A TRIO of Vic Metro midfielders are tied for first place in this year’s Rookie Me Central Medal count, with two returning best afield performances in Round 7 of the Coates Talent League. Namely, Zak Johnson (Northern), Josh Smillie (Eastern), and Jagga Smith (Oakleigh) all have a high of 10 votes to their names.

>> SCROLL for the Round 7 votes & leaderboard

The latter pair polled a maximum three votes each after gathering 33 disposals apiece on the weekend. Smillie did so in the Ranges’ last gasp win over Western, while Smith was again the standout as Oakleigh suffered its fifth defeat of the season. Both are firming as top five AFL Draft prospects.

Meanwhile, Johnson yielded one vote for his 28 disposals and eight marks in the Knights’ victory over Bendigo. The top-ager has thrived with a move to defence in recent weeks to continue an ultra-consistent season overall, being the only player to poll votes across five games.

The chasing pack is closing hard too, with a quartet of players tied for equal-fourth spot. Murray Bushrangers forward Joe Berry, Bendigo Pioneers utility Tobie Travaglia, and Player of the Week Xavier Lindsay all added to their tallies over the weekend to join Calder captain Damon Hollow on eight votes.

While their teams locked horns in Round 7, Tasmania’s Lenny Douglas and Dandenong’s Cooper Hynes did not poll votes and remain level in equal-eighth. Three more players behind them round out an elongated top 10, including mid-season draft hopeful Will McLachlan.

>> 2024 CTL Round 7: Snapshot | POTW | TOTW

ROUND 7 VOTES

Tasmania Devils 13.15 (93) def. Dandenong Stingrays 6.7 (43)
3 – Geordie Payne (Tasmania Devils)
2 – Oliver Depaoli-Kubank (Tasmania Devils)
1 – Oscar Van Dam (Tasmania Devils)

Lions Academy 12.16 (88) def. Calder Cannons 6.8 (44)
3 – Daniel Annable (Lions Academy)
2 – Tom Gillett (Lions Academy)
1 – Billy Richardson (Lions Academy)

Western Jets 12.12 (84) def. by Eastern Ranges 12.15 (87)
3 – Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Xavier Kardachi (Western Jets)
1 – Lachy Dovaston (Eastern Ranges)

GWV Rebels 17.7 (109) def. Gippsland Power 10.12 (72)
3 – Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power)
2 – Mitchell Lloyd (GWV Rebels)
1 – Oliver Hannaford (GWV Rebels)

Murray Bushrangers 11.15 (81) def. Oakleigh Chargers 9.5 (59)
3 – Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – Joe Berry (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Alex Swinnerton (Murray Bushrangers)

Suns Academy 9.11 (65) def. by Geelong Falcons 10.12 (72)
3 – Joe Pike (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Leonardo Lombard (Suns Academy)
1 – Noah Tullio (Geelong Falcons)

Bendigo Pioneers 10.9 (69) def. by Northern Knights 16.12 (108)
3 – Riley Ormerod (Northern Knights)
2 – Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Zak Johnson (Northern Knights)

TOP 10 LEADERBOARD

Eq. 1st. Zak Johnson (Northern Knights) – 10 [3, 2, 3, 1, 1]
Eq. 1st. Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) – 10 [3, 1, 3, 3]
Eq. 1st. Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) – 10 [2, 3, 2, 3]
Eq. 4th. Joe Berry (Murray Bushrangers) – 8 [2, 3, 1, 2]
Eq. 4th. Damon Hollow (Calder Cannons) – 8 [2, 3, 3]
Eq. 4th. Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power) – 8 [2, 3, 3]
Eq. 4th. Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers) – 6 [3, 1, 2, 2]
Eq. 8th. Lenny Douglas (Tasmania Devils) – 7 [2, 3, 2]
Eq. 8th. Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays) – 7 [1, 3, 3]

LEADERS BY CLUB

Bendigo Pioneers – Tobie Travaglia (8)
Calder Cannons – Damon Hollow (8)
Dandenong Stingrays – Cooper Hynes (7)
Eastern Ranges – Josh Smillie (10)
Geelong Falcons – Will McLachlan (6)
Giants Academy – Logan Smith (4)
Gippsland Power – Xavier Lindsay (8)
GWV Rebels – Oliver Hannaford & Mitchell Lloyd (2)
Lions Academy – Daniel Annable (6)
Murray Bushrangers – Joe Berry (8)
Northern Knights – Zak Johnson (10)
Northern Territory – Taj Murray (1)
Oakleigh Chargers – Jagga Smith (10)
Sandringham Dragons – Levi Ashcroft (5)
Suns Academy – Leo Lombard & Zeke Uwland (4)
Swans Academy – Ned Hawkins (6)
Tasmania Devils – Lenny Douglas (7)
Western Jets – Thomas McGuane (3)

CLUB LEADERBOARD

Eastern Ranges – 20
Murray Bushrangers – 20
Gippsland Power – 19
Northern Knights – 19
Bendigo Pioneers – 18
Calder Cannons – 18
Sandringham Dragons – 18
Tasmania Devils – 17
Dandenong Stingrays – 16
Geelong Falcons – 16
Oakleigh Chargers – 12
Lions Academy – 10
Swans Academy – 10
Suns Academy – 10
Western Jets – 9
Giants Academy – 7
GWV Rebels – 5
Northern Territory – 1