The race for Zero Hanger's AFL MVP has tightened after one of the most intense rounds in AFL history.

In a thrilling weekend of action, the votes were unsurprisingly evenly distributed, with just two players polling a perfect 20 votes in Round 9.

One of those players is out-of-contract star James Worpel. His 28 disposals, 10 tackles and six clearances convinced our voters he was the man of the match in Hawthorn's eventual comfortable victory over Melbourne, making a case for a big contract offer in the off-season ahead. Demons Rising Star candidate Harvey Langford also polled strongly in this match, receiving 13 votes for his three-goal afternoon.

Jesse Hogan was the other star to receive a perfect tally, his domination of the Cats depleted backline seeing him rise to 46 votes total for the season despite featuring in just six games so far in 2025. The Cats' less experienced backline fought hard against Hogan but his brute strength was too much to overcome despite Connor O'Sullivan's best efforts on many occasions, leaving GMHBA Stadium with a seven-goal haul.

Bailey Smith has closed in on the current leader Andrew Brayshaw after polling 12 votes this weekend, thanks to a monstrous 34-disposal afternoon that almost stole victory for the Cats. Brayshaw polled 11 votes in the loss to Collingwood, having a similar outing to Smith with 34 disposals of his own in addition to eight score involvements, taking his season total to 90 votes.

On Thursday night, however, Brayshaw's Dockers were no match for Collingwood, as Jamie Crisp and Jamie Elliot starred for the Magpies. Crisp polled his first votes of the year with 18 after raking in a team-high 29 disposals while Elliot also took home 18 votes after bagging six goals and two behinds.

Harry McKay (19 votes) had an emotional return to form in Spud's Game, a game-sealing third goal of the night just the tip of the iceberg on what was a fantastic match for him. He reigned in 10 marks, four being inside 50, and had 19 disposals, just two shy of a career high. For the Saints, despite the loss, Rowan Marshall (12 votes) impressed in the ruck, taking it up to Tom De Koning with 33 hitouts while Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera's 30 disposals and 678 metres gained led the game, stepping up massively from half back as St Kilda's midfield struggled to win the clearance battle. That, in addition to his five intercepts, earned him 11 votes for the game.

Essendon stunned many with their win over Sydney, despite Sydney's late charge leaving some on edge, but Nic Martin left many in awe with his 38 disposals, earning 19 votes. Ed Richards and Tom Liberatore similarly won the ball at an elite level, Richards edging Liberatore out for the most votes in their loss to Gold Coast, 18 to 15. Richard's 18 votes now places him inside the top 10, while Liberatore isn't far behind in 12th.

Many spectators were surprised when Connor Rozee's 32 disposals and seven score involvements won the Showdown best on ground medal in Port Adelaide's five-point loss, with Riley Thilthorpe's three goals, 10 score involvements and 10 marks on everyone's mind. The two split Zero Hanger's best-on-ground votes, but Rozee would walk away with the most in total, 18 to Thilthorpe's 16. Those 18 votes boost Rozee into equal-second in the MVP count, tied with Bailey Smith on 86 votes. Izak Rankine snuck in with three Showdown votes too and as a result, now sits tied fourth on the leaderboard, 72 votes total.

In Sunday's thrillers, North Melbourne's Luke Parker tallied 17 votes, his leadership and foot skills crucial in the Kangaroos' stunning draw with Brisbane, while Tim Taranto earned 14 votes for similar reasons for Richmond in their two-point win over West Coast.

Fremantle vs Collingwood

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 Jack Crisp Jamie Elliott Jamie Elliott Jack Crisp
4 Jamie Elliott Jack Crisp Jack Crisp Jamie Elliott
3 Jordan Clark Andrew Brayshaw Andrew Brayshaw Andrew Brayshaw
2 Andrew Brayshaw Jordan Clark Jordan Clark Jordan Clark
1 Bobby Hill Bobby Hill Bobby Hill Jeremy Howe

St Kilda vs Carlton

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 Harry McKay Harry McKay Harry McKay Patrick Cripps
4 Jack Silvagni Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera Harry McKay
3 Rowan Marshall Rowan Marshall Rowan Marshall Rowan Marshall
2 Patrick Cripps Jack Silvagni Jacob Weitering Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
1 Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera Tom De Koning Sam Walsh Jacob Weitering

Melbourne vs Hawthorn

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 James Worpel James Worpel James Worpel James Worpel
4 Max Gawn Changkuoth Jiath Harvey Langford Harvey Langford
3 James Sicily Harvey Langford Jack Gunston Changkuoth Jiath
2 Harvey Langford Jack Gunston Changkuoth Jiath Dylan Moore
1 Changkuoth Jiath James Sicily Jake Bowey Jack Gunston

Essendon vs Sydney

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 Zach Reid Nic Martin Nic Martin Nic Martin
4 Nic Martin Zach Reid Zach Reid Andrew McGrath
3 Andrew McGrath Andrew McGrath Chad Warner Zach Reid
2 Nick Blakey Nick Blakey Nate Caddy Chad Warner
1 Nate Caddy Will Setterfield Mason Redman Brodie Grundy

Gold Coast vs Western Bulldogs

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 Touk Miller Ed Richards Ed Richards Ed Richards
4 Tom Liberatore Tom Liberatore Tom Liberatore Touk Miller
3 Ed Richards Daniel Rioli Daniel Rioli Tom Liberatore
2 John Noble Marcus Bontempelli Matthew Kennedy Noah Anderson
1 Matthew Kennedy Noah Anderson Ben King Ben King

Port Adelaide vs Adelaide

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 Riley Thilthorpe Connor Rozee Riley Thilthorpe Connor Rozee
4 Connor Rozee Zak Butters Connor Rozee Jason Horne-Francis
3 James Peatling Riley Thilthorpe Izak Rankine Riley Thilthorpe
2 Zak Butters Josh Worrell Josh Worrell James Peatling
1 Josh Worrell Ollie Wines Miles Bergman Reilly O'Brien

Richmond vs West Coast

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 Seth Campbell Tim Taranto Jamie Cripps Tim Taranto
4 Tim Taranto Tom J. Lynch Sam Banks Tom J. Lynch
3 Tom J. Lynch Jamie Cripps Rhyan Mansell Jamie Cripps
2 Jamie Cripps Liam Baker Luke Trainor Jack Graham
1 Tom Brown Tom Brown Tom J. Lynch Seth Campbell

Geelong vs GWS

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 Jesse Hogan Jesse Hogan Jesse Hogan Jesse Hogan
4 Tom Green Bailey Smith Tom Green Tom Green
3 Bailey Smith Max Holmes Max Holmes Bailey Smith
2 Max Holmes Tom Green Bailey Smith Max Holmes
1 Finn Callaghan Finn Callaghan Tyson Stengle Finn Callaghan

North Melbourne vs Brisbane

Mitch Keating Aidan Cellini Callum Farquhar Nick Splitter
5 Tristan Xerri Luke Parker Dayne Zorko Tristan Xerri
4 Luke Parker Dayne Zorko Luke Parker Luke Parker
3 Dayne Zorko Tristan Xerri Josh Dunkley Josh Dunkley
2 Charlie Comben Josh Dunkley Tristan Xerri Dayne Zorko
1 Josh Dunkley Charlie Comben Charlie Comben Charlie Comben

LEADERBOARD

To view the full leaderboard, click here.