EASTERN Ranges bottom-ager Josh Smillie has jumped to equal-second on the Rookie Me Central leaderboard, after being adjudged best afield in his side’s thrilling Round 8 win over Dandenong. The midfielder is now level with Sandringham’s Will Brown on 16 votes, nine behind leader Colby McKercher.

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McKercher, who has been best-on in all five of his outings this season, was absent for Tasmania this week due to the Allies camp. With the Devils’ stars away, defender Arie Schoenmaker returned to claim all five votes in a heavy loss to the GWV Rebels.

Elsewhere, Northern Knights midfielder Zak Johnson was another bottom-ager to star. He was named our Round 8 Player of the Week and is now his side’s leading vote getter for 2023. The likes of Harry De Mattia, and Darcy Wilson and Oscar Ryan also polled to take the lead for their respective regions.

Rounding out the top five leaderboard are Jagga Smith and Angus Hastie on 15 votes apiece. The former has been tied up with school football commitments, while the latter strengthened his standing with a single vote in Geelong’s win over Murray.

>> CTL Round 8: Snapshot | POTW | TOTW | Scouting Notes

ROUND 8 VOTES

Northern Knights 11.9 (75) def. Oakleigh Chargers 6.7 (43)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – Zak Johnson (Northern Knights)
4 – Nathan Philactides (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Nate Caddy (Northern Knights)
2 – Will Green (Northern Knights)
1 – Luke Teal (Oakleigh Chargers)

Gippsland Power 7.7 (49) def. by Calder Cannons 15.10 (100)
By: Declan Reeve

5 – Jordan Croft (Calder Cannons)
4 – Ryan Eyre (Calder Cannons)
3 – Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power)
2 – Amin Naim (Calder Cannons)
1 – Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power)

GWV Rebels 7.17 (59) def. Tasmania Devils 3.6 (24)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – Arie Schoenmaker (Tasmania Devils)
4 – George Stevens (GWV Rebels)
3 – Joel Freijah (GWV Rebels)
2 – Lachlan Charleson (GWV Rebels)
1 – Rhys Unwin (GWV Rebels)

Dandenong Stingrays 6.13 (49) def. by Eastern Ranges 6.14 (50)
By: Peter Williams

5 – Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Harry De Mattia (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Josh Tovey (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Caleb Windsor (Eastern Ranges)

Geelong Falcons 8.12 (60) def. Murray Bushrangers 7.7 (49)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – Joe Pike (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Oscar Ryan (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Coby James (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons)

Bendigo Pioneers 7.15 (57) def. by Western Jets 9.11 (65)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – Jake Smith (Western Jets)
4 – Hugh Byrne (Bendigo Pioneers)
3 – Archer Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Massimo Raso (Western Jets)
1 – Michael Cilmi (Western Jets)

RMC MEDAL LEADERBOARDS

TOP 5 PLAYERS

1. Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils) – 25 votes
=2. Will Brown (Sandringham Dragons) – 16
=2. Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) – 16
=4. Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) – 15
=4. Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons) – 15

BEST BY CLUB

Lions Academy: Sam Marshall (5)
Bendigo Pioneers: Harley Reid (14)
Calder Cannons: Ryan Eyre (11)
Dandenong Stingrays: Harry De Mattia (10)
Eastern Ranges: Josh Smillie (16)
Suns Academy: Jed Walter (11)
Geelong Falcons: Angus Hastie (15)
Gippsland Power: Zane Duursma (13)
Giants Academy: Harvey Thomas (5)
GWV Rebels: Lachlan Charleson (10)
Murray Bushrangers: Oscar Ryan & Darcy Wilson (10)
Northern Knights: Zak Johnson (9)
Northern Territory: Orlando Turner (2)
Oakleigh Chargers: Jagga Smith (15)
Sandringham Dragons: Will Brown (16)
Swans Academy: Indhi Kirk (13)
Tasmania Devils: Colby McKercher (25)
Western Jets: Jake Smith (12)

VOTES BY CLUB

Lions Academy – 12
Bendigo Pioneers – 48
Calder Cannons – 49
Dandenong Stingrays – 53
Eastern Ranges – 57
Suns Academy – 45
Geelong Falcons – 60
Gippsland Power – 36
Giants Academy – 12
GWV Rebels – 44
Murray Bushrangers – 44
Northern Knights – 39
Northern Territory – 3
Oakleigh Chargers – 44
Sandringham Dragons – 47
Swans Academy – 37
Tasmania Devils – 70
Western Jets – 34