Each team’s Mathieson favourite revealed

The Addy footy experts have looked at the best performances around the competition and broken down who could take home the Mathieson Medal.

Bell Park

Skipper Lachlan Patten has been arguably the best player this season so far, but his dominance in the midfield has not translated to a strong ladder position. Patten will likely earn three votes in each of the three opening games of the season, with the Dragons winning against St Albans, North Shore and Lara. With four heavy losses following the opening three wins, Patten may not have polled in any games, but he has still put in some dominant performances in the defeats.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 1: 33 disposals, 10 tackles, nine marks, eight inside 50s, five clearances, 203 Ranking Points

Round 2: 38 disposals, 25 contested possessions, nine clearances, nine inside 50s, 224 Ranking Points

Round 3: 26 disposals, 22 contested possessions, six clearances, six tackles, 1 goal, 183 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Benjamin Worme, Zak Mirkovic

Colac

Midfield sensation Bailey Scott started the season like a house on fire, and should poll maximum votes in the opening three rounds. Since then Scott has been strong but not as spectacular, with sides recognising his dominance. Co-coach Darcy Lang would have won his first Mathieson Medal last season if he had not been suspended mid-season for an incident against St Albans, and the 2022 leading vote getter is expected to poll well again.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 1: 38 disposals, 21 contested possessions, eight inside 50s, five clearances, 1 goal, 207 Ranking Points

Round 2: 33 disposals, eight inside 50s, 10 marks, six tackles, four clearances, four goals, 197 Ranking Points

Round 3: 28 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s, five clearances, three tackles, three goals, 115 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Jon Simpkin, Zachary Zdybel

Geelong West

The Giants co-captain David Handley has only played three games so far this season, with the former VFL gun missing the opening four rounds of the season. But there has been no sign of rust in the midfielder’s game, dominating with three huge performances in the engine room. Handley was arguably best-on-ground in two losses, collecting 42 disposals, six marks, 10 tackles and eight clearances in round 5 against St Joseph’s, and 35 disposals, 11 tackles, six clearances and a goal against Leopold in round 7. He may miss out on maximum votes in the win over South Barwon in round 6, but he did collect 26 disposals at 81 per cent efficiency, six clearances and four tackles.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 5: 42 disposals, 10 tackles, 10 inside 50s, eight clearances, eight tackles, six marks, 208 Ranking Points

Round 7: 35 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 11 tackles, six clearances, 1 goal, 196 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Tanner Lovell, Josh Dwyer

Grovedale

The inspiring return of captain and 2016 Mathieson Medalist Nathan Deans would be amazing if he capped off his season with another league best and fairest. Deans returned to football after a horrific knee injury kept him on the sidelines for 644 days, and he has barely missed a beat since coming back for Grovedale. The midfielder will be in the votes in the Tigers’ two wins and a draw this season, and may also pick up some votes in losses against Colac, South Barwon and Geelong West.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 3: 26 disposals, 18 contested possessions, seven inside 50s, six clearances, six marks, 177 Ranking Points

Round 7: 33 disposals, 10 clearances, eight inside 50s, four marks, one goal, 165 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Ryan Abbott, Cassidy Parish

Lara

Young midfield bull Connor Linehan-Cunningham has quickly become one of the competition’s premier clearance kings, leading the competition in that category in 2023. Lara’s poor record of just two wins will not help his case, with Linehan-Cunningham unlikely to poll maximum votes in either victories. His strong game in the 11-point loss to St Joseph’s in round 6 could garner attention from the umpires, where he collected 30 disposals (86.7 per cent effective), 11 clearances, eight tackles and five inside 50s.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 3: 27 disposals, 10 clearances, six inside 50s, four tackles, 159 Ranking Points

Round 5: 25 disposals, 17 contested possessions, six clearances, five inside 50s, 127 Ranking Points

Round 6: 30 disposals, 86.7% efficiency, 11 clearances, eight tackles, five inside 50s, 191 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Mitchell Day, William McKenzie

Leopold

Midfield star Logan Wagener has been dominant to start the season, with a number of huge statistical performances helping the Lions to important wins. With the fixture easing up after a difficult opening five weeks, Leopold should start to perform strongly in the middle part of the season. Wagener’s 39 disposals, 15 clearances and one goal in round 7 will poll three votes, as will his 37 touches and one goal in round 4, while he should be around the mark in round 6 for 25 touches and two goals.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 4: 37 disposals, four marks, four clearances, four inside 50s, one goal, 129 Ranking Points

Round 5: 22 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 10 clearances, two inside 50s, 128 Ranking Points

Round 6: 25 disposals, nine marks, eight tackles, five inside 50s, four clearances, two goals, 146 Ranking Points

Round 7: 39 disposals, 19 contested possessions, 15 clearances, seven marks, six inside 50s, one goal, 218 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Marcus Thompson, Oliver Tate

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Newtown & Chilwell

Matthew Boag has all the marks to be a genuine contender for the Mathieson Medal: plays primarily through the midfield, pushes forward and kicks big bags of goals, and collects plenty of the ball around the ground. His round 2 performance against St Albans is the highest-rated game all season, with a monster stat line of 36 disposals, 77.8 per cent efficiency, 22 contested possessions, six clearances and four goals. He should be in the umpires’ minds every game, having just one game less than 29 disposals.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 1: 31 disposals, 20 contested possessions, nine clearances, seven inside 50s, 142 Ranking Points

Round 2: 36 disposals, 77.8% efficiency, 22 contested possessions, six clearances, four goals, 247 Ranking Points

Round 4: 31 disposals, eight clearances, five marks, four inside 50s, 3 goals, 162 Ranking Points

Round 5: 29 disposals, nine marks, five tackles, five inside 50s, 142 Ranking Points

Round 6: 41 disposals, 18 contested possessions, nine marks, eight inside 50s, six clearances, 179 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Ned Harris, Blake Sutterby

North Shore

Key forward Jordan Lane may find it tough going to win the Mathieson Medal in a currently-winless side, but the newest Seagull has been dominant so far this season. Lane is one of the competition’s best goal kickers and contested marking beasts, having recently earned a VFL debut for Port Melbourne. Lane kicked two goals from 10 marks (seven contested) and 14 disposals in his Seagulls debut against St Joseph’s, but his 12 disposal, seven mark and five goal effort in round 5 against Lara may get some attention from the umpires. He also took nine contested marks and kicked three goals from 10 touches in the loss against South Barwon in round 4.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 4: 10 disposals, nine contested marks, three goals, 122 Ranking Points

Round 5: 12 disposals, seven marks, five contested marks, five goals, 146 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Brad Gerrard, Connor Walmsley

South Barwon

New recruit Fraser Fort has slotted seamlessly into new coach Mark Neeld’s plans at the club, with the former SANFL star blossoming with every game in the system. Fort will be a chance for votes in almost every game this season, such is the utility’s impact on the contest, but his best games have come in round 6, where he had 24 disposals at 79.2 per cent efficiency, six marks, six clearances, six inside 50s and two goals, and in round 5 with 25 disposals, 15 marks (eight intercepts) and three tackles.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 3: 23 disposals, eight marks, seven intercept marks, two inside 50s, 118 Ranking Points

Round 5: 25 disposals, 15 marks, eight intercept marks, three tackles, 169 Ranking Points

Round 6: 24 disposals, 79.2% efficiency, six marks, six clearances, six inside 50s, 2 goals, 175 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Matthew Caldow, Jonty Broughton

St Albans

Skipper Jacob Russell has been the absolute standout for St Albans, and while the Supersaints have not won a game he has been in fine touch. Fellow midfielder Sam Donegan showed in 2022 it was possible to poll well in a winless season when he received 11 votes. Russell will be unlucky not to earn more votes than he will for some of his outstanding performances, with 43 touches, 12 marks, seven clearances and six inside 50s coming in a 101-point loss against St Joseph’s in round 7. Russell could poll well in the 13-point loss to Lara in round 4 for his 30 disposals, nine clearances and six tackles, but the Supersaints’ average losing margin of 80 points could hurt his chances.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 4: 30 disposals, nine clearances, six tackles, 185 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Fletcher Keck, Sam Donegan

St Joseph’s

Defender Jack Buckley has been one of the league’s biggest risers in 2023, going from a good player to one of the best in the competition. Buckley has been integral to St Joseph’s stellar start to the season, being one of the competition’s best ball winners off the half back flank. He had two 40+ disposal games in rounds 5 and 6, as well as two other games with at least 30 touches. Buckley is likely to be around the mark for votes in every win, with a couple of chances for best-on-ground honours.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 4: 38 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six marks, three tackles, 140 Ranking Points

Round 5: 48 disposals, nine marks, three inside 50s, 177 Ranking Points

Round 6: 42 disposals, five tackles, four marks, four inside 50s, 182 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Alex Hickey, Paddy De Grandi

St Mary’s

While the Saints have the 2021 and 2022 Mathieson Medalist in Harry Benson playing on their list this season, the leading St Mary’s star is currently Jarryd Garner. Benson’s time at VFL level for Geelong has allowed Garner to truly shine as the number one midfielder, with some massive games for the premiership contenders. Garner’s 26 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal in the round 2 win over Geelong West will likely poll maximum votes, while his 33 disposals, seven clearances and a goal in round 6 against St Albans was also outstanding. Garner’s form has been consistent all season, with just one game below 24 disposals.

Potential 3-vote games

Round 1: 32 disposals, 20 contested possessions, eight clearances, four tackles, 138 Ranking Points

Round 2: 26 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 10 clearances, seven inside 50s, 1 goal, 168 Ranking Points

Round 6: 33 disposals, 12 contested possessions, nine inside 50s, seven clearances, 1 goal, 152 Ranking Points

Others in contention: Jack Blood, Harry Benson