LAST year's joint winner Mathew Jovanovic has made a flying start in the $1000 McDonald's VFL Player-of-the-Year award.
Jovanovic, who shared the 2004 award with Brett Geappen, got the top vote of five for his fine game at full-back in the Devils' 32-point away loss to Springvale on Saturday.
Ruckman Travis Ronaldson and utility small Ian Callinan also stood out and were awarded four votes.
Players are given a rating from five votes down to one in each of the 20 home-and-away rounds.
It was indicative of how the Devils struggled that 15 of the 22 players polled two and one votes.
An added incentive for this year's winner is a 120cm rear-projection colour television courtesy of Bartercard, valued at $4000.
Votes will be published in The Mercury every Tuesday, along with a progressive list of the leading players.
FIRST-ROUND VOTES
5 -- M. Jovanovic
4 -- I. Callinan, T. Ronaldson.
3 -- K. Hall, T. Geappen, J. Ling, L. Shackleton, A. Viney
2 -- A. O'Sign, N. Paine, N. Street, S. Wager, M. Geappen, B. Robinson,
1 -- B. Beams, B. Geappen, N. Barling, B. Savage, B. Setchell, N. Grima, J. Plapp, K. Heazlewood.
Last Modified on 05/04/2005 09:00