Despite a couple of ruckmen this year being in the running for the Brownlow Medal, yet another count has been dominated by midfielders. When you’re doing your form for next year, pick a midfielder and perhaps look for one who has recently switched clubs. For these are the Brownlow trends that continue to emerge.
It’s hard to write in a questioning way about the ‘modern’ Brownlow without appearing to diminish the worth of the latest winner. So, let’s deal with that first.
Tom Mitchell’s footy this year made him as worthy a recipient of the game’s highest individual award as could have emerged from the 2018 season. He’s been consistent, committed, creative and prolific. Among the year’s outstanding midfield crop, he was the pick. Well done him.
Mitchell had one major slice of luck in late-April when the Match Review Officer assessed his leaping forearm into Todd Goldstein’s head as ‘misconduct’. Misconduct is the modern catch-all for when the MRO, or prior to this season the MRP, knows a player stands condemned by the criteria but doesn’t want to rub him out. Misconduct brings only a fine, not a suspension.
But back to the Midfielders’ Medal. Those on the diversity bandwagon had been speculating that this could just be the year when the stat-accumulator’s stranglehold might finally be broken.
Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy had superb seasons in the ruck and both are highly conspicuous on-field figures. Aside from the footy, Gawn’s uniqueness was such as to have him heavily promoted by the game’s commercial machine. He was now in everyone’s eyeline. Grundy’s star rose as the season wore on and he, too, was hard to miss.
Should a ruckman have claimed Charlie this year? (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
So, what became of the pair of giants on the night?
Well, it was about as good as the Friends of the Behemoths Society could’ve hoped: Big Maxie eight votes behind the winner in a tie for fourth and Grundy eleven off the pace in equal tenth.
Good recognition of fine seasons, but no cigar. Not even a little cigarillo.
So, if not the ruckmen, what of the stars at either end of the ground?
Well, down the back, the man lately spoken of as the GOAT among key defenders, Alex Rance, failed to trouble the scorer. Brownlow-wise, he currently remains in a tie with his predecessor as GOAT, Matthew Scarlett, on 31 career votes. To be fair to Rance, he’s played only 199 games compared to Scarlett’s final tally of 284.
Take out their finals and that’s about eight and a half seasons for Rance to better Tom Mitchell’s 31 votes, and a dozen seasons for Scarlett to do so. Perhaps there’s a case for defenders being allowed to back-end their entire career votes into one season to give them a chance!
Three others among this year’s All-Australian back six – Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, and Tom Stewart – polled 16 votes between them.
As for the front-half glamour boys, the ever-conspicuous ‘Buddy’ Franklin – with 16 votes of his own – was the only one to make it halfway to the tally of the ultimate winner. Coleman medallist and All-Australian full forward, Jack Riewoldt, polled ten votes.
Of course, nothing can be done about this. It’s all about the way the modern game is played, and it is played as a game of possession. A midfielders’ game.
The umpires must allocate votes as they see fit and, like most who do likewise in the various media awards, they find it well-nigh impossible to avoid those who have the ball in their hands most frequently.
If a participant in the heat of the action is using the Sherrin thirty or more times per game, the chances are he’ll get a vote or two. Or three.
The pity of it is that it reduces the number of starters with a genuine winning chance.
The other modern trend to emerge from this year’s outcome is that of the club-hopping Brownlow winner. Once upon a time, a player’s footy club was like his religion or his beer. Very few ever switched.
Into the 1970s, though, Ian Stewart and Graeme Teasdale won Brownlow Medals playing at a second club. Others, like Len Thompson and Gary Dempsey won the award playing for their original team but later switched.
Into the 1980s, the trickle became a flow: Bernie Quinlan, Barry Round, Peter Moore, Greg Williams, and Gerard Healy all won Brownlow medals as second-club players. Brian Wilson won his at his third club.
Then, for whatever reason, through another twenty years, that trend largely dried up. But lately it’s been re-lubricated: four of the past ten recipients having won at a club other than where they started their careers.
It’s a trend that mightn’t be as familiar as the one towards midfield domination of the medal. Like the latter, though, I suspect we’re going to see plenty more of it.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Interesting article, thanks. I agree that the roles of key position players and rucks have been devalued by the way votes are cast. I am sure that this is because of the game now being so congested that pretty much every one except the full back and full forward line players are effectively mids. A few others have suggested some changes to the voting based on casting votes for players according to their positions. However, I see problems in this if players are moved during the game, for example how do you score a player like Mason Cox that moves between full forward and the ruck? I suggest giving votes 7 to 1 and then just rewarding the highest scoring defender, forward and ruckman, But keep the highest total as the Brownlow. Obviously, this still may have the same problems of deciding where a play calls home but the higher number of votes should make it easier by the end of the year.
Wayne
Guest
The current trend of midfielders gaining more votes is just a reflection of the modern game. The voting system is complicated enough as it is without trying to make it more so. There are too many variables also like Phil Davis playing on a reportedly injured Lance Franklin. How would an umpire take that into account when assessing negative impact?
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
I like this idea.. More Brownlows, more winners, Better night all round. It's feeling a little staid. Keep the traditions, just share it more.
Darien
Guest
As an umpire myself, albeit lower amateur league, I look for the player who has had the most influence on the game. This is often different to the player with most possession.
reuster75
Roar Rookie
The NFL do this and works quite well, they have defensive player of the year, offensive player of the year, rookie of the year and then defensive and offensive rookie of the year. There's no reason these awards couldn't become part of the AFL and be awarded on brownlow night without distracting from the overall winner.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
I'm not much of a fan of the Brownlow... none of us are happy with the state of umpiring so why leave the MVP award to them? On top of that, the rules and penalising has become so complicated and random, who is to say what is 'fair'? 3-points is also not enough for the 50-odd people playing each game, there should be 10 point scoring positions. Plus I hate that they sold naming rights to the red carpet... is everything for sale at the AFL? For me, the club award is what matters; the coaches have a plan for their players, and they can tell who is meeting/exceeding those expectations.
damo
Guest
That sounds like a great idea because Davis shutting Buddy down was just fantastic & he does a similar job week in week out. Davis is really good but Rance is next level & yet both of them attend Brownlow night solely for a night out with the partner to "frock up". I won't say the award is losing it's lustre but it is becoming increasingly seen as an award for a limited sample of playing talent. If Gawn & Grundy weren't the outstanding players of their respective teams ( who have made it to the business end of the season too) then who was? For sure, Sidebottom had a great year & is very influential but who does everyone think of first in this great year for the Pies? Brayshaw was great for the Demons but does everyone think Gawn was a real chance to win Charlie because we're all partial to bushy beards & crew cuts?!? Gawn was awesome & yet wasn't even best in his own team apparently.
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
Undoubtedly, on the current system, Tom Mitchell is a worthy winner, but I agree that there other factors which determine whether or not a player is the Fairest and Best i.e. IMPACT on the game. There were times when Tom's impact was not proportional to the number of possessions, likewise Gawn and Grundy. Their impact may have been much higher than their possession count in raw disposals. How can someone get 55 hit outs and 15 disposals and 5 goal assists not be equal or better than someone gaining 55 disposals and no goal assists? Perhaps the votes the umpires give could be expanded? There are 3 umpires - give each of them a 3-2-1 category to cast votes: One votes for the best 3 Backline players One votes for the best 3 Midfield players (includes Rucks One votes for the best 3 Forward players Then the 3 umpires together decide on a Best on Ground who then gets 1 extra vote. It's a radical change aimed at fairness and impact, including negative impact, like Phil Davis in the Semi Final against Buddy Franklin. This would bring the whole field into play and give a better assessment of the truly Fairest and Best and overcome the problem of a possessions dominated award.
Will Cuckson
Roar Rookie
It would make sense if specific forward, defender, ruckman (and maybe midfielder) awards were given (as well as the Brownlow), to commend the consistency and performance of players in their respective positions. It could probably be awarded similarly to the coaches' and players' association awards, so as to not detract from the prestigious nature of the Brownlow as footy's 'night of nights'. Either way, players in non-midfield positions need acclamations (other than All-Australian) to acknowledge their success in their respective positions.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Umps read the papers too and are clearly persuaded by the Holy Trinity narrative so votes flow to Geelong rather than Richmond mids. Time to take the responsibility away from the umps? I still think Titchell would have won an independent 'off-field' count based on MVP and media awards.
Brian
Guest
Nothing woring with that it affirms general opinion that Richmond have the best bottom 6 and Geelong the worst out of the top 8 sides.
Mike Wells
Guest
You should know better, Tim. Moore won a Brownlow with the Pies and again with his second club. Get it right.
Trevor
Guest
Bingo - this is the reason it's a midfielder's award. The number of umpires makes a huge difference. Three was the tipping point. With 2 the senior umpire tended to give the votes. Now with three it is more collegiate and thus the bloke everyone noticed is the bloke standing next to each of them at every stoppage. Not sure how you resolve this problem, however, without allowing all umpires to vote independently.
Mark Kelly
Guest
There is also a notable disparity between votes awarded and a team's match results. Richmond, two games clear on top of the ladder with 18 wins, finished sixth on the Brownlow ladder and were adjudged to have had the best player on the ground in only half of their matches, whilst Geelong had the best player in 16 of their 22 games, even though they only won 13! https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/team_brownlow_medal_summaries
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
I think the umpires could have a presence on the night. Maybe they could delay voting till they've seen a replay of the game and even consulted however they see fit. They may grow to develop more understanding of different roles if they listened a bit before voting. Tom Mitchell sheer numbers are very persuasive but Max Gawn seemed a stand out in elevating the game as a spectacle.
XI
Roar Guru
It's the same reason why NFL MVP is always won by a quarterback. So why not have "best defender" and "best forward" awards? Even if there's a lot of overlap between positions nowadays there's probably a way to do it if they manage to name an All-Australian team every year.
me too
Roar Rookie
there's always been a midfield bias but with three umpires now the players most likely to be noticed by all three overr the entire match will be those that roam the full ground and are involved in the most contests. hard to see a way out, but it certainly appears the umps see more the trees than the forest.
Brian
Guest
Unless you change the voting system you just have to accept what it is. Very rarely is a poistion other then midfielder best on ground. KPP and Ruckman can assist you winning but just like Riewoldt on Friday night games are ultimately won in the middle. Unless you change the sytem you just have to accept that 80% of games the best player is a midfielder simply because he can influence the game more.