Who is leading the best and fairest at your club at this stage of the season?
We have run the rule over each of the 18 clubs to assess who believe to be the outright leader as well as those in the mix.
Read our thoughts below:
Jordan Dawson
Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson has rallied hard after a sluggish start to the season to remind everyone why he was an All-Australian in 2023.
The skipper is being used heavily on-ball, but after some issues with his kicking early, he has again found his mark.
This is one of the toughest best and fairests to determine in the competition.
In the mix: Could Mark Keane genuinely be in the top five right now? He probably should be given his form this season. Izak Rankine would be right there, but has suffered an injury. Max Michalanney deserves some love, as does Jake Soligo.
Nic Negrepontis
Lachie Neale
This season for the Lions has failed to reach expectations on any front, but a number of players can continue to hold their head high, particularly their dual-Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale.
Neale has amounted 28 disposals a game, sitting top 10 in the competition for contested possessions while leading the best clearance team in the AFL with 13 extractions per game. He is a proven vote-getter and is likely to be leading the tally thus far.
In the mix: Veteran Dayne Zorko has also had a strong season up to this point, likely holding second spot quite comfortably. Neale’s co-captain Harris Andrews and midfielder Josh Dunkley have also put up a number of impressive performances.
Jaiden Sciberras
Patrick Cripps
Patrick Cripps is on track to win his fifth Carlton best and fairest at this rate, quietly putting together an All-Australian calibre season.
The Blues skipper has been incredibly consistent, with his numbers across the board up from 2023.
The question will be whether he can continue to stay healthy and not pick up the niggles that have held him back in the past.
In the mix: Key forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow would be right up there. McKay is enjoying the best season of his career, while Curnow continues to meet the incredibly high bar he’s set for himself. Sam Walsh has played four fewer games than Cripps and will need a big second half of the season to catch him.
Nic Negrepontis
Nick Daicos
The Collingwood superstar will easily claim this year’s Copeland Trophy on current form.
After finishing second last season, Daicos could almost have an unassailable lead as he continually finds himself as the club’s best player week-in-week-out.
Daicos is coming second in the AFLCA votes with 67 and is the Brownlow favourite, while many of his main competitors at Collingwood in his brother Josh, Jordan De Goey, Brayden Maynard and Darcy Moore have all dropped off somewhat compared to 2023.
In the mix: One big improver for Collingwood this year is ruckman Darcy Cameron who has also been a very consistent operator. Josh Daicos, who won the Copeland Trophy last year, has also found some form and consistency while Scott Pendlebury had an incredibly good patch of footy when he moved full-time into the midfield, but his elbow/bicep injury will cost him now.
Lachlan Geleit
Zach Merrett
He’s almost a shoo-in to claim a fifth Crichton Medal at this point of the season and is one of the leading contenders to be the 2024 All-Australian captain.
Merrett has been emblematic of Essendon’s rise in 2024 with his repeat efforts and game-winning ability surging the Dons over the line multiple times this year.
It’s the 28-year-old’s consistency that stands out above his peers. The only time Merrett has dipped below 24 touches this season was in a comfortable win against the Kangaroos, a stat reflective of his ability to show up week after week.
In the mix: Nic Martin is relishing his move to half-back and is playing exactly as Brad Scott would have hoped when the shift was engineered in the pre-season. Andrew McGrath is also enjoying a career-best season, while Kyle Langford is equal fifth in the Coleman. Don’t be surprised to see veteran Dyson Heppell in the top five as well.
Seb Mottram
Caleb Serong
Another player who’s received a lot of plaudits in 2024 is Caleb Serong, who currently sits third in the AFLCA voting.
The prolific on-baller ranks second in the AFL for clearances per game, stoppage clearances per game, disposals per game and total disposals.
That consistency means he would have polled well for the Dockers throughout his 12 games so far.
He won the Doig Medal in 2023 and at this stage is looking at back-to-back best and fairests.
In the mix: While Serong has stood out, Fremantle’s defence also has a few players that could be All-Australian and would be incredibly highly rated inside the club in Luke Ryan and Alex Pearce. Forward Josh Treacy is also enjoying a career-best campaign and Andrew Brayshaw and Hayden Young have performed well as Serong’s sidekicks.
Lachlan Geleit
Max Holmes
There are few more improved players in the competition this year than Max Holmes, who is every chance to be leading Geelong’s count after Round 12.
Pencilled in for a move to half-back in the pre-season, few would have envisaged Holmes having the impact he has had of late.
The 21-year-old is gaining mass metres off the half-back flank and will likely even have a few (or more) Brownlow votes at the midway point of the season.
Geelong clearly loves what he’s bringing to the table after re-signing Holmes to a four-year deal earlier in the season and putting him through the midfield in captain Patrick Dangerfield’s absence.
In the mix: Geelong’s best and fairest count is one of the harder clubs to break down given the spread of contributors. Gryan Miers’ ball use has been elite, he’s played a starring role in multiple wins and he’s not far from All-Australian calculations, as is Zach Guthrie and Tom Stewart. Tyson Stengle is equal eighth in the Coleman.
Seb Mottram
Matt Rowell
A difficult decision with several strong performers for the Suns.
This year we have seen elements of Matt Rowell’s outrageous potential, and it’s scary to think he’s only getting started. Rowell is second in the AFL for contested possessions, second for tackles and fourth for clearances.
He has truly hit the ground running in 2024 and while it may be a close vote thus far, Rowell is more than likely to hold an advantage.
In the mix: Rowell’s midfield accomplice Noah Anderson has also been superb, while co-captain Touk Miller, defender Sam Collins and the improved Sam Flanders have also stood tall, rounding out what is most likely a clear-cut top five. Shoutout to Mac Andrew, currently experiencing a special breakout season, while joint skipper Jarrod Witts has also been good despite missing a few games.
Jaiden Sciberras
Tom Green
The 23-year-old midfielder, now in his fifth season, finished second in the Kevin Sheedy Medal last year, third in 2022 and is perfectly placed to break through in 2024.
Green leads the Giants for contested possessions and tackles, and is second for total disposals and clearances (as well as centre clearances).
He is in the mix for a first All-Australian blazer, has polled over 30 AFLCA coaches votes and is well on his way to a maiden GWS best and fairest.
In the mix: Key forward Jesse Hogan is also in AA contention and sits in the top three in the Coleman Medal race. Two-time best and fairest Lachie Whitfield has been a model of consistency while fellow dual winner Josh Kelly was flying prior to a calf injury. Ruckman Kieren Briggs and captain Toby Greene would be polling fairly well, Stephen Coniglio has been in great form when not injured and key defender Sam Taylor, who won in 2022, wouldn’t be far off at this stage of the season. Plenty of candidates for Adam Kingsley.
Andrew Slevison
Karl Amon
Plenty of Hawks have had their numbers skewed by a slow start to season 2024, but with voting in the best and fairest coming every round, Karl Amon should be up the top.
Amon is enjoying a remarkably consistent season spending most of his time in the back half, only falling below 18 touches twice in 2024.
He’s averaging almost three more effective kicks than ever before in his career despite finding less uncontested footy than last year.
Amon’s ability to play a role week in and week out should have him up the top.
In the mix: Dylan Moore is fronting up better in recent weeks, running through the middle and hitting the scoreboard more often than not. Jai Newcombe is back to his best as a midfield bull, James Worpel has produced several very good games and Blake Hardwick has played out of his skin on multiple occasions this year.
Seb Mottram
Max Gawn
Melbourne captain Max Gawn has been phenomenal so far in 2024 and has proven once again why he is so integral to the club.
In almost every game this season, Gawn has been included in the Demons’ best players and has already polled 46 AFLCA coaches votes.
The two-time ‘Bluey’ Truscott Medallist is seen as a leading candidate for the All-Australian ruck position at the moment, which would be the seventh time he’s achieved this feat if he was to continue on with his already stellar form.
He’d likely be leading the way from one player in particular…
In the mix: …and that player is fellow two-time best and fairest (and reigning club champion) Christian Petracca. The 28-year-old’s overall numbers are not quite as impressive as the last few years, but his impact forward of centre is better than ever. Alex Neal-Bullen is putting together a career-best year after finishing sixth last season, Jack Viney would be thereabouts, Steven May has been fairly consistent and fellow defender Jake Lever was in brilliant form before he injured his knee.
Zac Sharpe
Harry Sheezel
Is Harry Sheezel going to start his AFL career with back-to-back best and fairest awards? It sure seems like it.
He started the season in excellent form across the half-back line, but has been particularly impressive in the last month playing on-ball, with Champion Data ranking him among the top players in the competition.
Sheezel has a chance to build an incredible legacy at the Kangaroos at this rate.
In the mix: Luke Davies-Uniacke has come with a rush in the last month, really hitting his stride on-ball and returning to his best. Tristan Xerri has had an incredibly consistent season to date as well.
Nic Negrepontis
Zak Butters
It’s tough to pick between Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis as Port’s best player so far, but Butters gets the edge… just.
While he’s slid somewhat from his amazing 2023 campaign, the young midfielder has still been huge and has swung plenty of games for his side.
Over the last two weeks though, Horne-Francis has been coming for him and could end up being the favourite for the John Cahill Medal if his trajectory continues.
Butters is gunning for back-to-back best and fairest titles after claiming the award in 2023.
In the mix: As mentioned, Jason Horne-Francis is nipping at Butters’ heels. Dan Houston, who came third in 2023, is having another great campaign off half-back and will poll well again. Captain Connor Rozee would have also been polling well until he got injured in Round 7.
Lachlan Geleit
Nick Vlastuin
Three-time premiership defender Nick Vlastuin has been a rock in defence for a struggling Richmond side in 2024.
He is averaging just under 20 disposals, almost seven rebound 50s and six marks and ranks second for intercepts in the AFL. Many have had him in their rolling All-Australian teams at some point in the opening 12 rounds.
Vlastuin’s last few weeks haven’t been quite as good as his first seven or eight, but he has still been the Tigers’ most consistent performer across the first half of the campaign.
He’s finished top four in the Jack Dyer Medal three times in the last five years.
In the mix: Daniel Rioli has been excellent and is averaging a career-high 21 disposals and over five rebound 50s. He would be pushing Vlastuin all the way. Shai Bolton has finished fourth or better in the last four best and fairests. His best has been great so far this season, although his consistency has somewhat lacked. Following that trio, Dustin Martin has been the next best. He has finished in the top three in nine of his 14 seasons to date. Liam Baker, despite missing a few games, has been super consistent.
Andrew Slevison
Isaac Heeney
The AFL’s Brownlow predictor currently has Isaac Heeney in front with 22 votes, five ahead of second place. He also leads the AFLCA coaches votes race and is the easy favourite for the Bob Skilton Medal.
The unfortunate off-season injuries to Callum Mills and Luke Parker has allowed Heeney to flourish in his new midfield role and he has produced career-best numbers to start the year.
The 28-year-old is ranked elite in clearances (6.5) and kicks (14.2) whilst also averaging over 26 touches, five tackles and has regularly hit the scoreboard with 17 goals in just 11 matches.
In the mix: Chad Warner may have started the season a tad slow compared to Heeney but he has been electric in the past month which included a 25-disposal and four-goal effort against the Western Bulldogs. Errol Gulden has continued his strong form from last year and James Rowbottom could be a smokey as he leads the competition for tackles per game (9.3).
Charles Goodsir
Rowan Marshall
Rowan Marshall has clearly been St Kilda’s best player this year.
In a season that has seen a number of the Saints’ best players drop off, Marshall has performed at a consistent base that sees him remain as one of the premier ruckmen in the competition.
Marshall finished third in St Kilda’s best and fairest last year behind Jack Sinclair and Callum Wilkie who have dropped off significantly this year.
In the mix: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has been terrific and has taken that next step this season averaging over 25 touches on a consistent basis. Captain Jack Steele looks to be covering the ground with much more ease this year and his first six games were the Steele of old. Mason Wood and Marcus Windhager have played big games in St Kilda’s wins and will no doubt feature at the top of the Trevor Barker tally.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
Jeremy McGovern
It’s not cut and dry by any means, but right now Jeremy McGovern would be leading the way for the Eagles.
The star defender is in the midst of a career year, averaging 20.8 touches per game and ranking in the top 20 in the AFL for marks, kicks, intercepts and rebound 50s.
While others may have shone brighter at points this season, McGovern has been consistently brilliant every week for West Coast.
In the mix: Jake Waterman had an electric stretch that saw him lead the Coleman for a moment, Harley Reid’s debut campaign has seen stretches of complete dominance, while Elliot Yeo, Liam Duggan and Tim Kelly have been as prolific as ever and will likely poll just as well as they have in recent years.
Jack Makeham
Marcus Bontempelli
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Marcus Bontempelli is on track to claim his sixth Charles Sutton Medal with another stellar season.
While not quite as statistically dominant as some of his other seasons, ‘The Bont’ is still putting together a tremendous year, averaging 25.3 touches per game and sitting fourth in the AFLCA coaches votes.
He is a constant for the Doggies.
In the mix: Adam Treloar has put together an excellent season and currently sits 13th in the coaches votes, Ed Richards is in the midst of a career year, Bailey Dale has been impactful since his return to a consistent role and Tom Liberatore started the year on fire before succumbing to injury/concussion troubles.
Jack Makeham
