Zero Hanger MVP: Round 18

Round 18 saw another exciting round of football, with a number of upsets as well as statements made by the best.

With the 2021 AFL Premiership season starting to well and truly heat up en route to the finals, we take a look at our Zero Hanger MVP votes for Round 18.

Fremantle 31 def by Geelong 100

A hard-hitting physical contest out west quickly soured for Fremantle as they failed to convert early. Geelong where able to withstand and match the Dockers pressure before dismantling them with their uncontested possession game and methodical ball movement going inside 50.

Once the flood-gates opened the cats kept pouring on the goals as Fremantle struggled until the finish.

Sam Menegola starred for Geelong with 30 touches, 7 clearances and a goal with Patrick Dangerfield chipping in with a casual 20 plus possessions and 3 majors.

Ed Carmine: 5. Sam Menegola, 4. Sean Darcy, 3. Cameron Guthrie, 2. Patrick Dangerfield, 1. Tom Hawkins

Mitch Keating: 5. Sam Menegola, 4. Sean Darcy, 3. Patrick Dangerfield, 2. Cameron Guthrie, 1. Luke Dahlhaus

Ed Lemmo: 5. Sam Menegola, 4. Cameron Guthrie, 3. Patrick Dangerfield, 2. Luke Dahlhaus, 1. Sean Darcy

Nick Splitter: 5. Sam Menegola, 4. Sean Darcy, 3. Patrick Dangerfield, 2. Cameron Guthrie, 1. Tom Hawkins

Richmond 106 def Brisbane 86

A desperate Tigers outfit started off red-hot by kicking away in the opening minutes, only for Brisbane to fight back and keep things close heading into quarter time.

The Lions were then able to give the Richmond a taste of their own medicine as they battled hard to take the lead going into the major break. Richmond then proceeded to do Richmond things as they slowly grabbed a strangle hold on the game, even when Dusty went down with a kidney injury, eventually kicking away in the final term to secure the needed win and keep their finals bid in sight.

Jack Riewoldt was spectacular in his 300th game as he booted 6 majors from 14 touches, not far behind him was Mabior Chol with four goals of his own and the Nank also got in the action as his 22 touches, 25 hit outs and 7 clearances highlighted his dominance.

Ed Carmine: 5. Jack Riewoldt, 4. Toby Nankervis, 3. Mabior Chol, 2. Hugh McCluggage, 1. Jarryd Lyons

Mitch Keating: 5. Toby Nankervis, 4. Jack Riewoldt, 3. Hugh McCluggage, 2. Jack Graham, 1. Mabior Chol

Ed Lemmo: 5. Jack Riewoldt, 4. Jack Graham, 3. Toby Nankervis, 2. Mabior Chol, 1. Hugh McCluggage

Nick Splitter: 5. Jack Riewoldt, 4. Toby Nankervis, 3. Hugh McCluggage, 2. Mabior Chol, 1. Harris Andrews

St Kilda 61 def by Port Adelaide 74

A hot St Kilda side managed to outplay Port early as they took a 10 point lead into quarter time despite their kicking woes at goal. Conversely, Ports ability to hit the lead at the half was due to their ability to capitalise on their opportunities.

A trend that continued in the tightly contested bout and was ultimately the difference as the Power’s class shone through during the dying stages as they claimed victory.

Ollie Wines had a monster game as he amassed 36 disposals, 11 clearances and a goal, while Karl Amon contributed with 26 touches, 10 tackles and 2 goals.

Ed Carmine: 5. Ollie Wines, 4. Jack Steele, 3. Brad Crouch, 2. Mitchell Georgiades, 1. Karl Amon

Mitch Keating: 5. Ollie Wines, 4. Jack Steele, 3. Karl Amon, 2. Ryan Burton, 1. Mitchell Georgiades

Ed Lemmo: 5. Ollie Wines, 4. Jack Steele, 3. Karl Amon, 2. Brad Crouch, 1. Mitchell Georgiades

Nick Splitter: 5. Jack Steele, 4. Ollie Wines, 3. Mitchell Georgiades, 2. Trent McKenzie, 1. Rowan Marshall

Gold Coast 79 def by Western Bulldogs 90

The Suns came prepared to fight in this clash as they stunned the Dogs to take a quick lead, this eventually dwindled as the favourites quickly adapted and closed the gap. Still determined, the young and hungry Suns managed to keep it close as the Dogs went into the half up by 10.

Yet the Dogs were able to maintain control of the contest and slowly but surely rise to the challenge and edge out Gold Coast by 11 points as they maintained their top two spot.

Jack Macrae was on fire as he collected his usual 30 plus touches and added to this with 8 clearances and 2 goals, while young gun Bailey Smith also shined with his 33 disposals, 9 clearances and 4 tackles.

Ed Carmine: 5. Touk Miller, 4. Bailey Smith, 3. Jeremy Sharp, 2. Bailey Dale, 1. Jack Macrae

Mitch Keating: 5. Bailey Smith, 4. Touk Miller, 3. Jack Macrae, 2. Bailey Dale, 1. Jeremy Sharp

Ed Lemmo: 5. Touk Miller, 4. Bailey Smith, 3. Jack Macrae, 2. Tim English, 1. Bailey Dale

Nick Splitter: 5. Jack Macrae, 4. Touk Miller, 3. Bailey Smith, 2. Tim English, 1. Jeremy Sharp

Melbourne 79 drew with Hawthorn 79

What had all the signs of an early blowout was slowly made into a tightly contested game of footy as the Hawks were able to absorb and counterpunch some of the Demons best shots to go into the half down 11.

It was Hawthorn’s willingness to bang the ball inside 50 low, hard and ugly that unsettled arguably the games best back 6 as chaos balls derailed Melbourne all night. Finally, just as the D’s were on the cusp of victory it was the same old story that led to a Luke Breust goal inside a minute to tie it all up. From here both sides held on and that was all she wrote to complete one of the strangest results of the year.

Both sides midfield bulls came to play as Tom Mitchell answered his critics with 39 disposals, 6 clearances, 6 tackles and a goal, whereas Clayton Oliver tallied 35 touches, 9 clearances and 6 tackles.

Ed Carmine: 5. Tom Mitchell, 4. Liam Shiels, 3. Clayton Oliver, 2. Luke Breust, 1. Christian Petracca

Mitch Keating: 5. Tom Mitchell, 4. Clayton Oliver, 3. Christian Petracca, 2. Luke Breust, 1. Bayley Fritsch

Ed Lemmo: 5. Tom Mitchell, 4. Clayton Oliver, 3. Liam Shiels, 2. Jack Viney, 1. Luke Breust

Nick Splitter: 5. Tom Mitchell, 4. Clayton Oliver, 3. Christian Petracca, 2. Jack Viney, 1. James Worpel

North Melbourne 74 def by Essendon 92

A lacklustre Bombers started this one uninspired which allowed a brave North outfit to take the lead and hold it for a half of footy. Essendon eventually clawed their way back as their attack on the footy was too much for the young Roos, yet their inability to convert off of turnovers kept North in the game.

This was until Essendon’s constant pressure finally cracked North Melbourne in the final term as they were eventually able to capitalise by kicking 4 goals from intercepts to finish 18 point winners.

The Bomber’s dynamic duo had their fingerprints all over this one as Zach Merrett wrapped up his day with 39 disposals, 9 clearances and 3 tackles and Darcy Parrish added 8 clearances and 6 tackles to his 34 touches.

Ed Carmine: 5. Zach Merrett, 4. Darcy Parish, 3. Jake Stringer, 2. Peter Wright, 1. Todd Goldstein

Mitch Keating: 5. Peter Wright, 4. Zach Merrett, 3. Tarryn Thomas, 2. Darcy Parish, 1. Jake Stringer

Ed Lemmo: 5. Zach Merrett, 4. Dyson Heppell, 3. Tarryn Thomas, 2. Peter Wright, 1. Darcy Parish

Nick Splitter: 5. Darcy Parish, 4. Peter Wright, 3. Jake Stringer, 2. Todd Goldstein, 1. Aaron Hall

Collingwood 62 def by Carlton 91

In unusual fashion, Collingwood started the game with quick and deliberate ball movement to compliment their solid defence, which allowed them to head into the first break up 11.

Yet Carlton showed signs of life as they continually managed to hang in the game by exploding late in both quarters to the half. This was the them of the day as the Pies tried desperately to put away their rival but ultimately ran out of legs as the Blues surged home in the final term to win by 29.

Young star Sam Walsh was all over the field as he racked up 39 touches, 5 clearances, 5 tackles and a snag, with Mathew Kennedy also impressing with his 26 disposals, 6 clearances, 7 tackles and a goal of his own.

Ed Carmine: 5. Sam Walsh, 4. Jordan De Goey, 3. Matthew Kennedy, 2. Harry McKay, 1. Jacob Weitering

Mitch Keating: 5. Sam Walsh, 4. Matthew Kennedy, 3. Jordan De Goey, 2. Harry McKay, 1. Jacob Weitering

Ed Lemmo: 5. Sam Walsh, 4. Jacob Weitering, 3. Jack Silvagni, 2. Matthew Kennedy, 1. Jordan De Goey

Nick Splitter: 5. Sam Walsh, 4. Jacob Weitering, 3. Matthew Kennedy, 2. Jordan De Goey, 1. Harry McKay

Adelaide 56 def by West Coast 98

Neither team looked like they could be bothered playing a game of footy during the opening quarter and despite the scoring increasing during the second, West Coast never really changed gears which kept a hungry Crows team in the hunt.

However, this wasn’t the case in the second half as the Eagles began to fire in their attacking efforts as goals began flowing consistently before being piled on in by the final term. Despite Adelaide’s best efforts the class difference between the sides stood out as West Coast left South Australia 42-point winners.

Jamie Cripps was having a day as he slotted 5 majors to go along with 25 touches, while Andrew Gaff contributed with 34 disposals and Liam Ryan chipped in with a handy 3 goals.

Ed Carmine: 5. Jamie Cripps, 4. Andrew Gaff, 3. Ben Keays, 2. Liam Ryan, 1. Tim Kelly

Mitch Keating: 5. Jamie Cripps, 4. Ben Keays, 3. Andrew Gaff, 2. Tim Kelly, 1. Liam Ryan

Ed Lemmo: 5. Jamie Cripps, 4. Ben Keays, 3. Andrew Gaff, 2. Tim Kelly, 1. Elliot Yeo

Nick Splitter: 5. Jamie Cripps, 4. Andrew Gaff, 3. Liam Ryan, 2. Ben Keays, 1. Rory Laird

Greater Western Sydney 72 def by Sydney 98

Sydney were outplayed and looked dead in the water before a late flurry of foals kept them in touch with the Giants going into the half. Both teams were missing crucial players due to Covid related chaos, with the Swans feeling the pinch early as they fielded three players who participated in a scratch-match the day prior to step in with little to no notice.

Sydney was then able to maintain their late momentum and carry it into the second half where they went on a scoring tear, kicking 6 unanswered goals in the third. This onslaught was too much for the Giants as they failed to rally late, eventually succumbing to a 26 point loss.

Luke Parker was spectacular as he took home his third Brett Kirk Medal after finishing with 31 disposals, 9 clearances, 6 tackles and a goal, while fellow veteran Josh Kennedy finished with 30 touches, 10 clearances and 4 tackles

Ed Carmine: 5. Luke Parker, 4. Josh P. Kennedy, 3. Justin McInerney, 2. Tom Papley, 1. Tim Taranto

Mitch Keating: 5. Luke Parker, 4. Justin McInerney, 3. Josh P. Kennedy, 2. Jacob Hopper, 1. Tom Papley

Ed Lemmo: 5. Luke Parker, 4. Josh P. Kennedy, 3. George Hewett, 2. Tom Papley, 1. Tom Hickey

Nick Splitter: 5. Luke Parker, 4. Tim Taranto, 3. Josh P. Kennedy, 2. Justin McInerney, 1. Tom Papley

LEADERBOARD

RANK		LAST ROUND	TOTAL
1	Sam Walsh	20	196
2	Ollie Wines	19	186
3	Clayton Oliver	15	184
4	Jack Macrae	12	175
5	Touk Miller	18	173
6	Marcus Bontempelli	0	169
7	Darcy Parish	12	164
8	Jack Steele	17	158
9	Callum Mills	0	157
10	Christian Petracca	7	149