SEN’s AFL Player of the Year and Rising Star votes - Round 8, 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 8

Collingwood (93) v (93) Hawthorn

3: Jai Newcombe (HAW)
2: Dan Houston (COL)
2: Connor Macdonald (HAW)

Who missed: Massimo D'Ambrosio was close. Nick Daicos had a heap of it but was a bit wasteful.

Western Bulldogs (102) v (114) Fremantle

3: Shai Bolton (FRE)
2: Luke Jackson (FRE)
1: Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

Who missed: Hayden Young just pipped by Bont.

Adelaide (76) v (75) Port Adelaide

3: Sam Berry (ADE)
2: Wayne Milera (ADE)
1: Aliir Aliir (PA)

Who missed: This is the clear three.

Essendon (79) v (143) Brisbane

3: Darcy Wilmot (BRI)
2: Zac Bailey (BRI)
1: Hugh McCluggage (BRI)

Who missed: Kai Lohmann was considered. Sam Durham was Essendon's best.

West Coast (88) v (99) Richmond

3: Noah Balta (RIC)
2: Harley Reid (WCE)
1: Kane McAuliffe (RIC)

Who missed: Jack Ross was very close, but McAuliffe provided a bit more going forward.

Geelong (135) v (86) North Melbourne

3: Max Holmes (GEE)
2: Tristan Xerri (NM)
1: Shaun Mannagh (GEE)

Who missed: Top two well clear. A few in the mix for one including Tanner Bruhn and Colby McKercher.

Carlton (69) v (108) St Kilda

3: Rowan Marshall (STK)
2: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK)
1: Cooper Sharman (STK)

Who missed: Brad Hill, Cal Wilkie and Max Hall all in the mix.

Sydney (131) v (114) Melbourne

3: Malcolm Rosas (SYD)
2: Isaac Heeney (SYD)
1: Brodie Grundy (SYD)

Who missed: Kozzy Pickett the best Dee.

Gold Coast (83) v (63) GWS Giants

3: Christian Petracca (GCS)
2: John Noble (GCS)
1: Finn Callaghan (GWS)

Who missed: Clayton Oliver was close, as was Noah Anderson.

Leaderboard

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

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

SEN’s Rising Star votes - Round 8

3: Sam Cumming (RIC)
2: Jagga Smith (CAR)
1: Willem Duursma (WCE)

Who missed: Dyson Sharp was solid, Rising Star nomination Jack Whitlock was decent in the Showdown.

Leaderboard

8: Jagga Smith (CAR)
7: Willem Duursma (WCE)
5: Phoenix Gothard (GWS)
5: Jobe Shanahan (WCE)
5: Jacob Farrow (ESS)
4: Lachie Jaques (WB)
4: Cooper Trembath (NM)
3: Sam Cumming (RIC)
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)