A fascinating Brownlow Medal count awaits for the 2025 season, with Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos leading a nine-man race for the game’s most prestigious individual honour.
With a healthy group of favourites, when will each candidate make their moves, and when will the dark horses strike?
This is your round-by-round guide to Monday night’s 2025 Brownlow Medal count.
Watch every match of the 2025 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
MORE BROWNLOW MEDAL
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Brownlow Medal night
THE NUMBERS: AFL stats gurus’ clear call, and the $67 outsider who could come close
FIVE-HORSE RACE BROKEN DOWN: Every favourite’s three-vote game predicted
The favourites we’re analysing, along with their Pointsbet odds of winning the Brownlow (as of 9am, Monday September 22), are:
$2.50 Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
$4.75 Bailey Smith (Geelong)
$6 Jordan Dawson (Adelaide)
$6 Noah Anderson (Gold Coast)
$13 Matt Rowell (Gold Coast)
$34 Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda)
$41 Tom Green (GWS)
$51 Caleb Serong (Fremantle)
$51 Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
OPENING ROUND
Nick Daicos (loss vs GWS): 21 disposals — 12 contested
Bailey Smith (BYE): Did not play.
Jordan Dawson (BYE): Did not play.
Noah Anderson (BYE): Did not play.
Matt Rowell (BYE): Did not play.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (BYE): Did not play.
Tom Green (injured): Did not play.
Caleb Serong (BYE): Did not play.
Hugh McCluggage (BYE): Did not play.
Who’ll poll? Nick Daicos was the only one of the eight favourites to take part in Opening Round, and he was well held by GWS tagger Toby Beford amid a lower leg complaint for his 21 disposals. The raging favourite certainly won’t poll here, so everyone is still on an even slate heading into Round 1. GWS’ Tom Green missed the season opener with a calf injury.
ROUND 1
Nick Daicos (win vs PTA): 26 disposals, nine inside 50s, eight score involvements, two goal assists
Bailey Smith (win vs FRE): 32 disposals — 15 contested, 12 score involvements, seven clearances, 693 metres gained, two goal assists, one goal
Jordan Dawson (win vs STK): 27 disposals, nine marks, 648 metres gained, six inside 50s, two goals, one goal assist
Noah Anderson (win vs WCE): 36 disposals — 14 contested, nine clearances, nine inside 50s, 723 metres gained, three goal assists
Matt Rowell (win vs WCE): 30 disposals — 15 contested, 10 clearances, eight score involvements, eight tackles
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs ADE): 27 disposals, eight rebound 50s, seven intercepts, six bounces, one goal
Tom Green (win vs MEL): 35 disposals, nine clearances, nine inside 50s
Caleb Serong (loss vs GEE): 27 disposals — 16 contested, 11 clearances, seven inside 50s
Hugh McCluggage (win vs SYD): 21 disposals
Who’ll poll?: Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson and Geelong recruit Bailey Smith are the most likely to start their season with maximum votes after superb performances against St Kilda and Fremantle respectively. Suns duo Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell also burst out of the blocks, and while Anderson should get the chocolates, the latter was also superb against West Coast. Only Toby Greene should poll before Tom Green, so a two-vote game is a safe bet for the Giants inside bull. Daicos bounced back well from his slow start and is a sneaky chance to poll, while Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Caleb Serong and Hugh McCluggage were strong but won’t poll. For what it’s worth, Serong (25.5), Rowell (25.3) and Smith (25.1) were the AFL’s three highest-rated players for the round!
ROUND 2
Nick Daicos (win vs WBD): 39 disposals — 14 contested, 11 score involvements, nine clearances, eight inside 50s, seven marks
Bailey Smith (injured): Did not play.
Jordan Dawson (win vs ESS): 33 disposals, 11 inside 50s, eight marks, 775 metres gained, one goal assist
Noah Anderson (BYE): Did not play.
Matt Rowell (BYE): Did not play.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs GEE): 29 disposals — eight intercepts, one goal assist
Tom Green (BYE): Did not play.
Caleb Serong (loss vs SYD): 19 disposals, six tackles, one goal
Hugh McCluggage (win vs WCE): 22 disposals — 14 contested, seven clearances, seven tackles, four goal assists
Who’ll poll?: With half this list either on the bye or injured, Round 2 was all about Daicos and Dawson. It’s really hard to not see the Collingwood superstar poll three, while only rival Essendon captain Zach Merrett can realistically pip Dawson for three in their ridiculously high-scoring clash at the MCG. Wanganeen-Milera played a great match in St Kilda’s shock win over Geelong, but so did half a dozen of his teammates. Unlikely to poll.
ROUND 3
Nick Daicos (BYE): Did not play.
Bailey Smith (loss vs BL): 25 disposals, 11 tackles, eight inside 50s
Jordan Dawson (win vs NM): 19 disposals, one goal assist
Noah Anderson (win vs MEL): 35 disposals — 12 contested, 10 score involvements, one goal
Matt Rowell (win vs MEL): 36 disposals — 19 contested, 13 clearances —nine centre, nine score involvements, eight inside 50s, seven tackles, two goal assists
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs RIC): 29 disposals, nine score involvements, five spoils, one goal assist
Tom Green (loss vs HAW): 31 disposals — 16 contested
Caleb Serong (win vs WCE): 35 disposals — 17 contested, 10 clearances
Hugh McCluggage (win vs GEE): 30 disposals — 17 contested, eight tackles, seven inside 50s, seven intercepts, one goal assist
Who’ll poll?: Rowell was the star of the Suns’ show against Melbourne with a monster game at the MCG that will almost certainly lock him in for three votes. In a similar boat will be Serong, who created history with a record-equalling fourth Glendinning-Allan Medal in the Western Derby. McCluggage and Will Ashcroft will be shooting it out for full votes against Geelong, while Anderson should be a safe lock for two. Green was the best for GWS in their loss, but it would be a surprise to see him sneak a vote.
ROUND 4
Nick Daicos (win vs CAR): 27 disposals — 13 contested, one goal assist
Bailey Smith (win vs MEL): 28 disposals, eight tackles — three inside 50, 569 metres gained
Jordan Dawson (loss vs GCS): 31 disposals, eight inside 50s, six clearances, one goal assist
Noah Anderson (win vs ADE): 24 disposals — 12 contested, nine score involvements
Matt Rowell (win vs ADE): 17 disposals, 10 score involvements, one goal assist
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs PTA): 25 disposals — 10 intercepts, eight rebound 50s, one goal assist, one goal
Tom Green (win vs WCE): 37 disposals — 12 contested, 11 score involvements, seven clearances, two goals, one goal assist
Caleb Serong (win vs WB): 38 disposals — 24 contested, 15 clearances, nine score involvements, eight inside 50s, seven tackles, two goal assists
Hugh McCluggage (win vs RIC): 26 disposals — 14 contested, 12 tackles, nine score involvements, two goals
Who’ll poll?: It looks set to be back-to-back three-vote games for Serong, with another monster performance — this time against the Western Bulldogs in what was the highest rating (29.3) of any AFL player in Round 4. McCluggage looks likely to jag two votes behind dual Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale, while Green should do the same behind Jesse Hogan and his nine-goal haul. All of Smith, Wanganeen-Milera, Dawson and Daicos are a chances to poll a vote.
ROUND 5
Nick Daicos (win vs SYD): 34 disposals — 15 contested, nine clearances, nine tackles, one goal assist
Bailey Smith (win VS ADE): 35 disposals — 17 contested, nine score involvements, 643 metres gained, six clearances, six inside 50s, one goal
Jordan Dawson (loss vs GEE): 21 disposals, eight inside 50s, 634 metres gained
Noah Anderson (win vs NTH): 27 disposals, 12 score involvements, seven inside 50s, two goal assists
Matt Rowell (win vs NTH): 26 disposals — 15 contested, 11 clearances — eight centre, 14 score involvements, eight inside 50s, one goal assists, one goal
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs GWS): 24 disposals, eight bounces, 673 metres gained, three goals
Tom Green (win vs STK): 28 disposals — 16 contested, nine score involvements, nine clearances, one goal assist
Caleb Serong (win vs RIC): 29 disposals — 13 contested, three goal assists
Hugh McCluggage (win vs WB): 32 disposals, two goal assists
Who’ll poll?: A lot of the favourites will poll in Gather Round. Daicos should get the full quota in Collingwood’s win over Sydney on Friday night, but Ned Long is a smoky to pip him. Take your pick between Anderson and Rowell for who polls more, while McCluggage should find another two votes; second only to Eric Hipwood and his huge five-goal haul. Smith was outstanding against Adelaide, and is one of several Cats who could poll. In short, Smith could get three, some, or none! Wanganeen-Milera surely polls for an epic effort in a losing side, with the highest-rated game (28) of anyone for the round. Green in the same game is a chance for one vote.
ROUND 6
Nick Daicos (win vs BL): 38 disposals, 12 score involvements, eight clearances, 645 metres gained, two goal assists, one goal
Bailey Smith (win vs HAW): 28 disposals, 630 metres gained, one goal assist
Jordan Dawson (win vs GWS): 27 disposals — 12 contested, nine inside 50s, eight tackles, 620 metres gained
Noah Anderson (loss vs RIC): 32 disposals, 10 inside 50s, nine clearances, 802 metres gained, two goal assists
Matt Rowell (loss vs RIC): 29 disposals — 12 contested, seven clearances, one goal assist
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs WB): 25 disposals, 11 bounces, 689 metres gained, one goal assist
Tom Green (loss vs ADE): 36 disposals — 19 contested, seven clearances
Caleb Serong (loss vs MEL): 27 disposals — 13 contested, one goal assist
Hugh McCluggage (loss vs COL): 20 disposals
Who’ll poll?: Daicos three votes, lock it in. His absurd match against the reigning premiers towered over the top of all others at the Gabba in Collingwood’s win. Dawson also looks a very strong chance of polling all three votes in Adelaide’s slug-fest against GWS, but the quality of the match made it a hard best-on-ground honour to pick. Smith and Green should each jag one vote at least in their respective games, with the former a chance for two. Rowell and Anderson are also an outside chance of their name being read out in Gold Coast’s shock loss to Richmond.
ROUND 7
Nick Daicos (win vs ESS): 31 disposals — 14 contested, 11 clearances, nine inside 50s, nine score involvements, 619 metres gained, two goal assists, one goal
Bailey Smith (loss vs CAR): 29 disposals, nine tackles, 749 metres gained, one goal
Jordan Dawson (loss vs FRE): 21 disposals, seven tackles, one goal assist
Noah Anderson (win vs SYD): 21 disposals — 13 contested
Matt Rowell (win vs SYD): 16 disposals, eight tackles, one goal assist, one goal
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs BL): 32 disposals, nine score involvements, 682 metres gained, two goal assists, one goal
Tom Green (loss vs WB): 27 disposals — 13 contested, seven clearances, one goal assist, one goal
Caleb Serong (win vs ADE): 32 disposals — 19 contested, 10 clearances
Hugh McCluggage (win vs STK): 21 disposals, 11 tackles, nine score involvements, one goal assist, one goal
Who’ll poll?: It was Steele Sidebottom who claimed the ANZAC Day Medal for Collingwood, but Daicos looks every chance to poll two votes in the same game. You should be able to lock in Serong for two in Fremantle’s win over Adelaide later that night, second to Andrew Brayshaw. Some nice stat lines to other this weekend, but not many other votes to expect.
ROUND 8
Nick Daicos (loss vs GEE): 28 disposals — 12 contested, one goal
Bailey Smith (win VS COL): 34 disposals, 715 metres gained, six inside 50s, six rebound 50s, one goal
Jordan Dawson (win vs CAR): 22 disposals, nine score involvements, eight tackles, seven marks — three contested, three intercepted, three marks inside 50, three goals
Noah Anderson (loss vs BL): 27 disposals
Matt Rowell (loss vs BL): 16 disposals
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs FRE): 28 disposals, 10 marks
Tom Green (loss vs SYD): 34 disposals — 19 contested, one goal
Caleb Serong (loss vs STK): 15 disposals — 12 contested, eight clearances, eight tackles
Hugh McCluggage (win vs GCS): 30 disposals — 16 contested, eight clearances, eight inside 50s, two goal assists
Who’ll poll?: Dawson and star teammate Izak Rankine will be battling it out for three votes in Round 8, and the skipper should come up trumps. Sydney’s Chad Warner was given best-on-ground in the ‘Battle of the Bridge’, but Green looks a decent chance of polling a smaller tally in that one. Patrick Dangerfield looks likely to take three in Geelong’s win over Collingwood, with Smith a nice chance for two. And could Daicos sneak one in a losing side?
ROUND 9
Nick Daicos (win vs FRE): 18 disposals, two goal assists, one goal
Bailey Smith (loss vs GWS): 35 disposals, 12 score involvements, 10 tackles, 704 metres gained, two goal assists
Jordan Dawson (win vs PTA): 14 disposals, nine tackles
Noah Anderson (win vs WB): 28 disposals — 14 contested, seven clearances, one goal assist
Matt Rowell (win vs WB): 20 disposals, one goal assist, one goal
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs CAR): 30 disposals, eight marks — three intercept, 679 metres gained, one goal assist
Tom Green (win vs GEE): 37 disposals — 17 contested, 11 score involvements, one goal
Caleb Serong (loss vs COL): 25 disposals, eight inside 50s, seven clearances, one goal assist
Hugh McCluggage (draw vs NTH): 27 disposals, 10 tackles, eight inside 50s, two goal assists
Who’ll poll?: Not a big round for many favourites, with two votes to Green likely to be the most any of these eight poll. In the GWS-Geelong epic, Hogan almost certainly gets three for his seven majors, while Smith should get one in a losing side. Anderson is a chance to poll in a game the Suns won, but the Western Bulldogs dominated on the stats sheet. Wanganeen-Milera is an outside chance in a losing cause to Carlton.
ROUND 10
Nick Daicos (win vs ADE): 28 disposals, seven clearances, six inside 50s
Bailey Smith (win vs PTA): 30 disposals, 10 score involvements, nine inside 50s, eight marks, seven clearances, two goal assists
Jordan Dawson (loss vs COL): 27 disposals, nine marks — three intercepted, eight tackles, one goal assist, one goal
Noah Anderson (win vs HAW): 35 disposals — 16 contested, 12 clearances, 10 inside 50s, 865 metres gained, three goal assists, one goal
Matt Rowell (win vs HAW): 29 disposals — 14 contested, nine clearances, nine tackles, one goal assist
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs WCE): 27 disposals
Tom Green (loss vs FRE): 25 disposals, one goal
Caleb Serong (win vs GWS): 36 disposals — 12 contested, eight clearances, 695 metres gained
Hugh McCluggage (loss vs MEL): 28 disposals, one goal assist, one goal
Who’ll poll?: The big boppers are back after a slow Round 9! Anderson is just about a certainty for three votes in Gold Coast’s win over Hawthorn in Darwin, given he also notched up the highest-rated game (30.3) of any for the weekend. Meanwhile, it’s a coin flip between Serong and Shai Bolton in Fremantle’s victory against GWS. Dawson was arguably best-on-ground against Collingwood, but in a losing cause — which could work in favour of the Daicos brothers. Jeremy Cameron will take three votes for his seven-goal haul against Port Adelaide, but Smith will be running in close second. Rowell looks a solid chance for one vote.
ROUND 11
Nick Daicos (win vs NM): 38 disposals, 12 inside 50s, 12 score involvements, 736 metres gained, two goal assists
Bailey Smith (win vs WB): 33 disposals — 12 contested, 810 metres gained, seven tackles, seven inside 50s, six rebound 50s, one goal assist
Jordan Dawson (win vs WCE): 27 disposals — 17 contested, 11 inside 50s, 10 score involvements, nine tackles, eight clearances, two goal assists, two goals
Noah Anderson (win vs STK): 36 disposals — 14 contested, 11 clearances, 719 metres gained, seven inside 50s
Matt Rowell (win vs STK): 24 disposals, 15 tackles
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs GCS): 36 disposals, 902 metres gained, nine rebound 50s, one goal
Tom Green (win vs CAR): 25 disposals, one goal assist
Caleb Serong (win vs PTA): 29 disposals — 18 contested, 12 clearances,
Hugh McCluggage (win vs HAW): 24 disposals — 17 contested, 11 clearances, eight inside 50s
Who’ll poll?: The heavy hitters are back at it again, with Anderson staring down the barrel of a second straight three-vote game. Dawson was again monstrous, this time against West Coast at home and should also poll three. Daicos’ 38-touch clinic against North Melbourne could be enough to edge out his brother Josh and Jamie Elliott for full points. It’s a three-horse race for three votes in Fremantle’s win against Port Adelaide, but it could be Serong who comes out on top over teammates Luke Jackson and Murphy Reid. Smith should get one vote for Geelong, while any of Rowell, Green, McCluggage and Wanganeen-Milera are a chance for a minor poll.
ROUND 12
Nick Daicos (win vs HAW): 32 disposals, 10 score involvements, seven marks, one goal assist, one goal
Bailey Smith (win vs GEE): 38 disposals, 834 metres gained, eight score involvements, eight inside 50s, seven marks, one goal
Jordan Dawson (win vs SYD): 21 disposals, two goal assists, one goal
Noah Anderson (loss vs FRE): 39 disposals — 22 contested, 12 clearances, eight score involvements, seven inside 50s
Matt Rowell (loss vs FRE): 27 disposals — 15 contested, 13 tackles, eight clearances
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs MEL): 29 disposals, 795 metres gained, one goal assist
Tom Green (win vs RIC): 30 disposals — 14 contested, seven tackles, six rebound 50s, one goal assist, one goal
Caleb Serong (win vs GCS): 27 disposals, 11 inside 50s, eight tackles, 661 metres gained, one goal assist
Hugh McCluggage (win vs ESS): 41 disposals — 17 contested, 13 inside 50s, 12 score involvements, 11 marks, seven clearances, two goal assists
Who’ll poll?: Lock McCluggage and Smith in for maximum numbers in Round 12, with the former’s game the highest-rated (25.3) of any in Round 12. Anderson is a chance for full votes in a losing cause against Fremantle, while Daicos will poll against Hawthorn — though it’s not obvious to what extent. Wanganeen-Milera should have his name read out after the Saints’ win over Melbourne in Alice Springs, and Green was GWS’ best against Richmond.
ROUND 13
Nick Daicos (win vs MEL): 19 disposals, eight clearances, one goal
Bailey Smith (injured): Did not play.
Jordan Dawson (win vs BL): 18 disposals — 12 contested, 11 tackles, four contested marks, four spoils, one goal
Noah Anderson (loss vs GEE): 19 disposals, 10 clearances
Matt Rowell (loss vs GEE): 24 disposals — 12 contested, 11 tackles, 10 clearances, one goal
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (BYE): Did not play.
Tom Green (loss vs PTA): 31 disposals — 17 contested, 11 clearances, seven inside 50s
Caleb Serong (BYE): Did not play.
Hugh McCluggage (loss vs ADE): 27 disposals, one goal
Who’ll poll?: There aren’t any three-vote games for the favourites this weekend, and while Dawson’s stat line against Brisbane isn’t outstanding, his impact was huge in the last quarter. It could see him poll two votes behind Ben Keays, while a number of Lions players — including McCluggage — will likely battle it out for one. Green is an outside chance to poll one vote in the Giants’ loss to Port Adelaide.
ROUND 14
Nick Daicos (BYE): Did not play.
Bailey Smith (win vs ESS): 41 disposals, nine score involvements, nine inside 50s, 765 metres gained, seven marks, two goal assists
Jordan Dawson (loss vs HAW): 24 disposals — 13 contested, seven tackles, seven inside 50s, seven intercepts, one goal assist
Noah Anderson (BYE): Did not play.
Matt Rowell (BYE): Did not play.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs WB): 31 disposals — seven intercepts, nine marks, eight bounces, seven rebound 50s, 604 metres gained, one goal
Tom Green (win vs BL): 26 disposals — 15 contested, 11 clearances — eight centre, eight inside 50s, two goal assists
Caleb Serong (win vs NTH): 36 disposals — 16 contested, 10 tackles, eight clearances, seven intercepts, one goal
Hugh McCluggage (loss vs GWS): 25 disposals, 10 score involvements, one goal assist, one goal
Who’ll poll?: Another three-vote game for Caleb Serong is loading after a huge performance against North Melbourne. Smith’s 41 touches will bode him well against Essendon, but Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron could leave him with only one vote. That being said, all three of the trio performed superbly. Dawson led from the front in Adelaide’s tight loss to Hawthorn in Tasmania, and is in the running for two votes.
ROUND 15
Nick Daicos (win vs STK): 30 disposals — 14 contested, nine intercepts, nine inside 50s, two goal assists, one goal
Bailey Smith (loss vs BL): 28 disposals, seven clearances, seven inside 50s, 700 metres gained
Jordan Dawson (BYE): Did not play.
Noah Anderson (loss vs GWS): 42 disposals — 15 contested, 15 score involvements, seven clearances, 651 metres gained, two goals
Matt Rowell (loss vs GWS): 34 disposals — 19 contested, 12 clearances, nine score involvements, eight tackles, seven inside 50s, one goal assist
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs COL): 35 disposals — eight intercepts, nine rebound 50s, 632 metres gained
Tom Green (win vs GCS): 31 disposals — 22 contested, 16 clearances, nine tackles, one goal
Caleb Serong (win vs ESS): 35 disposals, 10 inside 50s, 783 metres gained, seven clearances, two goals
Hugh McCluggage (win vs GEE): 22 disposals, three tackles inside 50, one goal assist, one goal
Who’ll poll?: Some big games in Round 15, led largely by Anderson who surely gets three votes despite being in a losing team. If it’s not to be though, Green will get it done — so lock in those two for the three and two either way. Serong and Daicos should also max out in the votes tally, while Rowell is an outside chance for one vote against GWS. For what it’s worth, this is the time of year Daicos really hits his straps!
ROUND 16
Nick Daicos (win vs WCE): 34 disposals, 10 marks, nine inside 50s, nine score involvements, seven clearances, 707 metres gained, one goal
Bailey Smith (BYE): Did not play.
Jordan Dawson (win vs RIC): 26 disposals, 12 score involvements, eight inside 50s, seven clearances, two goal assists
Noah Anderson (win vs MEL): 27 disposals — 12 contested
Matt Rowell (win vs MEL): 24 disposals — 19 contested, 12 clearances, 11 tackles, nine score involvements, seven inside 50s, one goal assist
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs FRE): 28 disposals, 10 rebound 50s, 796 metres gained, six bounces, one goal assist, one goal
Tom Green (BYE): Did not play.
Caleb Serong (win vs STK): 18 disposals — 12 contested, nine clearances, one goal assist
Hugh McCluggage (BYE): Did not play.
Who’ll poll?: Daicos is every chance of three more votes here against West Coast, but Pendlebury could outdo him. Dawson and Wanganeen-Milera will be around the mark in the minor votes in a win and loss respectively.
ROUND 17
Nick Daicos (win vs CAR): 36 disposals — 13 contested, 13 score involvements, seven clearances, seven marks, 615 metres gained, one goal assist, one goal
Bailey Smith (injured): Did not play.
Jordan Dawson (win vs MEL): 25 disposals, seven tackles
Noah Anderson (win vs ESS): 39 disposals, eight score involvements, eight marks, seven tackles, two goals
Matt Rowell (win vs ESS): 17 tackles, 15 disposals, one goal assist
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs HAW): 43 disposals, 11 score involvements, 1,010 metres gained, eight inside 50s, eight rebound 50s, seven intercepts, seven bounces, one goal assist
Tom Green (win vs WCE): 35 disposals — 18 contested, nine clearances, one goal assist
Caleb Serong (loss vs SYD): 11 disposals, one goal
Hugh McCluggage (win vs PTA): 29 disposals — 13 contested, 10 score involvements, seven clearances, one goal
Who’ll poll?: This one you can definitely lock in Collingwood’s superstar for three votes, make no mistake. The Saints lost, but Wanganeen-Milera is every chance to poll three with his absurd stat line. 39 touches and two goals is also surely enough for Anderson to max out against Essendon. McCluggage looks a safe bet for two votes, as does Green in their comeback win over West Coast.
ROUND 18
Nick Daicos (loss vs GCS): 26 disposals
Bailey Smith (loss vs GWS): 26 disposals, seven inside 50s
Jordan Dawson (win vs WB): 27 disposals — 13 contested, 12 score involvements, eight tackles, two goal assists, two goals
Noah Anderson (win vs COL): 32 disposals — 17 contested, eight clearances, one goal
Matt Rowell (win vs COL): 32 disposals — 18 contested, 13 tackles, 12 clearances, nine inside 50s, two goals
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs SYD): 24 disposals, 721 metres gained, seven bounces
Tom Green (win vs GEE): 24 disposals — 16 contested, seven clearances
Caleb Serong (win vs HAW): 29 disposals — 17 contested, nine clearances, eight inside 50s, three tackles inside 50, one goal assist
Hugh McCluggage (win vs CAR): 18 disposals, one goal assist, one goal
Who’ll poll?: Rowell’s red-hot match against Collingwood has to be enough for all three votes, and Anderson surely finishes just behind with two. Riley Thilthorpe and Marcus Bontempelli should out-vote Dawson, but he’d be incredibly unlucky to not finish with one. Serong was awesome against the Hawks and could poll anywhere from one to three — but likely two. Green was probably the fourth-best for GWS in another win over Geelong.
ROUND 19
Nick Daicos (loss vs FRE): 43 disposals — 14 contested, 778 metres gained, eight clearances, eight score involvements, seven tackles, seven inside 50s, six rebound 50s, one goal
Bailey Smith (win vs STK): 23 disposals, one goal assist
Jordan Dawson (win vs GCS): 20 disposals, one goal assist, one goal
Noah Anderson (loss vs ADE): 27 disposals
Matt Rowell (loss vs ADE): 30 disposals — 16 contested, 12 clearances, nine tackles, seven inside 50s
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs GEE): 36 disposals — 13 contested, 10 clearances, eight marks, two goal assists, two goals
Tom Green (win vs ESS): 30 disposals — 17 contested, 16 clearances, four goal assists, one goal
Caleb Serong (win vs COL): 37 disposals — 16 contested, nine clearances, nine score involvements, seven inside 50s, one goal assist, one goal
Hugh McCluggage (win vs WB): 27 disposals — 18 contested, seven clearances, 671 metres gained, one goal assist
Who’ll poll?: It shouldn’t be anyone else but Green for three votes in GWS’ win over Essendon, but we’ve seen stranger things happen. Wanganeen-Milera was absolutely huge in St Kilda’s loss against Geelong, and it probably earns him the maximum quota? It’s genuinely anyone’s guess for who gets three votes in the Collingwood-Fremantle epic, that saw the Dockers win by a single point. Daicos and Serong were mountainous in their own rights, while Patrick Voss could also have a say after his half a dozen goals. The Suns got thumped by Adelaide to close out the round, but either Dawson or Rowell — and possibly both — could poll minor votes.
ROUND 20
Nick Daicos (win vs RIC): 42 disposals, 14 score involvements, 910 metres gained, eight inside 50s, three goals, one goal assist
Bailey Smith (win vs NM): 43 disposals — 23 contested, 13 clearances, eight inside 50s, 655 metres gained, one goal
Jordan Dawson (win vs PTA): 21 disposals, 10 tackles, one goal
Noah Anderson (win vs BL): 33 disposals, nine score involvements, two goal assists, one goal
Matt Rowell (win vs BL): 37 disposals — 23 contested, 15 clearances, 12 tackles, 10 score involvements, 730 metres gained, seven inside 50s, three marks inside 50, one goal assist
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs MEL): 34 disposals, nine score involvements, 749 metres gained, four goals, one goal assist
Tom Green (win vs SYD): 16 disposals, one goal
Caleb Serong (win vs WCE): 20 disposals — 17 contested, 11 score involvements, eight clearances, one goal assist
Hugh McCluggage (loss vs GCS): 28 disposals — 19 contested, seven clearances, seven inside 50s, one goal assist, one goal
Who’ll poll?: This was the weekend of the ‘Nasiah game’, in what is possibly the biggest certainty for three votes the entire season. Funnily enough, Daicos’ match against Richmond earlier that same Sunday afternoon will also definitely see him walk away with the maximum tally after a round-high AFL player rating of 37.2. Rowell was absolutely dominant against the Lions in their Q-Clash win over Brisbane which should see three more his way, while Anderson and Smith will almost certainly get two each in their respective clashes.
ROUND 21
Nick Daicos (loss vs BL): 29 disposals, nine score involvements, two goal assists, one goal
Bailey Smith (win vs PTA): 30 disposals — 13 contested, 10 score involvements, eight clearances, seven tackles, one goal assist
Jordan Dawson (win vs HAW): 21 disposals, 12 tackles, two goals, one goal assist
Noah Anderson (win vs RIC): 38 disposals — 15 contested, 12 score involvements, nine inside 50s, eight clearances, three goal assists
Matt Rowell (win vs RIC): 27 disposals — 14 contested, 12 clearances, 12 score involvements
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs NM): 36 disposals — 13 contested, nine clearances, nine score involvements, seven inside 50s, 677 metres gained
Tom Green (loss vs WB): 25 disposals
Caleb Serong (win vs CAR): 19 disposals — 15 contested, eight clearances
Hugh McCluggage (win vs COL): 34 disposals — 14 contested, eight clearances, seven tackles, two goal assists
Who’ll poll?: Three votes should come the way of Anderson and Wanganeen-Milera in Round 21, and probably Dawson as well. Rowell will pick up two after Anderson, while McCluggage will be battling it out for the same number with Lachie Neale in their win over Collingwood. Geelong had a trio of big performers in their smoking of Port Adelaide at Kardinia Park, but Smith remains an outside chance to jag one more to his tally.
ROUND 22
Nick Daicos (loss vs HAW): 24 disposals, one goal assist
Bailey Smith (win vs ESS): 31 disposals, nine clearances, eight score involvements, 738 metres gained, three goal assists
Jordan Dawson (win vs WCE): 26 disposals, 14 tackles, 11 inside 50s, 638 metres gained, one goal
Noah Anderson (win vs CAR): 19 disposals,
Matt Rowell (win vs CAR): 30 disposals — 16 contested, 13 score involvements, nine clearances, eight tackles, eight inside 50s, two goal assists
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs RIC): 33 disposals, 656 metres gained, three goal assists, one goal
Tom Green (win vs NTH): 25 disposals — 15 contested, 14 score involvements, 10 clearances, two goal assist
Caleb Serong (win vs PTA): 28 disposals — 16 contested, seven clearances, seven inside 50s, 617 metres gained, one goal
Hugh McCluggage (loss vs SYD): 30 disposals 14 contested, eight inside 50s, seven clearances,
Who’ll poll?: Amid Adelaide’s scare against West Coast, Dawson should max out — with Izak Rankine’s magical second half his only minor worry. Rowell was enormous against Carlton and should poll three, while Smith and Serong are also well-placed to add three votes; if not two. Wanganeen-Milera was everywhere against Richmond, but is more likely than not to be pipped by Jack Sinclair for the full quota. Green should get one vote, behind Toby Greene and Finn Callaghan in the pecking order.
ROUND 23
Nick Daicos (loss vs ADE): 29 disposals — 14 contested, eight clearances, eight inside 50s, 559 metres gained, one goal
Bailey Smith (win vs SYD): 30 disposals — 14 contested, nine score involvements, seven inside 50s
Jordan Dawson (win vs COL): 23 disposals — 12 contested, seven clearances, seven tackles, one goal assist
Noah Anderson (loss vs GWS): 32 disposals, eight clearances, 728 metres gained, seven inside 50s, one goal assist
Matt Rowell (loss vs GWS): 25 disposals — 15 contested, eight clearances, one goal
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (win vs ESS): 24 disposals, one goal assist, one goal
Tom Green (win vs GCS): 29 disposals — 19 contested, eight clearances, seven inside 50s, two goal assists
Caleb Serong (loss vs BL): 26 disposals — 16 contested, eight clearances
Hugh McCluggage (win vs FRE): 28 disposals, eight clearances, three marks inside 50, one goal
Who’ll poll?: There aren’t any three-vote certainties in Round 23, but Daicos, Green, and Smith are all right in the mix for the full quota. McCluggage would be unlucky to not find himself two votes, while Wanganeen-Milera should benefit from there being no obvious standout performer for the Saints in their tight win over Essendon. Dawson and Anderson are a decent enough chance for a minor vote.
ROUND 24
Nick Daicos (win vs MEL): 27 disposals — 12 contested, six inside 50s, six marks
Bailey Smith (win vs RIC): 34 disposals, 10 score involvements, 10 inside 50s, seven clearances, two goal assists
Jordan Dawson (win vs NTH): 23 disposals, seven tackles, two goal assists, two contested marks
Noah Anderson (loss vs PTA): 21 disposals, one goal assist
Matt Rowell (loss vs PTA): 21 disposals — 12 contested, one goal assist
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (loss vs GWS): 23 disposals, seven clearances, seven inside 50s, two goal assists
Tom Green (win vs STK): 33 disposals — 23 contested, 13 clearances, 10 score involvements, one goal
Caleb Serong (win vs WB): 24 disposals, eight inside 50s, seven clearances
Hugh McCluggage (win vs HAW): 32 disposals —13 contested, 11 score involvements, three marks inside 50, two goals
Who’ll poll?: Unsurprisingly, a lot of players finish off their home-and-away season with a bang. Smith should edge out Cameron for three votes, while Green and McCluggage will be confident they’ll be awarded the maximum number. Daicos and Serong should get two, if not one vote. And a fun fact to finish things off. Anderson’s AFL player rating of 37.1 was the highest from any of the 10 matches in Round 24.
ROUND 24.2
Noah Anderson (win vs ESS): 34 disposals — 18 contested, 12 clearances — eight centre, 634 metres gained, three goals, one goal assist
Matt Rowell (win vs ESS): 31 disposals — 15 contested, 11 score involvements, eight tackles, two goals, one goal assist
Who’ll poll?: Anderson, Rowell and King will be the three who poll in the final home-and-away match of 2025. Anderson surely gets the three, while the intrigue will be around who gets two — Rowell for his on-ball dominance, or King for a career-high seven goals?
Discussion about this post