Sporting News' Brownlow leaderboard 2019: Round 13 votes

Tom Naghten

Sporting News' Brownlow leaderboard 2019: Round 13 votes image

With the second of the bye rounds sidelining some of the front-runners, several players took their chance to close the gap on Sporting News' Brownlow leaderboard.

Fremantle star Michael Walters was one of the biggest beneficiaries, his six-goal performance against Port Adelaide good enough for all three votes.

That lifted Walters into the top 10, while Dockers skipper Nat Fyfe is a perennial contender and moved into equal third with two votes in round 13.

MORE: Hawthorn's tomorrow has finally arrived | Coleman Medal leaderboard

Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett performed strongly against the Hawks, his three votes taking him to 13 in total for 2019.

Bombers captain Dyson Heppell continued his good form, while backman Michael Hurley earned his first vote for the year.

It may have been his brother Matt's 100th game, but Brad Crouch stole the show in the win over the Tigers on Thursday night, picking up maximum votes, while Dustin Martin and Reilly O'Brien rounded out the top performers in that fixture.

Alan Richardson said Jack Billings' teammates had the classy youngster to thank for the win over Gold Coast and it's easy to see why.

33 touches, two goals and 11 tackles good enough for three votes.

It was a similar story for Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley who finished with 41 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal in three-point win over Carlton.

That relegated seven-goal Charlie Curnow to second place in the best performances in that match.

It was a slowish start to the season for Giants gun Josh Kelly but he has now polled in five of the last six matches to lift him to nine votes for the season, the latest three added against the Roos on Sunday.

GWS' midfield dominated the contest, with Tim Taranto and Stephen Coniglio rounding out the vote-getters.

 

Adelaide v Richmond

3. Brad Crouch
2. Dustin Martin
1. Reilly O’Brien

Essendon v Hawthorn

3. Zach Merrett
2. Dyson Heppell
1. Michael Hurley

Gold Coast V St Kilda

3. Jack Billings
2. Tim Membrey
1. David Swallow

Fremantle v Port Adelaide

3. Michael Walters
2. Nat Fyfe
1. Travis Boak

Carlton v Western Bulldogs

3. Josh Dunkley
2. Charlie Curnow
1. Marcus Bontempelli

North Melbourne v GWS

3. Josh Kelly
2. Tim Taranto
1. Stephen Coniglio

Sporting News' Brownlow 2019 leaderboard

Tim Kelly Geelong 17 votes
Patrick Cripps Carlton 16
Lachie Neale Brisbane 14
Stephen Coniglio GWS 14
Nat Fyfe Fremantle 14
Zach Merrett Essendon 13
Brodie Grundy Collingwood 12
Tim Taranto GWS 12
Michael Walters Fremantle 12
Rory Sloane Adelaide 11
Elliot Yeo West Coast 11
Gary Ablett Geelong 11
Max Gawn Melbourne 11

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.