You could mount a strong argument that triple Richmond premiership star defender Nick Vlastuin is in career-best form a third of the way through the 2024 season.

The 30-year-old veteran of 219 games again was excellent for the Tigers in yesterday’s 54-point loss to Fremantle at the MCG.

He finished the match with 22 disposals, a team-high 10 contested possessions, equal team-high eight marks, five rebound-50s, an equal game-high nine intercepts, five score involvements, three tackles and 304 metres gained.

Over the course of the season so far, Vlastuin is averaging 21.4 disposals, 6.2 contested possessions, 7.6 marks, 7.0 rebound-50s, 3.0 score involvements, 8.9 intercepts and 463.5 metres gained per game.

He is ranked second in the competition for intercepts, second for rebound-50s and sixth for marks.

Vlastuin would likely be leading Richmond’s Best and Fairest award to this stage of the season, and if he can maintain the high level of performance that he is producing, he could well claim an inaugural Jack Dyer Medal.