The well of superlatives for Brisbane Lions superstar Will Ashcroft is running dry.
The September specialist again stepped up for his side in their preliminary final victory over Hawthorn on Saturday night, leading all comers with 28 disposals, and a superb goal to boot.
He yielded 14 votes in the Zero Hanger Finals MVP race for his efforts, enough to move him into equal fourth.
Ashcroft is gunning for a third consecutive title, such has been his dominance when the lights are brightest and stakes are highest.
Mercurial Hawthorn superstar Nick Watson is one of the three men ahead of Ashcroft. Watson garnered 17 votes for his six-goal outburst against the Lions - an outburst that so very nearly got his side over the line.
Versatile Docker Luke Jackson moves to the top of the tree, however, sitting outright first with 30 votes. The former Demon netted 10 votes for his role in Fremantle's comeback victory over the Sydney Swans in the other preliminary final, following up his 20-vote performance from the semi-final victory over Geelong in some style.
The Grand Final votes carry a 2x multiplier. Ashcroft, Jackson, firestarter Zac Bailey and the supremely skilled Hayden Young are the top three vote-getters of the two grand finalists, earmarking them as the most likely candidates for this year's award.
After each match of the AFL Finals, Zero Hanger's panel, comprised of Mitch Keating, Aidan Cellini, Harrison McIlwaine and Jonty Ralphsmith, cast their 5-4-3-2-1 votes; the player with the most votes come September's end is crowned the Zero Hanger Finals MVP for season 2026.
The panel were uncharacteristically split this week, with three players awarded best on ground honours by at least one panellist in both games!
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Harrison McIlwaine | Jonty Ralphsmith | |
| 5 | Luke Jackson | Caleb Serong | Hayden Young | Hayden Young |
| 4 | Errol Gulden | Errol Gulden | Caleb Serong | Caleb Serong |
| 3 | Hayden Young | Hayden Young | Shai Bolton | Errol Gulden |
| 2 | Caleb Serong | Luke Jackson | Errol Gulden | Luke Jackson |
| 1 | Andrew Brayshaw | Logan McDonald | Luke Jackson | Jai Serong |
| Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Harrison McIlwaine | Jonty Ralphsmith | |
| 5 | Nick Watson | Will Ashcroft | Hugh McCluggage | Nick Watson |
| 4 | Will Ashcroft | Nick Watson | Harris Andrews | Will Ashcroft |
| 3 | Hugh McCluggage | Josh Ward | Nick Watson | Josh Ward |
| 2 | Kai Lohmann | Kai Lohmann | Josh Ward | Hugh McCluggage |
| 1 | Josh Ward | Hugh McCluggage | Will Ashcroft | Kai Lohmann |
THE TOP 10
| RANK | PLAYER | LAST ROUND | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Jackson |
10 | 30 |
| 2 | Nick Watson |
17 | 29 |
| 3 | Marcus Bontempelli |
0 | 28 |
| 4 | Will Ashcroft |
14 | 26 |
| 4 | Errol Gulden |
13 | 26 |
| 6 | Hayden Young |
16 | 20 |
| 6 | Sam Walsh |
0 | 20 |
| 6 | Patrick Dangerfield |
0 | 20 |
| 6 | James Sicily |
0 | 20 |
| 6 | Zac Bailey |
0 | 20 |
| 11 | Tom Papley |
0 | 19 |
| 11 | Josh Worrell |
0 | 19 |
