The Player of the Season race is heating up, with Marcus Bontempelli and Darcy Parish stretching their lead.
Find out who’s on top, and who topped this week’s Player Rankings below.
10. Zac Bailey (BRIS)
One of the AFL’s most improved players, Bailey seems to be getting better by the week. He couldn’t get his side over the line on Friday, but kicked four majors against the best backline in the league and his 19 disposals went at 84% efficiency.
9. Shai Bolton (RICH)
This excitement machine is built in the Dusty mold.
He won’t have the most disposals, but he’s as impactful as any player on the ground. He can hurt you on the scoreboard, or in the centre square. And not to mention the highlight reel.
Bolton excelled under the lights of Dreamtime at Optus, not only kicking three goals from 21 disposals but using the ball superbly with a 90% efficiency rate. Eight score involvements, seven inside 50s, and 425 metres gained capped off the performance.
8. Jack Steele (STK)
Steele continues to be the shining light in a dull St Kilda season. Used the ball superbly in his 31 disposals with 80% efficiency, and also recorded 16 contested possessions, 10 tackles, seven clearances, seven intercept possessions, six score involvements, one goal, and 467 metres gained.
7. Dom Sheed (WCE)
With so many big names absent, Sheed stepped up for the Eagles. His display included 32 disposals, 15 contested possessions, eight clearances, six inside 50s, five score involvements, one goal, and 521 metres gained.
6. Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
Bont did enough to maintain a narrow lead in The Sporting Landscape’s Player of the Season race, but Parish is closing the gap.
Was influential across the board against Freo with 27 dispsoals, two goals, 12 score involvements, 11 contested possessions, seven clearances, seven inside 50s, five tackles, and 595 metres gained.
5. Christian Petracca (MELB)
Petracca was crucial in the Demons win over Brisbane, tallying 26 disposals, two goals, nine score involvements, 16 contested possessions, nine clearances, six tackles, seven inside 50s, and 724 metres gained.
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4. Dustin Martin (RICH)
Judging by the coaches votes, Dusty could be considered stiff not to have taken home the Yiooken Medal and find himself higher on this list.
Only had a disposal efficiency of 51%, but rose to the big occasion as he always does with an influential 27 disposals, three goals, 10 contested possessions, six score involvements, and five clearances.
3. Liam Ryan (WCE)
Speaking of influential, Ryan was just that as he bagged four majors against the Blues. Three of his four goals followed a Carlton goal, as the dynamo hindered the Blues ability to get on a run all day. Also had 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight score involvements, six inside 50s, and 410 metres gained.
2. Jamie Elliott (COLL)
In a round where we saw Jack Higgins kick a costly 1.6 and 1.5 from Aaron Naughton, Elliott was a deadeye kicking six goals straight. And it proved crucial as Collingwood got over the line by five points in a thriller. Used the ball well with 85% efficiency from 14 disposals.
1. Darcy Parish (ESS)
His midfield switch has yielded exceptional returns, and they’re not indifferent on the biggest stages. With the Yiooken Medal now accompanying the ANZAC Medal on his resume, Parish’s breakout season is going from strength to strength.
If Essendon make an unprecedented charge into the finals, you can count on this bloke to turn it on.
Was colossal in the Dreamtime game with 44 disposals (the most by any Essendon player ever), 16 contested possessions, 11 clearances, 10 score involvements, nine inside 50s, five tackles, three goal assists, and 737 metres gained.
Player of the Season
An accumulative award based on each round’s Player Rankings, with players being awarded points correlating with their ranking. 10 points for 1st, 9 for 2nd, 8 for 3rd and so on.
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