MELBOURNE ruck Lauren Pearce has rocketed to equal second in the AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year award after a best-on-ground performance against Brisbane.
Pearce's starring role in the Demons' 39-point win on Sunday saw her receive the maximum 10 votes from the coaches, pushing her to 18 overall – just one behind leader Ellie Blackburn.
North Melbourne midfielder Jenna Bruton scored a perfect 10 in her match against former side Western Bulldogs, while Fremantle skipper Kara Donnellan and Carlton young gun Maddy Prespakis also were awarded full marks.
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Ebony Marinoff’s record 33 disposals weren't enough for a best-on performance for one coach, with the Adelaide mid awarded nine votes.
Bulldogs midfielder Blackburn's two votes were enough to see her hold onto first place with 19, with Karen Paxman and Pearce just a single vote behind.
NORTH MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
10 Jenna Bruton (NMFC)
6 Courteney Munn (NMFC)
4 Jamie Stanton (NMFC)
4 Kate Gillespie-Jones (NMFC)
2 Monique Conti (WB)
2 Ellie Blackburn (WB)
2 Emma Kearney (NMFC)
MATCH REPORT Debutant steers Roos to big win over Dogs
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY v CARLTON
10 Madison Prespakis (CARL)
8 Tayla Harris (CARL)
4 Yvonne Bonner (GWS)
3 Brianna Davey (CARL)
3 Kerryn Harrington (CARL)
1 Alison Downie (CARL)
1 Rebecca Beeson (GWS)
MATCH REPORT Drought-breaking Blues belt Giants
FREMANTLE v COLLINGWOOD
10 Kara Donnellan (FRE)
6 Kiara Bowers (FRE)
4 Parris Laurie (FRE)
4 Hayley Miller (FRE)
2 Stephanie Cain (FRE)
2 Sarah D'Arcy (COLL)
1 Ebony Antonio (FRE)
1 Gemma Houghton (FRE)
MATCH REPORT Unbeaten Dockers roll past Pies
ADELAIDE v GEELONG
9 Erin Phillips (ADEL)
9 Ebony Marinoff (ADEL)
6 Anne Hatchard (ADEL)
4 Chelsea Randall (ADEL)
2 Jessica Foley (ADEL)
MATCH REPORT Red-hot Crows crush Cats
BRISBANE v MELBOURNE
10 Lauren Pearce (MELB)
7 Aliesha Newman (MELB)
7 Karen Paxman (MELB)
4 Harriet Cordner (MELB)
1 Elise O'Dea (MELB)
1 Bianca Jakobsson (MELB)
MATCH REPORT Ruthless Demons silence Lions
LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND THREE
19 Ellie Blackburn
18 Karen Paxman
18 Lauren Pearce
16 Kiara Bowers
16 Ebony Marinoff
16 Erin Phillips
15 Ashleigh Brazill
15 Madison Prespakis
14 Ally Anderson
14 Jenna Bruton
14 Dana Hooker
13 Kara Donnellan
13 Elise O'Dea
12 Jasmine Garner
12 Kate Gillespie-Jones
11 Emma Kearney
10 Emily Bates
10 Monique Conti
10 Jess Duffin
10 Anne Hatchard
10 Meghan McDonald
10 Nina Morrison
10 Lauren Spark
