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.

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)