelaide vs Carlton
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Jordan Dawson | Jordan Dawson | Jordan Dawson | Jordan Dawson |
| 4 | Josh Worrell | Izak Rankine | Izak Rankine | Izak Rankine |
| 3 | Izak Rankine | Josh Rachele | Max Michalanney | Max Michalanney |
| 2 | Max Michalanney | Max Michalanney | Josh Rachele | James Peatling |
| 1 | Josh Rachele | James Peatling | Wayne Milera | Alex Neal-Bullen |
Collingwood vs Geelong
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Patrick Dangerfield | Patrick Dangerfield | Patrick Dangerfield | Patrick Dangerfield |
| 4 | Darcy Cameron | Bailey Smith | Bailey Smith | Scott Pendlebury |
| 3 | Bailey Smith | Scott Pendlebury | Brody Mihocek | Bailey Smith |
| 2 | Brody Mihocek | Brody Mihocek | Steele Sidebottom | Nick Daicos |
| 1 | Shaun Mannagh | Nick Daicos | Scott Pendlebury | Brody Mihocek |
West Coast vs Melbourne
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Max Gawn | Max Gawn | Max Gawn | Max Gawn |
| 4 | Christian Petracca | Christian Petracca | Kade Chandler | Christian Petracca |
| 3 | Daniel Turner | Kade Chandler | Christian Petracca | Daniel Turner |
| 2 | Kade Chandler | Trent Rivers | Elijah Hewett | Kade Chandler |
| 1 | Ed Langdon | Elijah Hewett | Harvey Langford | Ryan Maric |
Sydney vs GWS
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Chad Warner | Chad Warner | Chad Warner | Chad Warner |
| 4 | Finn Callaghan | Tom Green | Tom Green | Tom Green |
| 3 | Dane Rampe | Finn Callaghan | Finn Callaghan | Finn Callaghan |
| 2 | Tom Green | Isaac Heeney | Isaac Heeney | Isaac Heeney |
| 1 | Isaac Heeney | Joel Hamling | Callan Ward | Dane Rampe |
Hawthorn vs Richmond
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Josh Battle | Massimo D'Ambrosio | Massimo D'Ambrosio | Massimo D'Ambrosio |
| 4 | Massimo D'Ambrosio | Changkuoth Jiath | Jack Ginnivan | Jai Newcombe |
| 3 | Jai Newcombe | Josh Battle | Nick Watson | Josh Battle |
| 2 | Jack Ginnivan | Jack Ginnivan | Josh Battle | Changkuoth Jiath |
| 1 | Thomas Barrass | James Sicily | Josh Weddle | Tim Taranto |
Brisbane vs Gold Coast
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
| 5 | Will Ashcroft | Will Ashcroft | Will Ashcroft | Will Ashcroft |
| 4 | Josh Dunkley | Hugh McCluggage | Touk Miller | Hugh McCluggage |
| 3 | Touk Miller | Touk Miller | Charlie Cameron | Mac Andrew |
| 2 | Harris Andrews | Charlie Cameron | Hugh McCluggage | Touk Miller |
| 1 | Charlie Cameron | Lachie Neale | Callum Ah Chee | Callum Ah Chee |
LEADERBOARD
| PLAYER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Brayshaw |
0 | 79 |
| 2 | Bailey Smith |
14 | 74 |
| 3 | Steele Sidebottom |
2 | 72 |
| 4 | Zach Merrett |
20 | 71 |
| 5 | Jordan Dawson |
20 | 70 |
| 6 | Nick Daicos |
3 | 69 |
| 6 | Izak Rankine |
15 | 69 |
| 8 | Connor Rozee |
0 | 68 |
| 9 | Max Gawn |
20 | 63 |
| 10 | Hugh McCluggage |
10 | 62 |
| 10 | Patrick Dangerfield |
20 | 62 |
To view the full leaderboard, click here.
