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Full Noise by SN
SEN’s AFL Player of the Year and Rising Star votes - Round 1, 2026
SEN • March 16th, 2026 1:24 pm
There were some massive individual performances across Round 1 in the AFL.
With all 18 teams returning for the first time in 2026, we had nine games to analyse over a massive weekend of footy.
See our Player of the Year votes below:
SEN’s POTY votes - Round 1
Carlton (75) v (71) Richmond
3: Patrick Cripps (CAR)2: Jayden Short (RIC)1: Sam Walsh (CAR)
Who missed: Tom Lynch would have polled if he kicked straight.
Essendon (83) v (145) Hawthorn
3: Josh Ward (HAW)2: Nick Watson (HAW)1: Connor Macdonald (HAW)
Who missed: James Sicily was brilliant off half back, while Jack Ginnivan and Dylan Moore were strong.
Western Bulldogs (134) v (53) GWS
3: Marcus Bontempelli (WB)2: Aaron Naughton (WB)1: Tim English (WB)
Who missed: A heap of Dogs starred. Sam Darcy, Tom Libenratore and Matt Kennedy unlucky.
Geelong (110) v (100) Fremantle
3: Max Holmes (GEE)2: Jeremy Cameron (GEE)1: Luke Jackson (FRE)
Who missed: Bailey Smith and Caleb Serong had plenty of it while hitting the scoreboard.
Sydney (104) v (60) Brisbane
3: Tom McCartin (SYD)2: Nick Blakey (SYD)1: Joel Amartey (SYD)
Who missed: James Rowbotton and Justin McInerney the next best.
Collingwood (79) v Adelaide (93)
3: Wayne Milera (ADE)2: Nick Daicos (COL)1: Josh Worrell (ADE)
Who missed: Alex Neal-Bullen was immense while Dan Houston continued his hot start to 2026.
North Melbourne (113) v (67) Port Adelaide
3: Dylan Stephens (NM)2: Harry Sheezel (NM)1: Luke Parker (NM)
Who missed: Charlie Comben and Tristan Xerri were big in their battles.
Melbourne (120) v (107) St Kilda
3: Jacob Van Rooyen (MEL)2: Max Gawn (MEL)1: Max Hall (STK)
Who missed: Brody Mihocek and Kysaiah Pickett were big inside 50 for the Dees.
Gold Coast (131) v (72) West Coast
3: Noah Anderson (GCS)2: Christian Petracca (GCS)1: Joel Jeffrey (GCS)
Who missed: Jarrod Witts absolutely dominated Matt Flynn in the ruck.
Leaderboard
5: Nick Daicos (COL)5: Christian Petracca (GCS)4: Marcus Bontempelli (WB)3: Wayne Milera (ADE)3: Tom McCartin (SYD)3: Patrick Cripps (CAR)3: Noah Anderson (GCS)3: Max Holmes (GEE)3: Josh Ward (HAW)3: Jake Stringer (GWS)3: Jacob Van Rooyen (MEL)3: Errol Gulden (SYD)3: Ed Richards (WB)3: Dylan Stephens (NM)
We’ll also keep track of our version of the Rising Star in 2026.
SEN’s Rising Star votes - Opening Round
3: Lachie Jaques (WB)2: Jagga Smith (CAR)1: Sam Grlj (RIC)
Who missed: Willem Duursma, Dyson Sharp and Latrelle Pickett all had nice debuts.
Leaderboard
5: Jagga Smith (CAR)4: Lachie Jaques (WB)2: Leo Lombard (GCS)1: Sam Grlj (RIC)
