Collingwood defeated Richmond by 34 points at the MCG on Saturday, and the gravity of the Tigers' third-term fadeout – when they conceded eight successive goals after leading at halftime – was strongly reflected in the votes awarded by coaches Nathan Buckley and Damien Hardwick.
Six Magpies shared the votes, while not a single Richmond player was deemed worthy of recognition.
The obvious standout as best-afield was Pie spearhead Travis Cloke, who monstered Alex Rance to bag a career-best haul of 7.2 from 20 disposals and 14 marks (six contested).
Next-best according to the coaches were Steele Sidebottom in a return to form after a poor game in the round-four loss to Hawthorn, 200-gamer Dane Swan, ex-Eagle Quinten Lynch, backman-turned-wingman Harry O'Brien, and evergreen veteran Ben Hudson, who has been terrific in his first two games for his fourth AFL club.
Another forward to gain maximum votes was Carlton speedster Chris Yarran, who produced a brilliant four-goal display to pilot the Blues to their first win of the season against West Coast at Patersons Stadium.
Essendon's comeback kid Scott Gumbleton was also pivotal in attack with four goals and four votes to be adjudged third-best afield in the Bombers' win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
But the forwards didn’t have it all their own way, with tough North Melbourne defender earning a perfect 10 after giving Lions champion Jonathan Brown a rare flogging.
Thompson kept Brown statless in the first quarter and goalless for the match, while amassing 25 touches and a goal himself in perhaps the best performance of his career.
Similar labels have been applied to Geelong skipper Joel Selwood's 31-disposal, 10-vote effort in the Cats' win over the Sydney Swans at the SCG.
Teammate Harry Taylor (six votes and second-best) further enhanced his standing as a key defender who can be swung forward in bursts with great effect.
A surprise packet for the Cats, particularly in such a big game, was young midfielder George Horlin-Smith, who received one vote after having 23 disposals (15 contested), seven clearances and slotting a long goal in just his fifth AFL game.
The 20-year-old South Australian once captained the Australian under-16 cricket team but continues to justify his decision to pursue a football career.
Meanwhile, Melbourne finally attracted AFLCA votes, with Nathan Jones, James Frawley and Colin Garland leading the charge against Greater Western Sydney. Ex-Demon Tom Scully also received votes.
Sydney Swans v Geelong
10 Joel Selwood (Geel)
6 Harry Taylor (Geel)
4 Dan Hannebery (Syd)
4 Steven Motlop (Geel)
4 Mathew Stokes (Geel)
1 George Horlin-Smith (Geel)
1 Nick Malceski (Syd)
Hawthorn v Fremantle
8 Shaun Burgoyne (Haw)
5 Grant Birchall (Haw)
5 Lance Franklin (Haw)
3 Luke Breust (Haw)
3 Nathan Fyfe (Frem)
2 Max Bailey (Haw)
2 Cyril Rioli (Haw)
1 David Mundy (Frem)
1 Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
Richmond v Collingwood
10 Travis Cloke (Coll)
8 Steele Sidebottom (Coll)
6 Dane Swan (Coll)
3 Quinten Lynch (Coll)
2 Harry O'Brien (Coll)
1 Ben Hudson (Coll)
St Kilda v Essendon
10 Jobe Watson (Ess)
7 Brent Stanton (Ess)
4 Scott Gumbleton (Ess)
3 Michael Hibberd (Ess)
2 Dyson Heppell (Ess)
2 Cale Hooker (Ess)
1 Michael Hurley (Ess)
1 David Zaharakis (Ess)
West Coast v Carlton
10 Chris Yarran (Carl)
8 Scott Selwood (WCE)
5 Jeff Garlett (Carl)
3 Lachie Henderson (Carl)
2 Brock McLean (Carl)
1 Bryce Gibbs (Carl)
1 Mark LeCras (WCE)
Gold Coast v Port Adelaide
9 Hamish Hartlett (Port)
9 Justin Westhoff (Port)
6 Kane Cornes (Port)
2 Domenic Cassisi (Port)
2 Jay Scultz (Port)
1 Gary Ablett (GC)
1 Jarrod Harbrow (GC)
Melbourne v GWS
7 Nathan Jones (Melb)
5 James Frawley (Melb)
5 Colin Garland (Melb)
4 Dylan Shiel (GWS)
3 Adam Treloar (GWS)
2 Setanta O'hAilpin (GWS)
2 Tom Scully (GWS)
2 Colin Sylvia (Melb)
Adelaide v Western Bulldogs
10 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
8 Rory Sloane (Adel)
4 Andy Otten (Adel)
3 Adam Cooney (WB)
3 Scott Thompson (Adel)
2 Richard Douglas (Adel)
North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions
10 Scott Thompson (North)
7 Jack Ziebell (North)
4 Lindsay Thomas (North)
3 Jamie Macmillan (North)
3 Aaron Mullett (North)
2 Daniel Wells (North)
1 Sam Gibson (North)
LEADERBOARD
27 Jobe Watson (Ess)
27 Justin Westhoff (Port)
23 Joel Selwood (Geel)
21 Grant Birchall (Haw)
20 Nathan Fyfe (Frem)
20 Hamish Hartlett (Port)
20 Jarrad McVeigh (Syd)
19 Trent Cotchin (Rich)
18 Travis Boak (Port)
18 Kieren Jack (Syd)
18 Rory Sloane (Adel)
