After 207 games, the 2026 home and away season has drawn to a close.
After each of those games, 5-4-3-2-1 votes were assigned to the best players in a given contest, awarded by Zero Hanger's Aidan Cellini, Mitch Keating, Jonty Ralphsmith and Harrison McIlwaine, in order to determine the Zero Hanger MVP for the 2026 season, powered by Winning Edge Presentations.
The maximum votes a player could yield for any one performance is 20.
The votes for the final round have been tallied, and the time has come to unveil our top 10 most valuable players and crown our MVP for another year!
10th. Jason Horne-Francis and Izak Rankine
Horne-Francis
Votes: 156
Games: 22
Games polled: 12
Rankine
Votes: 156
Games: 20
Games polled: 10
With 156 votes, two stars of a two-team town must split the spoils, squeaking into the top 10 ahead of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Ed Richards (equal-12th, on 152 votes).
Horne-Francis and Rankine had polar opposite endings to their home and away seasons, with the former failing to poll in his final three outings, while the latter posted back-to-back-to-back maximum-vote performances.
Rankine missed the first two games of the season, as he served the back half of a four-match ban handed to him on the eve of the 2025 finals series, and has hit form at the perfect time for Matthew Nicks' side. The 26-year-old jumps from 23rd in 2025's iteration of this award, into the top 10, courtesy of 60 votes in his last three weeks.
Horne-Francis was somewhat a lone ranger at times for the Power this season, as the club grappled with the scourge of injury to most of its stars in Josh Carr's first season in charge.
"The Hornet" finished 12th in our voting in 2024, dipped to 50th in 2025, and has bounced back in a big way in 2026, cracking the top 10 for the first time in his short career!
9th. Harry Sheezel
Votes: 164
Games: 22
Games polled: 17
The prolific Roo looks almost certain to add a third Syd Barker Medal to his personal trophy cabinet after another stellar year in Alastair Clarkson's engine room.
North Melbourne finished higher on the ladder than they have following any of Sheezel's prior three seasons, and their number 3 was a big reason why, finishing fifth in the league for total disposals, 14th for score involvements, while finishing in the AFL's 'elite' category for marks.
One of the biggest factors in Sheezel's finishing position is his ability to garner auxiliary votes in losing performances, managing to catch the eye of our panel regularly, even when not in the frame for all 20 votes.
9th is the highest finish the fourth-year Kangaroo has mustered, but still just 21 years of age, the sky really might be the limit for the silky AJAX junior.
8th. Bailey Smith
Votes: 168
Games: 22
Games polled: 15
The uber-marketable Cat franked last year's second step on the podium with another top 10 finish in 2026.
Sporting his customary headband and line-treading demeanour, Smith's second year in the hoops has been a damaging one, seeing him yield double-digit votes in eight performances, headlined by his unanimous best-on-ground honours in Round 22. He netted 18 votes, last time out against the Tigers, sharing those honours with man-possessed Shaun Mannagh.
Smith looms as a real September-shaper for master coach Chris Scott, as the always-contending Cats look to go one better than they managed in 2025.
7th. Jai Newcombe
Votes: 169
Games: 23
Games polled: 14
Hawthorn's ironman of a co-captain played every game in Sam Mitchell's midfield this year, polling in 60% of his outings.
Newcombe was at his devastating best as the grips of winter began to take hold, polling 72 votes in five weeks from Round 12 to Round 16, inclusive.
Having just celebrated his 25th birthday, the Poowong product was a catalyst for his club's first top-four finish under Sam Mitchell's watchful eye, and will look to continue his stellar and historic form in big games as his side look to salute on the grandest stage of them all in about a month's time.
What a rise it has been from mid-season draftee to genuine star of the competition!
6th. Luke Jackson
Votes: 170
Games: 23
Games polled: 12
When Fremantle's "unicorn" is good, he's very good.
170 votes from 12 games is a stellar effort, and if not for a quieter back half of the year, this soon-to-be All-Australian would surely have been afforded a place on the podium.
Since Round 17 inclusive, the premiership Demon has managed just two votes (equal-least in the top 50), emphasising just how special his start to the year was.
Jackson was unanimous best on ground three times, and garnered 16 or more votes another five times.
He is arguably the minor premier's biggest x-factor as they hunt for an elusive first flag in their 30-odd years of existence.
5th. Will Ashcroft
Votes: 185
Games: 23
Games polled: 13
If there is such a thing as a 'big stage merchant', prior to season 2026, it was Lions legend-in-waiting, Will Ashcroft.
Two Norm Smith Medals jangling around his neck, a premiership cup in each hand, a Gary Ayres medal and a Goal of the Year nod, all before age 22, is supremely rare air, but the only knock had been his home and away consistency.
Well, "Wash" unlocked it this year.
The Sandringham Dragon product is storming into September with a head of steam and in a vein of form most players could only dream of touching once in their entire careers.
His 94 votes since Round 17 inclusive are third-most in the league, trailing only the aforementioned Rankine and a black-and-white-clad father-son to whom he is often compared.
His 25 disposals against the Pies, last time out, mark the first time since the QClash in Round 13 (yes, 11 weeks ago), that he failed to register 30 disposals in a match, and the son of a gun has notched 11 majors in that span, too.
Deary me, that is ominous form for the rest of the competition to contend with, as the Lions hunt a third consecutive premiership.
4th. Isaac Heeney
Votes: 191
Games: 20
Games polled: 14
Prior to recent events, Swans star Heeney was primed for another blazer, another deep September run, and potentially, a top-three finish in this count.
While still eligible for the Brownlow Medal, Heeney's life has been turned upside down in the last week.
His season up until that point had been customarily phenomenal, with the academy product averaging 27 disposals and 1.6 goals per game.
3rd. Max Gawn
Votes: 204
Games: 23
Games polled: 18
The ageless wonder that is Max Gawn owns the third step of the podium, is the first member of this season's 200+ vote club, and is unanimously expected to yield a ninth All-Australian blazer in coming days, shattering the ceiling of eight shared by many legends of the game.
He is the greatest ruckman the game has ever seen, and complements exemplary ruck craft with some of the safest hands in the game in contested marking situations.
He is a massive reason behind the club's resurgence under Steven King this year, and looks certain to clutch a fourth best and fairest this year, or at the very least, with Kysaiah Pickett likely his only rival for the Bluey Truscott gong.
2nd. Marcus Bontempelli
Votes: 229
Games: 22
Games polled: 15
Second in the 2014 Rising Star, the 2021 and 2023 Brownlow Medals and now, the 2026 Zero Hanger MVP. The silver medal is awarded to the exquisite Marcus Bontempelli.
The greatest Bulldog of all time won the Zero Hanger MVP in 2023, and has only finished lower than seventh once since the award's inception ahead of the 2021 season.
Six best on ground nods from 22 outings, while averaging 26 disposals and 1.4 goals per game, carrying his Dogs to September once again.
You simply run out of superlatives for the 30-year-old.
1st. Nick Daicos
Votes: 299
Games: 23
Games polled: 19
The 2026 Zero Hanger MVP is Nick Daicos, in what should be news to absolutely nobody.
The 23-year-old went to another level this season, gapping the field by 70 votes, while falling 0.1 disposals short of being the first player in league history to average 35 disposals and a goal for an entire season.
Seven times unanimous best on ground, and nine more occasions yielding double-digit votes for his troubles, the Collingwood talisman defended his 2025 crown with relative ease.
He is expected to sweep the major awards this season, beginning tomorrow night, when the AFLPA MVP, AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award and All-Australian teams are announced.
Still years away from his prime, it's no longer unfeasible that this kid becomes the code's greatest ever player.
Congratulations, Nick Daicos.
