Who led my Brownlow count after Round 8?

This is who is leading my Brownlow count as we head into the 20-day footy festival.

1. Lachie Neale 15 votes
2. Travis Boak ten
3. Christian Petracca nine
3. Max Gawn nine
3. Matt Rowell nine
6. Scott Pendlebury eight
6. Toby Greene eight
6. Jack Macrae eight
9. Chad Wingard seven
9. Jack Billings seven

Round 8

Western Bulldogs beat Gold Coast
3. Jack Macrae
2. Touk Miller
1. Bailey Smith
Jack Macrae had the ball on a string and set up the Doggies’ win. Miller was also outstanding alongside Hugh Greenwood and David Swallow in a much improved Suns midfield. Smith beats the purest of players Caleb Daniel for the one vote.

GWS beat Richmond
3. Toby Greene
2. Dustin Martin
1. Josh Kelly
Greene is a sublime player, and GWS seem much more capable when he plays (four wins, two losses with Greene compared to no wins and two losses without). Kelly and Martin should split the remaining votes. Kelly used the ball better, but I’ve gone for Martin’s two goals to get him two votes. Shai Bolton was stunning early but fell away.

(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Carlton beat North Melbourne
3. Sam Walsh
2. Jared Polec
1. Matthew Kennedy
As Patrick Cripps put in an unusually quiet performance, Walsh, Kennedy and Will Setterfield stepped up at the contest. Polec fought hard on the wing after keeping Cripps quiet in the first quarter in a light tagging role.

Sydney beat Hawthorn
3. Tom Papley
2. Dane Rampe
1. Jake Lloyd
Papley was simply awesome with four goals including one 50-metre run. Rampe incredibly snuffed out swathes of attacks with a broken hand. Lloyd racked up the ball a kick behind the play, as did James Sicily for the Hawks, while Jaeger O’Meara is also in contention.

St Kilda beat Port Adelaide
3. Rowan Marshall
2. Zak Jones
1. Jade Gresham
This game is tricky to judge, with no one really standing out. Marshall kicked two goals and dominated the clearances, but fellow ruckman Paddy Ryder was also impressive. Jones is likely to poll well on Brownlow night, as a fast, easily spotted (bald) clearance beast.

Essendon beat Adelaide
3. Zach Merrett
2. Andrew McGrath
1. Brodie Smith
In a game that both teams tried to lose, Merrett and McGrath stood out as a class above. Smith was close to winning the game for Adelaide, but kicked for goal off balance in the dying moments. Paul Seedsman was also dynamic and kicked a long goal.

West Coast beat Collingwood
3. Josh Kennedy
2. Tim Kelly
1. Oscar Allen
It’s hard to look past Kennedy’s seven goals (equivalent to 8.75 in normal game time). Kelly will come close though in a dominant midfield performance, while Allen is a superstar as Kennedy’s support act.

(Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Brisbane beat Melbourne
3. Lachie Neale
2. Christian Petracca
1. Jarryd Lyons
Another three votes for Neale, who might just run away with the medal. Petracca was hyped in the media and produced once again, while Lyons, Zac Bailey, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney are all contenders for votes.

Geelong beat Fremantle
3. Cam Guthrie
2. Mitch Duncan
1. Sam Menegola
Guthrie was clean in the wet. The kicking of Guthrie, Duncan and also Zach Tuohy was a deciding factor when the game was up for grabs. Menegola had his fair share of the footy, with plenty at the contest.