We haven’t seen such an open possibility for any player to take home the Brownlow since – ever. The most anxiety-inducing premiership since the AFL’s formation in 1990 has produced an incredibly close Brownlow count.
Bookmakers across the nation had to completely revise and reframe the market for the Brownlow Medal as Gary Ablett’s season-ending shoulder injury made way for new prospects.
The ineligibility of Nat Fyfe was a slap in the face to many, as he embodied performances and traits that showed him to be absolutely worthy of the coveted Medal.
Joel Selwood is being claimed as favourite by bookmakers coming in at $2.75, and has been praised for his final regular round achievements against Brisbane. This now puts him a step or two ahead of Gary Ablett who fell from $3.00 to $3.75.
The pair thrillingly came in at a tie of 22 votes before the final regular round of the season, and as of today Selwood has upped his ante to 25 votes, placing him now significantly ahead of Ablett.
The rules and criteria that are usually followed when assessing contenders for the winner of the Brownlow medal have this year affected various potential champions, as we see ineligibility and injury disabling the expected to play every round and thus poll in at minimum, ten games.
Nathan Fyfe, an incredibly expensive and invaluable asset to Fremantle, has noticeably grown both in size and in technique over his past competing years. His ineligibility due to a two-game suspension over an accidental head clash has had folks talking. The consistently rising star was expected to poll the most votes with dual Brownlow winner Ablett out of action.
Round 23 saw extraordinary midfielder Joel Selwood gain 2.5 votes, while others such as Ablett and Josh Kennedy failed to gain any more. Analysts assign the half votes when they are unable to split particular players performances, and this coordination has shown to steady the voting system, providing a more accurate calculation of a player’s end of season vote numbers.
Ablett is currently sitting a mere half a vote behind Selwood at 24.5, his shoulder injury hindering chances of becoming a three-time Brownlow Medal winner.
As we observe Selwood firming placing his feet in the hot seat, Robbie Gray has been regarded as the Brownlow bolter, a smokey to watch with keen eyes on the night of the Brownlow.
The Port Adelaide forward’s season has been consistently getting better, after his 2012 season-ending knee injury provided him with a new mindset on his approach to his professional AFL career.
While the AFL hopes to avoid it, yet a Steven Bradbury moment may occur as we watch potentially the best and fairest fall gradually due to ineligibility and see a smokey rise to win.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
It's a festival of footy as Anzac Round dawns, with matches to be played across a whopping five days in 2024's most spread-out 'weekend'…
Ahead of a monster round of football, headlined by Anzac Day between the Bombers and Pies, we look at some of the intriguing questions…
Damien Hardwick has predicted Toby Greene's one-match suspension will be upheld by the AFL tribunal, but the triple-premiership coach says he wouldn't ban the…
Jonathan Brown has made a passionate plea to the AFL on On the Couch to give players leeway as they make split-second decisions, following…
Matthew Lloyd told Footy Classified that his skinfold result was a wake-up call for him after being above the level that was allowed.
GWS captain Toby Greene has been suspended for the eighth time in his career after failing in his bid to clear himself of a…
