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Full Noise by SN
The Live Sport Bible is here!SEN’s AFL Player of the Year and Rising Star votes - Round 8, 2026
SEN • May 4th, 2026 5:01 pm
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)
