The annual Brownlow Medal presentation is not just an award night for the best and fairest player of the season, but a celebration of the game’s best players throughout their careers.
Originally the field umpire awarded one vote to the best player on the ground, and when Carji Greeves was judged the 1924 winner with seven votes. In 1930 three players tied for first, so the voting was changed to 3-2-1 the following year and has remained essentially the same since.
Over the years, players like Scott West continually miss out on the major prize despite attracting votes every season. I’ve long felt that the one thing missing is proper recognition for this type of player, especially when they have accumulated over 100 votes over a career.
There are currently 91 players in the Brownlow’s 100 club, with four of them in having tallied 200: Gary Dempsey (246), Robert Harvey (215), Chris Judd 202 and Leigh Matthews (both 202).
The only issue in recognising these players would be in the case of those who played in the 1976-77 seasons in which both field umpires voted. Do their current votes stand, or are they cut in half for those two years?
If this was the case, Leigh Matthews would not be in the 200 club, while Bruce Doull, Michael Tuck, Sam Newman and Gary Hardemann would miss out on the 100 club. Also missing out would be the Brownlow winners in those two years, Graeme Teasdale and Graham Moss respectively.
Players like Scott West, whose 175 career votes history will quickly forget, will get due recognition and other forgotten greats such as Gary Wilson (161) and Robert Flower (150) will be recognised for their careers despite not tasting premiership glory.
The milestone award has merit and would be an added bonus on presentation night, especially if they focused on non-winners such as Harold Bray, the St Kilda centre who polled 106 votes from 121 games, with the inductees presented by 100-plus greats such as Kevin Bartlett (160).
It’s possible that Gary Ablett Jr (187 votes) will be in the 200 club this year, with Sam Mitchell (170) and Dane Swan (164) next in line.
For the record, Gary Ablett Sr polled exactly 100 career votes.
Aransan
Guest
Just before everyone pushes the send button, Dunstall didn't win a Brownlow but Tony Lockett did.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
They have won it (Templeton and Dunstall come immediately to mind), but over the last two decades, they appear to be less prominent. The position to really fall out of favour has been the ruckman. There was an 18 year period from when Demps won his in 1975 where 5 or 6 brownlows were won by ruckmen, but these days, they don't even get within coo-ee of the top 10.
Aransan
Guest
How many forwards have won Brownlows in the history of the game? I don't think their recent lack of success is a new phenomenon.
MFairPlay
Roar Guru
It's definitely a midfielder's medal now and I think umpires would surely prefer some players over others. Jarryd Roughead was arguably the league's most damaging player behind Ablett last season and only polled 13 votes (not in the top 20 of the players who did poll.)
Judy Morris
Guest
Mister football,you're right and several more awards as well. Then and now are different types of games.Players are under the camera now, not so much in the Fitzroy times..Only one umpire then.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Apologies if I have misunderstood, but Kevin Murray actually won a brownlow in 1969.
Judy Morris
Guest
There have been plenty of players who deserve the title of best player but unfortunately not always the fairest. My favourite pick would be Kevin Murray,then Ron Barassi.They went in hard,These players played for their teams..Dane Swan has my vote currentlyI I never thought I would pick a Collingwood player ,so that says allot for him. Of course both Abletts[ senior and junior] definately need mentioning.People who didn't see Ablett senior play really missed out.
Michael Steel
Roar Pro
All four are in the 100 Club. Selwood has 116 votes now and Pendlebury 102
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I agree there are some major names who should perhaps get more recognition. I would think peopel like Ablett, Pendlebury and Selwood over the last few years could practically share the brownlow between them as they have all been up the top of the food chain in terms of votes. Swan also.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I agree there are some major names who should perhaps get more recognition. I would think peopel like Ablett, Pendlebury and Selwood over the last few years could practically share the brownlow between them as they have all been up the top of the food chain in terms of votes. Swan also.
Myles Stedman
Roar Guru
I love the idea. Recognise those who are present every year but perhaps suffer from the umps turning a blind eye because their sides lose each week (e.g. Scott West).
Michael Steel
Roar Pro
My point being that in the recent AFL history many of the Brownlow medallists have been in the very top sides as they are constantly in attack with the ball, at no stage did I say all recent players . But in past history many of the winners were players who stood out in bottom teams such as Bob Skilton and Kevin Murray. And from a personal point of view I prefer the Cooney , Judd, Watson wins and last years win to Gary Ablett, and that doesn't take anything away from the others.
Cat
Roar Guru
Jobe Watson 2012, Chris Judd 2010, Adam Cooney 2008 didn't back up into a grand final the next week either.
Ruminate
Roar Guru
I think Leigh probably suffered a lack of votes from the 'fairest' side of the equation, This brings to light the undisputed value of the hard men of the game and the lack of recognition in award polls. There is undisputed value in players who bring a physicality to the game, players like Leigh, but also Plugger, Roger Merritt, Jonathan Brown, Glen Archer amongst many others I've not named. Not for the inevitable transgressions, but for making their teammates walk taller, and their opposition hesitate. Underestimated and somewhat forgotten in an award sense in my opinion. To the main point of this article and it does raise a good question, I think that some form of multi year votes achieved is warranted and a good idea. Should form part of the hall of fame concept?
Michael Steel
Roar Pro
The award id primarily a midfielders award now. In the 50'- 80's it was a ruckman, rovers and centreman's award award , but it's in the middle where the umpires see most of the action.And with the exception of last year with Gary Ablett, most recent medallists have backed up into a grand final the next week. Club best and fairest wards often go to players who do more than get 40 touches. Shepherding and a defensive punch of the ball are more taken into consideration by club voters. That's why Enright was rewarded at the club. Ridiculously John Coleman the greatest player of his era only received 36 votes.
Michael Steel
Roar Pro
Chris Grant with 112 career votes would be recognised. Ted Whitten also polled 112 votes Ron Barassi 72 but it must be noted that Ron (more so than Ted) was often in umpires faces and was as player who made his mark as a biggest match player rather collector of possessions. He did the hard things.
Ash of Geelong
Guest
Just rename it the midfielders award, look when Ablett won it when he was with Geelong both he and Enright tied in cats best & fairest yet Enright did not get one Brownlow vote, explain that.
vocans
Guest
I think the unbelievably intense and almost otherworldly Ablett sen. probably scared the umps to death. What do they say: you will die if you look on the face of the living God? Hardly conducive to recall after the game.
Aransan
Guest
Interesting that there are a number of players ahead of Leigh Matthews who is generally regarded as the player of the 20th century. How many votes did Ted Whitten and Ron Barrassi get? The manner in which votes were awarded changed over the years with less emphasis on "fairest" in recent decades. Life-time awards are given for Oscars, I wouldn't like to see very many life-time Brownlow medal awards, and if they are to be given perhaps newspaper polling should also be taken into account in the years when the best players were denied votes, Matthews would have suffered in this regard. I am hoping that at some stage the great injustice to Chris Grant will be overturned.