Race for crown tightens as top six all poll: 2022 AFL MVP

Round 16 made for another exciting round of footy, with a few close calls and some absolute landslides leading to a few new names putting their hands up for votes.

Christian Petracca silenced any critics with an impressive performance in the Dees' latest victory, while Nick Daicos continues to impress. The key forwards also had a solid week with big bags from Jeremy Cameron and Rory Lobb earning the goal-kickers a few votes to their names.

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.'

Brisbane vs Western Bulldogs

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Lachie Neale	Lachie Neale	Charlie Cameron	Lachie Neale
4	Tom Liberatore	Tom Liberatore	Lachie Neale	Hugh McCluggage
3	Charlie Cameron	Hugh McCluggage	Hugh McCluggage	Tom Liberatore
2	Hugh McCluggage	Jack Macrae	Tom Liberatore	Charlie Cameron
1	Marcus Bontempelli	Charlie Cameron	Harris Andrews	Harris Andrews

The Lions ran riot against the Dogs at the Gabba, getting up by a comfortable 41 points on the night. Lachie Neale was as influential as ever, racking up a solid 33 disposals with a goal to his name. Charlie Cameron proved too much to handle for the Dogs' defence, kicking four majors alongside 12 disposals, while Jarrod Berry put in a shift with 2 two goals and 23 disposals. Tom Liberatore continued his run of form despite the loss, managing 33 disposals and a goal, while Bailey Dale also looked solid with 32 disposals.

Carlton vs St Kilda

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Jack Sinclair	Jack Sinclair	Jack Sinclair	Jack Sinclair
4	Patrick Cripps	Patrick Cripps	Patrick Cripps	Patrick Cripps
3	Paddy Ryder	Jack Steele	Paddy Ryder	Jack Steele
2	Jack Steele	Tim Membrey	Rowan Marshall	Paddy Ryder
1	Tim Membrey	Brad Crouch	Tim Membrey	Tim Membrey

Both teams put up a good fight in the blockbuster matchup, but the Saints proved a bit too much for the Blues on the night. Jack Sinclair ran riot in the midfield with a game-high 37 possessions. Tim Membrey was lively in the forward line, kicking four majors alongside 10 disposals and five marks, while Jade Gresham looked solid with 29 disposals and 10 contested possessions. Despite the loss, Patrick Cripps looked his usual self with 31 disposals and 19 contested possessions, while Sam Walsh was also impressive with 33 disposals.

Essendon vs Sydney

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Zach Merrett	Zach Merrett	Zach Merrett	Zach Merrett
4	Chad Warner	Chad Warner	Chad Warner	Chad Warner
3	Nick Hind	Nick Hind	Nick Hind	Nick Hind
2	Mason Redman	Luke Parker	Luke Parker	Jake Kelly
1	Ben Hobbs	Ben Hobbs	Jake Kelly	Luke Parker

In the upset of the round, 16th placed Essendon managed to sneak over the line against the 8th placed Swans in a well-fought, nine-point victory. Zach Merrett was dominant from the midfield, managing 24 disposals alongside three goals. Skipper Dyson Heppell was impressive with 25 disposals and a goal, while young gun Massimo D'Ambrosio continued to impress with 23 disposals. Chad Warner put in a shift for the losing side with three goals and 25 disposals, while Lance Franklin held his own with two goals and 16 disposals.

Adelaide vs Melbourne

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Christian Petracca	Christian Petracca	Christian Petracca	Christian Petracca
4	Ed Langdon	Clayton Oliver	Ed Langdon	Clayton Oliver
3	Clayton Oliver	Ben Keays	Clayton Oliver	Rory Laird
2	Jordan Dawson	Jordan Dawson	Reilly O'Brien	Steven May
1	Rory Laird	Ed Langdon	Rory Laird	Jordan Dawson

First-placed Melbourne have rediscovered their form after a few rough weeks, winning comfortably against the Crows at their home ground by 29 points. Christian Petracca looked back to his dangerous best with an impressive 33 disposals alongside three goals and 20 contested possessions. Clayton Oliver was also his usual self with a game-high 36 disposals and 19 contested possessions, while running machine Ed Langdon was solid with 33 disposals and a goal. Christian Salem was impressive defensively with 22 disposals, seven marks and six tackles, while Rory Laird shone for the losing side with 32 disposals and a goal.

Geelong vs North Melbourne

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Jeremy Cameron	Tom Hawkins	Jeremy Cameron	Tom Hawkins
4	Tom Hawkins	Jeremy Cameron	Tom Hawkins	Cameron Guthrie
3	Mitch Duncan	Cameron Guthrie	Cameron Guthrie	Mitch Duncan
2	Cameron Guthrie	Luke Davies-Uniacke	Mitch Duncan	Jeremy Cameron
1	Luke Davies-Uniacke	Mitch Duncan	Luke Davies-Uniacke	Luke Davies-Uniacke

The Cats absolutely tore the Roos apart on Saturday, showing no mercy in the 112-point victory. Jeremy Cameron was unstoppable, kicking four majors while managing 30 disposals and 10 marks. Tom Hawkins also chipped in with a modest six goals and 19 disposals, while Cameron Guthrie was impressive with 29 disposals and a goal. Mitch Duncan was also lively with 14 marks and 30 disposals, while Luck Davies-Uniacke was the only shining light for North with a game-high 35 disposals.

Gold Coast vs Collingwood

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Nick Daicos	Nick Daicos	Nick Daicos	Nick Daicos
4	Touk Miller	Noah Anderson	Izak Rankine	Noah Anderson
3	Izak Rankine	Touk Miller	Touk Miller	Touk Miller
2	Josh Daicos	Josh Daicos	Noah Anderson	Josh Daicos
1	Noah Anderson	Izak Rankine	Josh Daicos	Brayden Maynard

The Pies only just got over the line against the Suns at Metricon on Saturday, winning by five points on the night. Young gun Nick Daicos continued to display his incredible skill at such a young age, with a game-high 37 disposals at 83% efficiency. Josh Daicos refused to let his brother steal all the highlights, putting in a shift with three goals and 19 disposals, while Jack Ginnivan continued to impress with three goals himself. Despite the loss, Izak Rankine continued to light up the forward line with four goals and 18 disposals, while Touk Miller continued to shine with 31 disposals.

Richmond vs West Coast

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Daniel Rioli	Marlion Pickett	Tim Kelly	Marlion Pickett
4	Marlion Pickett	Tim Kelly	Daniel Rioli	Daniel Rioli
3	Tim Kelly	Jamie Cripps	Marlion Pickett	Shai Bolton
2	Shai Bolton	Daniel Rioli	Nathan Broad	Nathan Broad
1	Jamie Cripps	Nathan Broad	Nic Naitanui	Nic Naitanui

The Eagles continue to struggle at the bottom of the ladder, going down by 35 points to Richmond on Sunday. Despite the loss, Tim Kelly stole the show with an incredible 40 disposals, as well as two goals and 17 contested possessions. Daniel Rioli looked lively for the Tigers with 28 disposals and a goal, while Marlion Pickett also impressed with two goals and 25 disposals. Jack Riewoldt was impressive with three goals, while Shai Bolton continued to impress with two goals and 17 disposals.

GWS vs Hawthorn

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Josh Kelly	Josh Kelly	Jesse Hogan	Josh Kelly
4	Lachie Whitfield	Tim Taranto	Tom Mitchell	Tim Taranto
3	Jesse Hogan	Tom Mitchell	Josh Kelly	James Sicily
2	Tom Mitchell	Stephen Coniglio	Lachie Whitfield	Sam Taylor
1	Callum M Brown	Callum M Brown	Callum M Brown	Callum M Brown

The Giants got over the line fairly comfortably against the Hawks, getting up by 22 points at the final siren. Josh Kelly pulled the strings from the midfield, managing 30 disposals and 10 tackles, while Callum Brown dominated the forward line with four goals and 13 disposals. Jesse Hogan was also impressive with 22 disposals and two goals, while Lachie Whitfield was solid with 32 disposals. Despite the loss, Sam Mitchell put in a solid shift for the Hawks, managing a game-high 35 disposals and seven tackles.

Fremantle vs Port Adelaide

	Mitch Keating	Ed Carmine	Jack Fitzpatrick	Nick Splitter
5	Andrew Brayshaw	Andrew Brayshaw	James Aish	Andrew Brayshaw
4	Ollie Wines	Ollie Wines	Andrew Brayshaw	Sean Darcy
3	James Aish	Rory Lobb	Sean Darcy	Ollie Wines
2	Rory Lobb	Sean Darcy	Ollie Wines	James Aish
1	Sean Darcy	James Aish	Travis Boak	Travis Boak

Freo was another team to barely get over the line this week, getting up by eight points against Port Adelaide in a nail-biter. Rory Lobb did enough to drag his team over the line, with the big man kicking five goals alongside 11 disposals and six marks. James Aish was also impressive with two goals himself alongside a solid 29 disposals. Andrew Brayshaw continued his hot run of form with 27 disposals and a goal, while ruckman Sean Darcy put in a shift with 21 disposals and 38 hit-outs. Ollie Wines was very impressive for Port despite the loss, with a game-high 39 disposals and 17 contested possessions.

LEADERBOARD

RANK		LAST ROUND	TOTAL
1	Clayton Oliver	14	158
2	Andrew Brayshaw	19	155
3	Patrick Cripps	16	144
3	Lachie Neale	19	144
5	Touk Miller	13	138
6	Christian Petracca	20	136
7	Callum Mills	0	125
8	Jeremy Cameron	16	106
9	Sam Walsh	0	104
10	Jack Sinclair	20	97