Brownlow Medal 2020

[bornadog]

Your club's Brownlow guide: Top contender (https://www.afl.com.au/news/517190/your-club-s-brownlow-guide-top-contender-one-vote-wonder-more)



Best chance: Marcus Bontempelli

Once again, expect Bontempelli to be leading the charge for the Bulldogs. The club's first-year captain is tipped to poll in five games, with two best-on-ground performances. Of those, his game against Sydney – where he won 19 disposals and kicked two goals – was perhaps the best. Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel could steal some votes from him.
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One-vote wonder: Hayden Crozier (v Gold Coast, round eight)

Could the versatile Crozier pinch a vote following a 19-disposal performance against the Suns? Daniel was among the best, but expect Crozier to be in line for his first ever Brownlow votes.

Brownlow Predictor top three

13 Marcus Bontempelli
9 Caleb Daniel
9 Tom Liberatore
Sportsbet top three
$1.80 Marcus Bontempelli
$1.95 Jack Macrae
$18 Tim English

2019 most votes: Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae (22 votes)

Ineligible players: Hayden Crozier

AFL Predictor here (https://www.afl.com.au/brownlow-medal/predictor)

[Happy Days]

I actually think Bont's gonna poll pretty well.

Neale is likely gonna win, but is not the lock he's being made out to be. They need to stop showing the umpires the stats after the games, guys winning with 39 votes every year 15 ahead of the next guy is getting out of hand and making it absolutley no fun.

I get that Priddis winning was embarrassing for everyone but it was almost 6 years ago now.

[EasternWest]

I get that Priddis winning was embarrassing for everyone but it was almost 6 years ago now.

Woewodin. Never forget.

[GVGjr]

I'm hoping for a Caleb Daniel win just for BAD

[EasternWest]

I'm hoping for a Caleb Daniel win just for BAD

BAD actually sent me a PM saying that if Daniel won he'd split the cash with me.

So here's hoping.

[bornadog]

BAD actually sent me a PM saying that if Daniel won he'd split the cash with me.

So here's hoping.

I have been hacked, but thanks to GVGjr, he fixed it, so sorry to disappoint you. :D

[GVGjr]

BAD actually sent me a PM saying that if Daniel won he'd split the cash with me.

So here's hoping.

He will use the money to buy his way into the AFL rules committee :)

[Twodogs]

I reckon that Caleb will take home a pair of Charlies this year.

[Eastdog]

Virtual Brownlow on now.

[Hotdog60]

Dunks hits the board early

[Eastdog]

Macrae with the first 3 votes for us.

[Hotdog60]

Bont with 3 against Sydney

[Eastdog]

Bont with 3 against Sydney

That is what I was expecting. That was great game from the Bont that night.

[jeemak]

What do we think of Walsh's winning of the mark of the year?

[bornadog]

What do we think of Walsh's winning of the mark of the year?

Bloody good mark

[Happy Days]

What do we think of Walsh's winning of the mark of the year?

It was definitely a Toyota Moment™️ and a Toyota Mark of the Year™️ all right.

[Hotdog60]

Macrae sneaking up the list

[soupman]

What do we think of Walsh's winning of the mark of the year?

It was an awesome mark. I actually think its a rare case where the slow mo footage of it makes it look worse than it was. Watching it live on the broadcast it was super impressive, he came in with such pace and just stopped when he hit the pack. The replays don't really show his intent to get there.

[bornadog]

Neale has this in the bag

[Eastdog]

Neil has this in the bag

Certainly looking that way.

[comrade]

Neale is obviously a great player but his Brownlow will go into the Tom Mitchell basket.

[GVGjr]

Only 3 players so far who have polled in more than one game for us
Seems very low to me but Bont should change that this round

[EasternWest]

What do we think of Walsh's winning of the mark of the year?

Deserving winner I loved it.

[GVGjr]

I'd like to check last years votes against us but there seems to be a repeat of the match winners

Grundy, Martin, Neale and Dangerfield so far

We need to use a tagger more

[Throughandthrough]

Neale is obviously a great player but his Brownlow will go into the Tom Mitchell basket.

don't watch much footy mate?

[GVGjr]

In regular season with 22 games 31 votes would be regarded as enough
Neale has had a great season

[Twodogs]

Never realised how much Lachie Neale looks like Dominic West before.

[Dry Rot]

Never realised how much Lachie Neale looks like Dominic West before.

Maybe he is Dominic West? Have you seen the two in the same room?

Neale plays like Dominic West in the big games IMHO. He is no Dusty Martin.

[Twodogs]

Maybe he is Dominic West? Have you seen the two in the same room?

Neale plays like Dominic West in the big games IMHO. He is no Dusty Martin.

Hmmmm. Now that you mention it...

[Eastdog]

BROWNLOW MEDAL TOP 10

31 Lachie Neale (Brisbane) - 2020 Brownlow Medal Winner
21 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
20 Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
20 Jack Steele (St Kilda)
15 Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
15 Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs)
15 Dustin Martin (Richmond)
15 Luke Parker (Sydney)
14 Cam Guthrie (Geelong)
14 Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)


https://www.afl.com.au/news/519591/your-club-s-brownlow-night-leader-top-five-total-votes

[Eastdog]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/519591/your-club-s-brownlow-night-leader-top-five-total-votes

Your club's Brownlow night: Leader, top five, total votes
We break down how your club fared during the 2020 Brownlow Medal count
By Riley Beveridge, Sarah Black and Nathan Schmook



Western Bulldogs

The battle for top billing at The Kennel was over early as Jack Macrae raced to the lead with 10 votes after nine rounds to sit equal fourth overall. The prolific midfielder finished on 15, ahead of captain Marcus Bontempelli on 10. Club champion Caleb Daniel was well down the board with three votes, with eye-catching youngster Bailey Smith picking up his first career votes and finishing on seven.

Top five

15 - Jack Macrae
10 - Marcus Bontempelli
7 - Bailey Smith
6 - Lachie Hunter
4 - Josh Dunkley, Tim English

Total votes - 61 (=6th overall)




Adelaide Crows

It was never going to be a big night for Adelaide. Rory Laird, Reilly O'Brien and Matt Crouch were the only players to poll in multiple games, as the Crows finished with the fewest votes of any team in the competition. Interestingly, impressive youngster Lachie Scholl polled three votes against Carlton in round 17 – the week he wasn't nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star.

Top five

4 - Rory Laird
4 - Reilly O'Brien
3 - Matt Crouch
3 - Lachlan Sholl
3 - Rory Sloane

Total votes - 20 (18th overall)


Brisbane Lions

Everything worked out perfectly for Lachie Neale. He polled votes in 11 of 17 games, with 10 of those ultimately proving to be best-on-ground performances. It equated to a remarkable and record-breaking Brownlow Medal victory for the brilliant midfielder. Fortunately, as had been feared, Jarryd Lyons didn't steal too many votes from him. Neale and Lyons polled in the same game only three times throughout the year, with Jarrod Berry also failing to steal votes. Neale polled nearly half of Brisbane's 66 votes, which was the second-most of any team.

Top five

31 - Lachie Neale - 2020 Brownlow Medal Winner
9 - Jarryd Lyons
8 - Jarrod Berry
4 - Harris Andrews
4 - Hugh McCluggage

Total votes - 66 (=2nd overall)


Carlton

It might not have been his best season, but Patrick Cripps still did enough to top Carlton's tally. Cripps polled in four games, including two best-on-ground performances, to narrowly see off the club's up-and-coming midfielder Sam Walsh. The Blues remarkably had 15 separate players poll throughout the night, spreading the love relatively evenly across the board. But it was Cripps who was again the standout, receiving the maximum three votes in thrilling wins over Geelong and Fremantle.

Top five

10 - Patrick Cripps
8 - Sam Walsh
5 - Ed Curnow
4 - Michael Gibbons
4 - Jack Martin

Total votes - 48 (12th overall)


Collingwood

It's hard to topple Scott Pendlebury. The incredible consistency of the Collingwood captain was again reflected on Brownlow Medal night, where Pendlebury narrowly saw off Taylor Adams to lead the count for the Magpies. Steele Sidebottom made a red-hot start and polled in the opening three games, while it took Adams until round 10 to find his first vote. It meant that Pendlebury, who gathered votes at a nice pace throughout the evening, could once again steal the show for Collingwood.

Top five

13 - Scott Pendlebury
11 - Taylor Adams
6 - Brodie Grundy
6 - Darcy Moore
6 - Steele Sidebottom

Total votes - 66 (=2nd overall)



Essendon

Votes were hard to come by at Essendon. The ineligible Zach Merrett found the most with 14, finishing just outside the overall top-10, but he didn't have much for competition. Dylan Shiel had two best-on-ground performances within the first five games, but didn't poll again, while Andrew McGrath also struggled to attract the attention of the umpires throughout the night. It meant that Merrett finished well clear from within his own ranks, although the Bombers still had the fourth-fewest votes of any team.

Top five

13 - Zach Merrett
7 - Andrew McGrath
6 - Dylan Shiel
4 - David Zaharakis
2 - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Adam Saad, Jake Stringer

Total votes - 37 (15th overall)


Fremantle

Last year's Brownlow Medal winner Nat Fyfe finished 23 votes off his 2019 count, but still managed to top Fremantle's leaderboard on Sunday night. Fyfe polled in six games, but failed to earn a single best-on-ground performance, narrowly managing to overcome his younger teammate Andrew Brayshaw. It was a relatively even night for the Dockers, who had 11 players score a vote, with this year's NAB AFL Rising Star winner Caleb Serong even managing to secure his first career Brownlow Medal vote. Expect it to be the first of many.

Top five

10 - Nat Fyfe
9 - Andrew Brayshaw
8 - Michael Walters
6 - Luke Ryan
3 - Adam Cerra, Rory Lobb, David Mundy, Matt Taberner

Total votes - 50 (11th overall)



Geelong Cats

It was no real surprise to see 2016 Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield topping the Cats' count, but at the start of the year not many would have tipped Cameron Guthrie to give him a run for his money. Guthrie was named All Australian for the first time this year and his stellar season was reflected in the votes. In a win for forwards around the country, Coleman medallist Tom Hawkins picked up 11 votes, including two best-on-grounds. Retiring champion Gary Ablett polled one vote in his final season.

Top five

15 - Patrick Dangerfield
14 - Cam Guthrie
11 - Tom Hawkins
5 - Mitch Duncan
5 - Sam Menegola

Total votes - 64 (5th overall)



Gold Coast Suns

"Three votes – M. Rowell" is a phrase we're sure to hear for years to come, and star youngster Matt Rowell produced three consecutive best on ground performances before his season-ending shoulder injury. Recruit Hugh Greenwood starred in his first season at the club, while Jack Lukosius rounded out a surprisingly low count for the Suns with a best-on performance against Richmond.

Top five

11 - Hugh Greenwood
9 - Matt Rowell
3 - Jack Lukosius
3 - Touk Miller
2 - Ben Ainsworth, Sam Day, David Swallow, Jarrod Witts

Total votes - 38 (14th overall)



GWS Giants

Toby Greene doesn't do things by halves, and the game-changing Giant polled all 12 of his votes in best-on-ground performances, spread consistently throughout the season. Classy teammate Josh Kelly also featured in the votes on four occasions to finish with eight. Draftee Jake Riccardi starred with a 12-disposal, four-goal NAB AFL Rising Star performance in round 14, but failed to poll a vote.

Top five

12 - Toby Greene
8 - Josh Kelly
4 - Stephen Coniglio
4 - Nick Haynes
4 - Jacob Hopper, Harry Perryman, Lachie Whitfield

Total votes - 51 (10th overall)



Hawthorn

Reflective of its season and slide down the ladder, it was a fairly quiet vote count for Hawthorn. Perennial vote-getter and 2018 Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell saw off all Hawks to poll 10 in his return season from a badly broken leg. Just nine Hawthorn players featured in the votes throughout the season. Dylan Moore only broke back into the side for the first time this year in round 16, and was given one vote in round 18.

Top five

10 - Tom Mitchell
6 - Chad Wingard
5 - Jack Gunston
3 - Jaeger O'Meara
3 - Isaac Smith

Total votes - 33 (16th overall)


Melbourne

On a club-by-club basis, Melbourne's count was quite intriguing, with periods of dominance from different players. Max Gawn made all the early running, Clayton Oliver bobbed up in the middle of the season, but the 'Trac train' came through at full pelt. Christian Petracca had only polled five votes before this year and finished with 20 – including four best-on performances between rounds 11 and 18 – to finish third overall. Mitch Brown would have been happy with his two votes against former side Essendon.

Top five

20 - Christian Petracca
14 - Clayton Oliver
13 - Max Gawn
6 - Jack Viney
4 - Steven May

Total votes - 61 (=6th overall)



North Melbourne

Rising star Jy Simpkin was off to a hot start, polling seven votes in the first four rounds to be equal fourth overall at that stage of the count. Like the Roos, he struggled as the season progressed, polling just one more to finish with eight overall. Evergreen ruck Todd Goldstein was awarded votes in three matches, including a best-on performance against Greater Western Sydney. In a quirk, Jared Polec was given one vote against Carlton, but was dropped for the following round's clash with Adelaide.

Top five

8 - Jy Simpkin
5 - Todd Goldstein
3 - Jed Anderson
3 - Ben Cunnington
2 - Luke Davies-Uniacke, Shaun Higgins, Luke McDonald

Total votes - 27 (17th overall)


Port Adelaide

Seen as the main challenger to eventual winner Lachie Neale, midfielder Travis Boak raced to an early lead with eight of a possible nine votes in the first three rounds. He couldn't stay with Neale, but finished second with 21 votes, polling in eight games. Midfielders Tom Rockliff and Ollie Wines polled 10 votes each, with All-Australian Charlie Dixon on nine, and 17 Power players in the votes – more than any other club.

Top five

21 - Travis Boak
10 - Tom Rockliff
10 - Ollie Wines
9 - Charlie Dixon
5 - Robbie Gray

Total votes - 75 (1st overall)


Richmond

It was a slow start for Dustin Martin, but the 2017 medallist polled eight votes between rounds eight and 10 and finished on a team-high 15. Shai Bolton's move into the midfield drew nine votes in an outstanding season, while Kane Lambert's back-to-back three-vote games in rounds five and six saw him come in third for the Tigers. Fifteen Tigers polled in an even season, including Jake Aarts, Liam Baker, Noah Balta and Derek Eggmolesse Smith, who got their first career votes.

Top five

15 - Dustin Martin
9 - Shai Bolton
6 - Kane Lambert
5 - Trent Cotchin
3 - Liam Baker, Jack Graham, Dion Prestia, Jayden Short

Total votes - 56 (9th overall)



St Kilda

All-Australian midfielder Jack Steele was rewarded for an outstanding season with 20 votes, finishing equal third. He enjoyed a purple patch between rounds five and 10, with four best-on-ground games in that period. Dan Butler made a statement in his first game against former club Richmond, polling three votes, finishing with eight alongside ruckman Rowan Marshall. Luke Dunstan polled one vote in round one but was not seen again after being dropped and later suffering a pectoral injury.

Top five

20 - Jack Steele
8 - Dan Butler
8 - Rowan Marshall
7 - Zac Jones
5 - Jade Gresham

Total votes - 60 (8th overall)



Sydney Swans

Co-captain Luke Parker was one of only three players to poll in both rounds one and two, either side of the shutdown. He kicked on to finish with 15 votes, polling well and finishing clear of teammate Tom Papley in second on six votes. Injured for much of the season, Isaac Heeney finished with five votes from the first three rounds, while co-captain Josh Kennedy polled three votes in the final two rounds.

Top five

15 - Luke Parker
6 - Tom Papley
5 - Isaac Heeney
4 - Josh Kennedy
3 - Jake Lloyd

Total votes - 39 (13th overall)



West Coast Eagles

All-Australian ruckman Nic Naitanui did not poll as well as expected. The superstar big man finished with five votes in an outstanding campaign, well down the club leaderboard in equal seventh. Star recruit Tim Kelly finished equal top with 11 votes alongside Dom Sheed, with fellow midfielders Andrew Gaff and Elliot Yeo trailing on eight each. All-Australian Liam Ryan could surprisingly only manage one vote. Josh Kennedy celebrated his 250th match with four goals against Fremantle and three votes.

Top five

11 - Tim Kelly
11 - Dom Sheed
8 - Andrew Gaff
8 - Elliot Yeo
6 - Josh Kennedy, Luke Shuey

Total votes - 66 (=2nd overall)

[Grantysghost]

So according to the umpires Neale's season was more than 10x that of Caleb's. No wonder we struggled if our best player for the year was so far behind !
What a joke the brownlow is. Time to scrap it, or at least expand their horizons a bit to reward someone who is not under their nose at every bounce.

[Happy Days]

According to these votes Neale had the best season of all time, fresh off Fyfe having the best season of all time, just after Dusty had the best season of all time. They might as well skip the middle man from now on and have the media do the votes.

[comrade]

don't watch much footy mate?

Plenty. If I had to choose a team from scratch, Neale wouldn't be in the first 5 picked.

[EasternWest]

Bit of salt in this thread. Neale's a gun, deserving winner and a hell of a good bloke.

[comrade]

Bit of salt in this thread. Neale's a gun, deserving winner and a hell of a good bloke.

No salt, I said he's a great player.

Best player in the league? No way.

[bornadog]

No salt, I said he's a great player.

Best player in the league? No way.

He has won it off being the most consistent all season. All the guns were up and down.

[Grantysghost]

Bit of salt in this thread. Neale's a gun, deserving winner and a hell of a good bloke.

I've got no issue with Neale winning it. It's the voting. I'd argue Hawkins was as important, and he gets a third of the votes. The best forward, worth a third of the best mid. Something's wrong there.

[comrade]

He has won it off being the most consistent all season. All the guns were up and down.

Yep, had a great season. Consistency was probably aided by the fact he didn't have to leave the state of QLD beyond a week or two for the entire season.

[Axe Man]

He has won it off being the most consistent all season. All the guns were up and down.

Sort of but you don't win a Brownlow for being consistent. He was consistently Brisbane's best player and they won plenty of games. No teammates really challenged his BOGiness (TM Axe Man).

[comrade]

Sort of but you don't win a Brownlow for being consistent. He was consistently Brisbane's best player and they won plenty of games. No teammates really challenged his BOGiness (TM Axe Man).

He's definitely far and away the alpha dog in the Brisbane midfield.

As an aside, how good has their trading been in recent times?

Neale AND Charlie Cameron brought in from other clubs.

[Mofra]

He's definitely far and away the alpha dog in the Brisbane midfield.

As an aside, how good has their trading been in recent times?

Neale AND Charlie Cameron brought in from other clubs.
Don't forget trading down pick 2 to pick 3 in 2016. They also handed GWS a bunch of late picks they were never going to use and picked up pick 16 with it, got the player they would have taken at pick 1 if they had it (McCluggage) and got pick 16 (Jarrad Berry) as a freebie.

[EasternWest]

Sort of but you don't win a Brownlow for being consistent. He was consistently Brisbane's best player and they won plenty of games. No teammates really challenged his BOGiness (TM Axe Man).

Sticky this comment.

[Ozza]

Surprised at how Bont didn't poll this year.

Particularly the Melbourne game, where he didn't get a vote at all even though he got 9 coaches votes. V Adelaide he got 10 from the coaches and got the 2, and there were a number of other games where you may have expected him to sneak in with a 1 or 2 and he got nil. Whereas Macrae's game seems to have been rated higher by the umpires than by the coaches thats for sure.

Caleb Daniel surprising lack of polling also.

I guess with the umps, more often than not, quantity is what gets you there - and possessions equals votes traditionally.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Surprised at how Bont didn't poll this year.

Particularly the Melbourne game, where he didn't get a vote at all even though he got 9 coaches votes. V Adelaide he got 10 from the coaches and got the 2, and there were a number of other games where you may have expected him to sneak in with a 1 or 2 and he got nil. Whereas Macrae's game seems to have been rated higher by the umpires than by the coaches thats for sure.

Caleb Daniel surprising lack of polling also.

I guess with the umps, more often than not, quantity is what gets you there - and possessions equals votes traditionally.

Yep. The Umps aren't in a position to determine who is having the most influence on a game. They're just noticing who gets it the most. Who they saw the most after a game. I don't blame them. They've got a tough enough job as it is without having to work out who is influencing the game the most. The whole concept is out-dated. It should be changed ASAP.

[jeemak]

I think the coach's award carries the most weight for me now. The umpires have a ridiculously hard job just keeping up with rule interpretations and the pace of the game, no fault of their own but the Brownlow's cred is diminished because of it.

[Grantysghost]

I think the coach's award carries the most weight for me now. The umpires have a ridiculously hard job just keeping up with rule interpretations and the pace of the game, no fault of their own but the Brownlow's cred is diminished because of it.

Would it be that hard to convene at the end of the game, have a template for best forward, best mid, best defender and then come to a consensus as to who had the most influence?

[jeemak]

Would it be that hard to convene at the end of the game, have a template for best forward, best mid, best defender and then come to a consensus as to who had the most influence?

What if all the forwards were ordinary and the defenders were OK, and three or four mids had good games?

[Grantysghost]

What if all the forwards were ordinary and the defenders were OK, and three or four mids had good games?

In my system that I've given 3 seconds thought to, I will allow multiple entries in each section :cool:

[SquirrelGrip]

What if all the forwards were ordinary and the defenders were OK, and three or four mids had good games?

That would never happen in our team!

[bulldogsthru&thru]

I think the coach's award carries the most weight for me now. The umpires have a ridiculously hard job just keeping up with rule interpretations and the pace of the game, no fault of their own but the Brownlow's cred is diminished because of it.

I agree. The coaches understand who is having the biggest impact. The media get caught up in their own hype and love to focus on the superstars too much and the players can't be trusted. I think as each years goes the AFLCA best player award becomes more and more the most respected.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Feel-good story from the Brownlow:

Travis Boak (21) had more votes than the entire Adelaide roster (20). Talk about adding hilarious insult to spoon insult.

I want to believe at least a little of this Karma is directly stemming from claiming Wood caused McGovern serious bruising to his ribs, Tex nearly killing JJ by pushing him into the post, and stolen game plans.