Keays rockets up NEAFL MVP leaderboard as three players poll max votes

Brisbane forward Ben Keays has rocketed up the NEAFL MVP Award leaderboard after polling maximum votes on the weekend against Gold Coast.

Keays, 22, jumped in to second place after accumulating 26 disposals, seven marks, five tackles, and booting 4.3 in the Lions’ big win over the SUNS at Metricon Stadium.

He sits 10 votes behind Southport’s Matt Shaw, who did not poll due to the Sharks having the bye.

Keays was one of three players who polled 10 votes in Round 4, with Sydney’s Robbie Fox and NT Thunder’s Abraham Ankers all rewarded for outstanding performances.

Fox was unstoppable against the GIANTS, amassing 38 disposals, 15 clearances and three goals in the Swans’ 45-point win, whilst Ankers took home the ANZAC Medal for best-on-ground with 26 disposals, nine clearances and three goals.

Top votes were split in Sydney University and Canberra’s five-point thriller at Henson Park, with Students defender Adam Gulden and Demons’ midfielder Alex Smout each collecting nine votes.

The NEAFL Most Valuable Player Award is presented to the player uniquely judged the best in the competition by a combination of umpire and coaches votes.

The votes are submitted post-game cast on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis. As such, the maximum amount of votes a single player can earn per match is 10 – courtesy of the maximum five votes from both umpires and coaches.

The progress of the MVP voting is published on the NEAFL website for the first 12 rounds of the season, but withheld from that point on until the winner is revealed at the end of season awards night.

NEAFL MVP VOTES – Round 4

Gold Coast v Brisbane
10: Ben Keays (Brisbane)
8: Corey Lyons (Brisbane)
6: Aaron Young (Gold Coast)
3: Keidean Coleman (Brisbane)
2: Toby Wooller (Brisbane)
1: Archie Smith (Brisbane)

Sydney University v Canberra
9: Adam Gulden (Sydney Uni)
9: Alex Smout (Canberra)
5: Connor Owen-Auburn (Canberra)
3: Bailey Stewart (Sydney Uni)
2: Tim Barton (Sydney Uni)
1: Tom Faul (Canberra)
1: Josh Maynard (Canberra)

Redland v NT Thunder
10: Abraham Ankers (NT Thunder)
8: Clay Cameron (Redland)
5: Kieran Delahunty (NT Thunder)
5: Craig Malone (Redland)
1: Matt Hammelmann (Redland)
1: Jacob Templeton (NT Thunder)

Sydney v GIANTS
10: Robbie Fox (Sydney)
8: Colin O’Riordan (Sydney)
5: Isaac Cumming (GIANTS)
3: Zac Langdon (GIANTS)
3: Darcy Cameron (Sydney)
1: Connor Idun (GIANTS)

NEAFL MVP LEADERBOARD – Round 4

29: Matt Shaw (Southport)
19: Ben Keays (Brisbane)
18: James Rowbottom (Sydney)
17: Colin O’Riordan (Sydney)
16: Mitch Maguire (Canberra)
15: Corey Lyons (Brisbane)
14: Jake Veale (Sydney Uni)
14: Tristan Davies (Sydney Uni)
14: Isaac Cumming (GIANTS)
14: Adam Gulden (Sydney Uni)

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