SEN’s AFL Player of the Year and Rising Star votes - Round 5, 2026

A full book of nine games in Gather Round.

See our Player of the Year votes below:

SEN’s POTY votes - Round 5

Adelaide (114) v (86) Carlton

3: Josh Rachele (ADE)
2: Jordan Dawson (ADE)
1: Sam Berry (ADE)

Who missed: Izak Rankine and Wayne Milera were in the mix. Sam Walsh was arguably Carlton's best.

Collingwood (39) v (45) Fremantle

3: Luke Jackson (FRE)
2: Nick Daicos (COL)
1: Luke Ryan (FRE)

Who missed: Tough game for votes. Jordan Clark, Alex Pearce, Andy Brayshaw and Jack Crisp were all considered.

North Melbourne (66) v (92) Brisbane

3: Lachie Neale (BRI)
2: Luke Davies-Uniacke (NM)
1: Zac Bailey (BRI)

Who missed: A few Roos in the mix. Jy Simpkin and Harry Sheezel were excellent.

Essendon (113) v (68) Melbourne

3: Darcy Parish (ESS)
2: Zach Merrett (ESS)
1: Archie Roberts (ESS)

Who missed: All Dons here. Isaac Kako was great, as was Kyle Langford. Kozzy Pickett was the best Demon.

Sydney (100) v (68) Gold Coast

3: Isaac Heeney (SYD)
2: Justin McInerney (SYD)
1: Tom Papley (SYD)

Who missed: Brodie Grundy was very unlucky, as was Chad Warner.

Hawthorn (104) v (64) Western Bulldogs

3: Jai Newcombe (HAW)
2: Jack Ginnivan (HAW)
1: Josh Battle (HAW)

Who missed: Mitch Lewis stiff, Connor Macdonald and James Sicily both in the mix.

Geelong (122) v (76) West Coast

3: Bailey Smith (GEE)
2: Max Holmes (GEE)
1: Tanner Bruhn (GEE)

Who missed: Tom Atkins and James Worpel next in line.

GWS Giants (131) v (75) Richmond

3: Finn Callaghan (GWS)
2: Clayton Oliver (GWS)
1: Lachie Ash (GWS)

Who missed: Jake Stringer, Lachie Whitfield, Aaron Cadman and Toby Greene all around the mark.

Port Adelaide (67) v (81) St Kilda

3: Zak Butters (PA)
2: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK)
1: Hugo Garcia (STK)

Who missed: Jason Horne-Francis unlucky and might have landed a vote if Port won.

Leaderboard

10: Zak Butters (PA)
10: Nick Daicos (COL)
9: Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
8: Bailey Smith (GEE)
7: Max Holmes (GEE)
7: Max Gawn (MEL)
7: Isaac Heeney (SYD)
6: Will Ashcroft (BRI)
6: Luke Davies-Uniacke (NM)
6: Jai Newcombe (HAW)
5: Shai Bolton (FRE)
5: Christian Petracca (GCS)
4: Touk Miller (GCS)
4: Luke Parker (NM)
4: Luke Jackson (FRE)
4: Kysaiah Pickett (MEL)
4: Justin McInerney (SYD)
4: Josh Treacy (FRE)
4: Josh Rachele (ADE)
4: Harley Reid (WCE)
4: Finn Callaghan (GWS)
4: Connor Macdonald (HAW)
4: Clayton Oliver (GWS)
4: Caleb Serong (FRE)
4: Aliir Aliir (PA)
3: Wayne Milera (ADE)
3: Zac Bailey (BRI)
3: Tom McCartin (SYD)
3: Patrick Cripps (CAR)
3: Noah Anderson (GCS)
3: Lachie Neale (BRI)
3: Lachie Ash (GWS)
3: Josh Ward (HAW)
3: Joel Freijah (WB)
3: Jake Waterman (WCE)
3: Jake Stringer (GWS)
3: Jacob Van Rooyen (MEL)
3: Jack Steele (MEL)
3: Errol Gulden (SYD)
3: Ed Richards (WB)
3: Dylan Stephens (NM)
3: Darcy Parish (ESS)
3: Callum Wilkie (STK)
3: Ben King (GCS)

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

SEN’s Rising Star votes - Round 5

3: Jacob Farrow (ESS)
2: Jobe Shanahan (WCE)
1: Willem Duursma (WCE)

Who missed: Cooper Trembath, Josh Lindsay and Phoenix Gothard were next in line.

Leaderboard

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