It was a strong weekend for key forwards, with three polling near-perfect votes, while the race for Zero Hanger's AFL MVP has tightened at the top with a Cats recruit reclaiming first place over Adelaide's captain.
Bailey Smith's 14 votes were enough to see him leap Jordan Dawson (8 votes) to take a four-vote lead at the top of the leaderboard, with Smith polling 140 votes throughout 2025 to Dawson's 136. Smith produced a masterclass on Saturday afternoon as the Cats thrashed the Bombers at the MCG, racking up an absurd 41 disposals. However, our staff distributed the tally evenly, with other Geelong stars rightfully taking home a handful of votes.
Jeremy Cameron (19 votes) was deemed best on ground as he butchered the Bombers' defence, kicking six goals from 14 disposals, while Max Holmes also polled a solid 14 votes thanks to his 36 disposals and eight clearances. Those votes rocket Holmes into the top five for the season, now on 108 votes total.
Dawson's eight votes are respectable given the heartbreaking loss to Hawthorn in Tasmania, easily one of Adelaide's best with 24 disposals and six score involvements. Dylan Moore polled strongly in this game, however, his exceptional pressure in the tough conditions was a huge boost for the Hawks as they fought back to steal the win in the dying minutes. His 13 tackles are a new career-high, ousting his previous best of nine comfortably. Moore also had 23 touches, 18 of which were effective, with that efficiency a must-have in a scrappy affair.
Jarman Impey was also rewarded for his composure in the fourth quarter that arguably sealed the game for Hawthorn, receiving 12 votes for his 28 disposals off half-back.
Sam Darcy made an emphatic return to the AFL in the Bulldogs' 72-point win over St Kilda, no confidence lost despite his significant knee injury two months ago. Darcy kicked three goals, took nine marks and had nine score involvements, understandably notching 19 votes from our staff. Ed Richards polled strongly also, tallying 16 votes from his 25 disposals and a goal, with the Dogs midfield running rampant over the Saints in the contested possession battle.
Aaron Cadman continued the trend of key forward dominance this weekend, recording the only perfect 20-vote performance in the Giants upset win at the Gabba. His five goals officially launched him into the spotlight as a future spearhead for the Giants' attack, while Jesse Hogan's Coleman Medal campaign has continued, adding six goals to take his season tally to 38. Sitting behind only Jeremy Cameron in the hunt now, he earned 16 votes to take his season total to 64.
Despite the scare from North Melbourne, Caleb Serong was simply a class above the Roos midfield, collecting a game-high 36 disposals and six score involvements. However, what was most impressive was his defensive presence, laying 10 tackles and taking seven intercepts to hold North Melbourne to just 17 scoring shots. The win secures Fremantle a spot in the top eight for another week, as the votes also secure Serong a top eight spot on the leaderboard, joining fellow Docker Andrew Brayshaw in there with 102 votes. Brayshaw has jumped into third place with 120 votes in total too, with his 31 disposals and eight score involvements deservedly earning him 12 votes this round.
Mitch Georgiades's ridiculous seven-goal haul (7.4) was the death of Melbourne on Sunday, with even Steven May's brilliant intercept ability unable to contain the 23-year-old. With some better accuracy, Georgiades could have kicked a double-digit haul, highlighting the immense potential he has to offer this Power group. Jason Horne-Francis was a bulldozer in the midfield in the heated encounter, his 29 disposals and eight score involvements earning him 15 votes, while Esava Ratugolea (11 votes) impressed in the backline, his aerial potential untapped with six spoils and 13 marks, eight of which were intercepts.
George Hewett was deemed best on for the Blues in their win in the west, his 35 disposals and eight clearances earning him 18 votes. Eagles debutant Tom McCarthy made headlines with his sensational performance too, the Mid-Season Draft pick polling four votes for his 31-disposal and six-mark effort on Sunday.
St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs
Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
5 | Sam Darcy | Sam Darcy | Sam Darcy | Ed Richards |
4 | Rory Lobb | Ed Richards | Ed Richards | Sam Darcy |
3 | Ed Richards | Matthew Kennedy | Matthew Kennedy | Bailey Williams |
2 | Bailey Dale | Adam Treloar | Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera | Matthew Kennedy |
1 | Jack Sinclair | Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera | Sam Davidson | Ryley Sanders |
Hawthorn vs Adelaide
Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
5 | Dylan Moore | Dylan Moore | Jack Gunston | Dylan Moore |
4 | Jarman Impey | Ben Keays | Jarman Impey | Jordan Dawson |
3 | Ben Keays | Jarman Impey | Connor MacDonald | Ben Keays |
2 | Jordan Dawson | Jordan Dawson | Ben Keays | Connor MacDonald |
1 | Connor MacDonald | Jack Gunston | Josh Weddle | Jarman Impey |
Brisbane vs GWS
Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
5 | Aaron Cadman | Aaron Cadman | Aaron Cadman | Aaron Cadman |
4 | Jesse Hogan | Jesse Hogan | Jesse Hogan | Jesse Hogan |
3 | Connor Idun | Logan Morris | Logan Morris | Logan Morris |
2 | Lachie Neale | Lachie Neale | Lachie Whitfield | Tom Green |
1 | Tom Green | Lachie Whitfield | Lachie Neale | Lachie Neale |
Essendon vs Geelong
Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
5 | Max Holmes | Jeremy Cameron | Jeremy Cameron | Jeremy Cameron |
4 | Jeremy Cameron | Bailey Smith | Bailey Smith | Max Holmes |
3 | Bailey Smith | Shannon Neale | Max Holmes | Bailey Smith |
2 | Will Setterfield | Max Holmes | Shannon Neale | Shannon Neale |
1 | Shannon Neale | Gryan Miers | Will Setterfield | Jye Caldwell |
North Melbourne vs Fremantle
Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
5 | Luke Jackson | Caleb Serong | Caleb Serong | Caleb Serong |
4 | Caleb Serong | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Andrew Brayshaw | Harry Sheezel |
3 | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Andrew Brayshaw | Luke Davies-Uniacke | Andrew Brayshaw |
2 | Andrew Brayshaw | Patrick Voss | Harry Sheezel | Luke Parker |
1 | Harry Sheezel | Harry Sheezel | Josh Treacy | Patrick Voss |
Port Adelaide vs Melbourne
Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
5 | Esava Ratugolea | Mitch Georgiades | Mitch Georgiades | Mitch Georgiades |
4 | Mitch Georgiades | Jason Horne-Francis | Jason Horne-Francis | Jason Horne-Francis |
3 | Jason Horne-Francis | Esava Ratugolea | Kysaiah Pickett | Kysaiah Pickett |
2 | Miles Bergman | Max Gawn | Esava Ratugolea | Miles Bergman |
1 | Kysaiah Pickett | Connor Rozee | Connor Rozee | Esava Ratugolea |
West Coast vs Carlton
Mitch Keating | Aidan Cellini | Callum Farquhar | Nick Splitter | |
5 | Lachie Fogarty | George Hewett | George Hewett | Jacob Weitering |
4 | George Hewett | Mitch McGovern | Mitch McGovern | George Hewett |
3 | Mitch McGovern | Adam Cerra | Tyrell Dewar | Harley Reid |
2 | Jacob Weitering | Jacob Weitering | Tom McCarthy | Tom De Koning |
1 | Tom McCarthy | Tom McCarthy | Lachie Fogarty | Lachie Fogarty |
LEADERBOARD
PLAYER | |||
---|---|---|---|
1 | Bailey Smith |
14 | 140 |
2 | Jordan Dawson |
8 | 136 |
3 | Andrew Brayshaw |
12 | 120 |
4 | Nick Daicos |
0 | 110 |
5 | Max Holmes |
14 | 108 |
6 | Ed Richards |
16 | 106 |
7 | Caleb Serong |
19 | 102 |
8 | Steele Sidebottom |
0 | 98 |
9 | Connor Rozee |
2 | 97 |
10 | Tristan Xerri |
0 | 96 |
To view the full leaderboard, click here.