We have a new leader.
After eight rounds, Taylor Walker has been dethroned atop The Sporting Landscape’s Player of the Season Leaderboard.
See who the new leader is, and the round eight Player Rankings below.
10. Clayton Oliver (MELB)
Oliver helped lift the Dees to a 9-point win over the Swans in unfavourable conditions, accumulating 35 disposals, 10 clearances, and 534 metres gained.
9. Zach Merrett (ESS)
The Dons couldn’t get up in a nail-biter against the Giants, but Merrett stood tall recording 37 disposals, 644 metres gained, 13 inside 50s, nine score involvements, and three goal assists.
8. Jacob Weitering (CARL)
Two rising stars of the game were pitted against each other in Jacob Weitering and Aaron Naughton. While Naughton was able to kick two goals, Weitering was a stand out for the Blues, with 13 marks – seven of which were contested – 12 intercept possessions, and a respectable 490 metres gained.
7. Tom Liberatore (WB)
Libba is flying under the radar in a midfield that oozes talent, but you could argue he’s just as valuable as any Dogs player. He tallied 27 disposals at 85% efficiency, 17 contested possessions, and an impressive 13 clearances in the Dogs 16-point triumph over Carlton.
6. Andrew Gaff (WCE)
Gaff was influential as West Coast cruised past Hawthorn, the winger won plenty of the ball with 38 disposals and used it well going at 81% efficiency. He had a season 2021 personal-best 12 contested possessions, along with 516 metres gained, 10 score invovlements, and eight inside 50s.
5. Tom Hawkins (GEEL)
The Cats three-headed monster was on full display as they dismantled reigning premiers Richmond by 63 points. With Gary Rohan, Tom Hawkins, and Jeremy Cameron combining for 15 goals.
Only two of the trio made this list, with Rohan snubbed despite having kicked five goals himself, but Hawkins was impossible to ignore with a mammoth 16 score involvements accompanying four goals, 20 disposals at 80% efficiency, 11 contested possessions, two contested marks, and two goal assists.
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4. Darcy Moore (COLL)
Moore was clearly craving a return down back and didn’t disappoint, with a performance that will ensure his forward experiment is never revisited. The 25-year-old feasted on North’s forward 50 entries, compiling a monstrous 19 marks, 11 intercept possessions, and 28 disposals at 85% efficiency.
3. Jordan De Goey (COLL)
Heavily criticised in recent times, De Goey reminded us of his potent potential with six goals from nine shots and 17 disposals. The challenge now is do it consistently.
2. Jeremy Cameron (GEEL)
While Hawkins had a mammoth 16 score involvements, Cameron wasn’t far behind with 15 of his own. The pair combining for 31. Insane numbers, especially when you consider the opposition.
Jezza’s fitting in to the blue and white hoops, slotting six goals, along with 22 disposals. Also had 492 metres gained, an impressive figure for someone spending their time forward of the ball.
1. Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
Bontempelli played a monster game against the Blues, dominating almost every stat with 32 disposals, 19 contested possessions, 12 score involvements, 10 clearances, 10 inside 50s, eight tackles, 679 metres gained, a goal, and two goal assists. A serious player.
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.
