Once again over the weekend I heard a media commentator refer to a player's fine match with high 30s/low 40s disposal tally and then note that he might miss out on votes "like Greg Williams" as if that circumstance was unique.
I wish the media and supporters would put that myth to bed because there are dozens of similar instances to Williams as per the list below:
From 1984 when Brownlow votes in each game are individually identified until 2018 I believe the following players have had 40+ disposals
in a match yet received 0 Brownlow votes in that match:
Leon Baker (1986), Jimmy Bartel (2015), Craig Bradley (1994), Peter Burgoyne (2008), Paul Couch (1986) & (1989), Brad Crouch (2017), Tyson Edwards (2007), Greg Healy (1987), Luke Hodge (2011), Spiro Korkoumelis (1987), Richard Loveridge (1987), Steve Malaxos (1987), Chris McDermott (1992), Barry Mitchell (1988) & (1989), Sam Mitchell (2009), Tom Mitchell (2018 x 2), Lachie Neale (2016), John Platten (1988), Brett Ratten (1995), Tom Rockliff (2014), Seb Ross (2018), Tony Shaw (1991), Ken Sheldon (1985), Adam Simpson (2001), Scott Thompson [Adelaide] (2012), Adam Treloar (2018), Terry Wallace (1988), Greg Williams (1985 x 2) & (1990) & (1993)
There is also the case of Wayne Richardson who is known to have had eight games of 40+ disposals in the 1971 season,
but only received Brownlow votes in five of those eight matches.
If there is ever a full list of 3s, 2s and 1s identified for every season, no doubt there could be other instances found as well.
I wish the media and supporters would put that myth to bed because there are dozens of similar instances to Williams as per the list below:
From 1984 when Brownlow votes in each game are individually identified until 2018 I believe the following players have had 40+ disposals
in a match yet received 0 Brownlow votes in that match:
Leon Baker (1986), Jimmy Bartel (2015), Craig Bradley (1994), Peter Burgoyne (2008), Paul Couch (1986) & (1989), Brad Crouch (2017), Tyson Edwards (2007), Greg Healy (1987), Luke Hodge (2011), Spiro Korkoumelis (1987), Richard Loveridge (1987), Steve Malaxos (1987), Chris McDermott (1992), Barry Mitchell (1988) & (1989), Sam Mitchell (2009), Tom Mitchell (2018 x 2), Lachie Neale (2016), John Platten (1988), Brett Ratten (1995), Tom Rockliff (2014), Seb Ross (2018), Tony Shaw (1991), Ken Sheldon (1985), Adam Simpson (2001), Scott Thompson [Adelaide] (2012), Adam Treloar (2018), Terry Wallace (1988), Greg Williams (1985 x 2) & (1990) & (1993)
There is also the case of Wayne Richardson who is known to have had eight games of 40+ disposals in the 1971 season,
but only received Brownlow votes in five of those eight matches.
If there is ever a full list of 3s, 2s and 1s identified for every season, no doubt there could be other instances found as well.