SEN’s AFL Player of the Year and Rising Star votes - Round 7, 2026

The 2026 season rolls on and the votes continue to come.

See our Player of the Year votes below:

SEN’s POTY votes - Round 7

Western Bulldogs (60) v (126) Sydney

3: Charlie Curnow (SYD)
2: Chad Warner (SYD)
1: Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

Who missed: A few Swans were considered, including Brodie Grundy, Tom McCartin and Matt Roberts, but Bont was excellent in a losing side.

Richmond (72) v (126) Melbourne

3: Kysaiah Pickett (MEL)
2: Tom Sparrow (MEL)
1: Caleb Windsor (MEL)

Who missed: Jack Steele was busy and Dion Prestia was good for the Tigers, but this feels like the main three.

Hawthorn (112) v (63) Gold Coast

3: Jai Newcombe (HAW)
2: Jack Gunston (HAW)
1: Jack Scrimshaw (HAW)

Who missed: Connor Macdonald, Jarman Impey and Karl Amon were among those in the mix for one vote.

Essendon (60) v (137) Collingwood

3: Scott Pendlebury (COL)
2: Nick Daicos (COL)
1: Josh Daicos (COL)

Who missed: A fairly clear trio. Plenty of Pies lining up though.

Port Adelaide (95) v (65) Geelong

3: Jason Horne-Francis (PA)
2: Mitch Georgiades (PA)
1: Zak Butters (PA)

Who missed: Jase Burgoyne and Kane Farrell were both good.

Fremantle (103) v (89) Carlton

3: Shai Bolton (FRE)
2: Luke Jackson (FRE)
1: Andrew Brayshaw (FRE)

Who missed: Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps both prolific for the Blues. Jye Amiss was great again for Freo.

St Kilda (143) v (42) West Coast

3: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK)
2: Hugo Garcia (STK)
1: Jack Higgins (STK)

Who missed: Multiple Saints next in line including Marcus Windhager, Cal Wilkie and Jack Carroll.

Brisbane (127) v (75) Adelaide

3: Lachie Neale (BRI)
2: Will Ashcroft (BRI)
1: Zac Bailey (BRI)

Who missed: All Lions. Next was Charlie Cameron, Linc McCarthy and Josh Dunkley.

GWS Giants (105) v (98) North Melbourne

3: Tristan Xerri (NM)
2: Toby Greene (GWS)
1: Lachie Ash (GWS)

Who missed: A few others from both sides in the mix including Luke Parker, Harry Sheezel, Finn O'Sullivan, Lachie Whitfield and Brent Daniels.

Leaderboard

15: Nick Daicos (COL)
14: Zak Butters (PA)
10: Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
10: Bailey Smith (GEE)
9: Jai Newcombe (HAW)
8: Will Ashcroft (BRI)
8: Shai Bolton (FRE)
8: Max Holmes (GEE)
8: Christian Petracca (GCS)
7: Max Gawn (MEL)
7: Kysaiah Pickett (MEL)
7: Isaac Heeney (SYD)
6: Luke Jackson (FRE)
6: Luke Davies-Uniacke (NM)
6: Lachie Neale (BRI)
6: Justin McInerney (SYD)
6: Jason Horne-Francis (PA)
5: Tristan Xerri (NM)
5: Scott Pendlebury (COL)
5: Nick Blakey (SYD)
5: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK)
5: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)
5: Harry Sheezel (NM)
4: Zac Bailey (BRI)
4: Wayne Milera (ADE)
4: Touk Miller (GCS)
4: Nick Watson (HAW)
4: Luke Parker (NM)
4: Lachie Ash (GWS)
4: Josh Treacy (FRE)
4: Josh Rachele (ADE)
4: Jack Sinclair (STK)
4: Harley Reid (WCE)
4: Finn Callaghan (GWS)
4: Connor Macdonald (HAW)
4: Clayton Oliver (GWS)
4: Caleb Serong (FRE)
4: Aliir Aliir (PA)

We’ll also keep track of our version of the Rising Star in 2026.

SEN’s Rising Star votes - Round 7

3: Josh Lindsay (WCE)
2: Patrick Retschko (RIC)
1: Willem Duursma (WCE)

Who missed: Sam Grlj was decent and won the Rising Star but this feels like the right trio.

Leaderboard

6: Willem Duursma (WCE)
6: Jagga Smith (CAR)
5: Phoenix Gothard (GWS)
5: Jobe Shanahan (WCE)
5: Jacob Farrow (ESS)
4: Lachie Jaques (WB)
4: Cooper Trembath (NM)
3: Josh Lindsay (WCE)
2: Patrick Retschko (RIC)
2: Mitch Edwards (GEE)
2: Leo Lombard (GCS)
2: Jack Whitlock (PA)
1: Sam Grlj (RIC)
1: Lachlan Gulbin (GCS)