Marcus Bontempelli Trails in Zero Hanger MVP Race

Marcus Bontempelli's chances of winning the Zero Hanger MVP have taken a hit after the latest round of voting.

What happened?

Marcus Bontempelli earned 20 votes for his performance over the Suns, but it was not enough to close the gap with Nick Daicos, who has a 40-vote lead in the Zero Hanger MVP. Daicos polled 19 votes in the Magpies' 21-point victory over arch rival Carlton.

Why it matters for Marcus Bontempelli

The result leaves Bontempelli facing a tough task to catch Daicos, who has a strong lead in the competition. The Dogs captain will need to perform at a high level in the remaining rounds to have any chance of closing the gap.

What comes next?

The Zero Hanger MVP is awarded to the player with the most votes at the conclusion of the home and away season. The player with the most votes will be crowned the winner, and it will be a closely contested battle between Daicos and Bontempelli.

Bontempelli's performance over the Suns was impressive, but it was not enough to close the gap with Daicos. The Dogs captain will need to perform at a high level in the remaining rounds to have any chance of winning the Zero Hanger MVP.

Joe Richards had a career game in the Power's loss to the ladder leaders, Fremantle, moving into a midfield role with the Power stars Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis missing through injury and suspension respectively. Richards got to work in Port Adelaide's engine room, racking up 31 disposals, along with six clearances and one goal, which earned him the full 20 votes.

Melbourne's Tom Sparrow kept up his career-best form in the Demons' 16-point win over the Kangaroos, accumulating 33 disposals, 10 clearances and a crucial goal from inside the centre square.

Former Essendon skipper Zach Merrett got back to form, moving back into the midfield and getting the Bombers over their line against the Giants, snapping the club he's seeking to leave's 12-game losing streak in the process.

Each week, Zero Hanger's Jonty Ralphsmith, Aidan Cellini, Mitch Keating and Harrison McIlwaine will assign their 5-4-3-2-1 votes for every game. The player with the most votes at the conclusion of the home and away season will be crowned the Zero Hanger MVP, powered by Winning Edge Presentations.

The Top 10:

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