A trio of Dogs made this week’s top-10, and it may come as no surprise that one of them has surged to a commanding lead in the Player of the Season race.
See the full lists below.
Round 15 Player Rankings
10. Lance Franklin (SYD)
Buddy took matters into his own hands as he tried to ignite his side in the final quarter, kicking 3.1 and performing an inspirational chase-down tackle on Port skipper Tom Jonas. Finished the game with 16 disposals, four goals, 10 score involvements, 10 contested possessions and two contested marks in yet another vintage display.
9. Jack Macrae (WB)
Macrae was one of three of Dogs on-ballers that tore up West Coast in their 55-point demolition job. Tallied 31 disposals at a superb 81% efficiency, 14 contested possessions, one goal, eight score involvements, seven clearances and 486 metres gained.
8. Bailey Smith (WB)
The 20-year-old bounced back from a lean run of form in style with 31 disposals, two goals, 14 contested possessions, nine score involvements, six clearances, five tackles and 525 metres gained.
7. Steven May (MELB)
May just keeps on keeping on. He and Lever have formed the backbone of a formidable Demons outfit that oozes attacking flair, and whilst Melbourne wasn’t at its best in its 11-point win over Essendon, May culled spades of Essendon forward 50 entries, playing a crucial hand in the victory.
6. David Mundy (FRE)
How many players string together All-Australian seasons at 35 years of age? Not many. Mundy’s on track to join the exclusive club if this run of form continues, and there’s no reason it won’t. The evergreen star had 28 disposals, 12 contested possessions, six tackles and six score involvements in Freo’s win over Collingwood.
5. Will Day (HAW)
What a talent this kid is. Got plenty of the ball and used it exceptionally off half-back with 29 disposals at 82% efficiency, not to mention 10 contested possessions, 10 intercept possessions, 634 metres gained, seven score involvements and six inside 50s.
Enjoying this article?
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter and get your sporting fix straight to your inbox!
4. Sam Walsh (CARL)
Walsh can add his 38-disposal game to a rap sheet that’s growing by the week. His work-rate stood out as per usual in the performance that also included 10 contested possessions, nine score involvements, nine inside 50s and 578 metres gained.
3. Dayne Zorko (BRIS)
Zorko is quietly putting a career-best season and Thursday night was no exception as he racked up 24 disposals, 12 tackles, 12 score involvements, six intercept possessions, two goal assists and 445 metres gained.
2. Luke Dunstan (STK)
This wasn’t season-best from Dunstan, this was career-best. Was inspired in the Saints shock thrashing of Richmond, with 32 disposals, one goal, 17 contested possessions, 11 clearances, nine inside 50s, six score involvements and 667 metres gained.
1. Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
Hands down the best player in the game right now. Bont did Bont things as the Dogs dismantled West Coast, and was influential in all facets of the game. He had 29 disposals, three goals, 17 contested possessions, 10 clearances, nine score involvements, seven tackles, five intercept possessions and one goal assist. Phenomenal.
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.
