Rose, Veale kick off 2019 with max NEAFL MVP votes

Sydney University recruit Jake Veale has left an emphatic first impression for his new club by polling the maximum NEAFL MVP votes in Round 1 on the weekend.

The former Sturt midfielder returned home to Sydney this year, and started 2019 off on the right foot with 35 disposals, four clearances and six inside 50s as the Students beat Aspley by 47 points.

Sydney midfielder/forward James Rose was also one of the top performers of the opening round, polling 10 votes for his impressive 39 disposals, nine clearances, 11 inside 50s and four goals in the Swans’ win over the GIANTS.

His teammate and first-year draftee James Rowbottom (31 disposals, seven clearances) collected eight votes in his debut for his new club.

Meanwhile, votes were shared in the close encounter between Canberra and Gold Coast, with four players (Canberra’s Angus Baker and Mitch Maguire, and Gold Coast’s Will Brodie and Sam Day) all sharing top votes with seven each.

New Southport recruit Matt Shaw earned nine votes as the Sharks kicked off their premiership defence against Redland. The former Gold Coast and Carlton utility finished with 29 disposals and 11 marks in a 62-point victory.

Up in Darwin, Brisbane duo Tom Cutler and Allen Christensen both polled seven votes each as the Lions triumphed in wet conditions over the NT Thunder.

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 1

Sydney University v Aspley Hornets

10: Jake Veale (Sydney Uni)

6: Tristan Davies (Sydney Uni)

6: Josh Stern (Sydney Uni)

4: Bailey Stewart (Sydney Uni)

2: James Ives (Aspley)

1: Jake Spencer (Aspley)

1: Jordon Arnold (Aspley)

Canberra Demons v Gold Coast SUNS

7: Angus Baker (Canberra)

7: Will Brodie (Gold Coast)

7: Mitch Maguire (Canberra)

7: Sam Day (Gold Coast)

1: Tom Nicholls (Gold Coast)

1: Rhys Pollock (Canberra)

GIANTS v Sydney Swans

10: James Rose (Sydney)

8: James Rowbottom (Sydney)

6: Aiden Bonar (GIANTS)

3: Jackson Hately (GIANTS)

3: Ryan Clarke (Sydney)

Southport Sharks v Redland Bombers

9: Matt Shaw (Southport)

6: Andrew Boston (Southport)

5: Mitch Johnson (Southport)

4: Tyler Roos (Southport)

2: Jed Turner (Southport)

2: Adrian Williams (Redland)

1: Matt Hammelmann (Redland)

1: Dylan Fyfe (Southport)

NT Thunder v Brisbane Lions

7: Tom Cutler (Brisbane)

7: Allen Christensen (Brisbane)

5: Ryan Lester (Brisbane)

5: Lewis Taylor (Brisbane)

3: Daniel Weetra (NT Thunder)

2: Corey Lyons (Brisbane)

1: Cedric Cox (Brisbane)

NEAFL LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 1

10: Jake Veale (Sydney Uni)

10: James Rose (Sydney)

9: Matt Shaw (Southport)

8: James Rowbottom (Sydney)

7: Angus Baker (Canberra)

7: Will Brodie (Gold Coast)

7: Mitch Maguire (Canberra)

7: Sam Day (Gold Coast)

7: Tom Cutler (Brisbane)

7: Allen Christensen (Brisbane)