2025 Brownlow Medal

[PhatBoy]

A few thoughts struck me after last night:

- firstly I fully agree with all the blow up about some of the ridiculous voting and I am the least conspiratorial person on the planet but in some cases the only explanations are other that there is money involved or that the umpires simply are not paying any proper attention and at the end just go ‘oh well such and such had a few good touches we will just give it to him and no one will care.’

- it is also worth noting that in the past, didn’t we have these awards, especially the Brownlow, to DECIDE who the best player was, rather than to affirm who we think it should be? Like you go to an award night at your club or even at an AFL team best and fairest and unless it’s just stunningly Ablett-at-GCS obvious, you go there to find out who has been the best player under the system they’ve got. It seems like in the last 10 years everyone makes their mind up before it and if the votes don’t give people what they’ve already decided, they think there’s something wrong.

I personally don’t like the system anyway as it weights a game where someone might be BOG in a 45-42 win who has 28/1 and 5 tackles equally with someone who has had 32/5 but it’s always been the system so it is what it is.

 

[PrancingPony]

Have to say that I was overall really happy with how our players polled, Brayshaw, Serong and Jackson all polling 26, 25, 17 votes respectively.

Our midfield looks to be in very good hands.

 

[Gunf]

The fact that players like

J Cameron
H Andrews
J Gunston

Weren't in the top 10 shows the Brownlow is a flawed award.

If i am picking a team Cameron and Andrews are 2 of the first 5 picked and not just because they play important positions it's because they are clearly top 5 or 10 players period.

How the **** Gunston is in that conversation is a different matter and god damn you need to applaud him for it.

 

[Billy ray]

"What's he doing now?"

"He's on our list"

"Will he ever get a game?"

"He played this year"

Well done Hamish

this is the biggest takeaway from last night - how tf can this happen

 

[Thedeftouch]

Can’t believe people think Rowell not a deserving winner just about finished the home and away season as the number 1 clearance player in the competition and the number 1 tackler in the competition (might’ve been pipped by Atkins in final round).
A feat literally no one has ever done and probably will never do as it means you’re the best at winning the ball and simultaneously the best at stopping others winning the ball.
Added an outside run game this year as well and took them to a bunch of wins.
One of the most deserving winners we’ve ever had.

Agreed. It's nearly impossible to lead clearances and tackles at the same time. He destroyed us in round 20 with 15 clearances and 12 tackles. A brilliant player and deserving winner.

 

[Tandy]

I wonder if the AFL has ever asked the umpires, why do you only rate mids?

Shouldn't the AFL ask them to factor in the impact of a Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

28

Ht

200cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

or Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

32

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

in the same way they look at Bailey Smith

3

Bailey Smith

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

.

 

[RCAB]

I wonder if the AFL has ever asked the umpires, why do you only rate mids?

Shouldn't the AFL ask them to factor in the impact of a Harris Andrews or Jeremy Cameron in the same way they look at Bailey Smith.

They have asked them.

Umpire have said after a game, the last thing on their mind is votes. But you know Dumblow award.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Congratulations to Rowell, deserving winner. Daicos had an Ok year but not a stand out. The number of votes to Rowell was surprising but it’s been the pattern for a number of years now. First they stopped giving votes to defenders, then rucks, then forwards and now most votes go to inside mids.

Yeah kind of a microcosm for his career. a very good H&A player but just never the best. and a good but not great finals player.

 

[emmah]

Looking at the form thus far and who is in contention.

I'm keeping votes so far in my own way and have Max Gawn in front but in terms of the Brownlow he might be 50/50 in voting.

My top 3 in terms of potential voting

1. Daicos
2. Dawson
3. Mcluggage


Others

Rozee, Butters, Brayshaw, Ed Richards,

Aha

 

[Billy ray]

woooooooooooo


pumped

 

[TheSunGod]

Can’t believe people think Rowell not a deserving winner just about finished the home and away season as the number 1 clearance player in the competition and the number 1 tackler in the competition (might’ve been pipped by Atkins in final round).
A feat literally no one has ever done and probably will never do as it means you’re the best at winning the ball and simultaneously the best at stopping others winning the ball.
Added an outside run game this year as well and took them to a bunch of wins.
One of the most deserving winners we’ve ever had.

Haven’t you heard, the Brownlow votes should be based on the number of possessions a player gets, not their impact on the game.

 

[bungalow_bill]

woooooooooooo


pumped

You should be proud of your boy. a humble and likeable champion, unlike many others.

 

[Billy ray]

You should be proud of your boy. a humble and likeable champion, unlike many others.

super proud
he eats, sleeps, talks and walks football.
absolute beast

 

[Not a mere cat]

Yeah kind of a microcosm for his career. a very good H&A player but just never the best. and a good but not great finals player.

Disagree. He’s a great player and has been a match winner in both H&A and finals. I don’t buy into the Daicos hate, the media do talk him up to sell the ‘product’ which is not his fault plus common for the top players. Doesn’t change the fact he’s a gun. I’d love him at north

 

[bungalow_bill]

Disagree. He’s a great player and has been a match winner in both H&A and finals. I don’t buy into the Daicos hate, the media do talk him up to sell the ‘product’ which is not his fault plus common for the top players. Doesn’t change the fact he’s a gun. I’d love him at north

No hate just think he's one of the best in the game. Anything more is just media/Pie fan hyperbole. Would be more likeable too if he were more humble rather than arrogant and entitled.

 

[TheSunGod]

Umpires have to run 20km make 100's of decisions, police the stand rule and look in 5 places at once.
Voting is not a high priority for them. They are too busy doing their main job.
If you take voting off the umps the award ceases to exist.

Based on that the umps should give themselves the occasional vote. More deserving than some of the players.

 

[Mick F]

Umpires have to run 20km make 100's of decisions, police the stand rule and look in 5 places at once.
Voting is not a high priority for them. They are too busy doing their main job.
If you take voting off the umps the award ceases to exist.

Exactly 300% spot on.

The Players Association award should be given greater credence. All Australian selection has certainly done so.

If it wouldn’t make me a hypocrite I’d complain about the amount of sooks and arseholes, always complaining about something and denigrating; umpires, other clubs and commentators.

 

[Billionaire Panda]

Agreed. It's nearly impossible to lead clearances and tackles at the same time. He destroyed us in round 20 with 15 clearances and 12 tackles. A brilliant player and deserving winner.

Ahh oh man what a game came out at the start of the 3rd and had like the first 6 clearances was possessed.

Haven’t you heard, the Brownlow votes should be based on the number of possessions a player gets, not their impact on the game.

Yep drew out the dream scenario 6 months ago and it actually happened

 

[kozi]

Rowell should do the right thing and hand the medal over to Daicos

 

[Cam Payne]

Matt Rowell

18

Matt Rowell

Age

24

Ht

180cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

D

17.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

D

17.4

5star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

is an exceptional player, but one with a pretty rude head. Who in your opinion was the Brownlow winner with the next rudest head?

 

[longdonkey]

So he'd be better than the likes of Matthews, Ablett Snr, Dunstall, Carey?

Whoops you found 4. Carey and Matthews were the first 2 that came into my mind.

 

[Boomerfan99]

Matt Rowell is an exceptional player, but one with a pretty rude head. Who in your opinion was the Brownlow winner with the next rudest head?

Fyfe.

 

[Andronicus]

Matt Rowell is an exceptional player, but one with a pretty rude head. Who in your opinion was the Brownlow winner with the next rudest head?

Libba surely.

 

[Saint12]

Matt Rowell is an exceptional player, but one with a pretty rude head. Who in your opinion was the Brownlow winner with the next rudest head?

Seriously!!!....what a s*** comment.

 

[Proper Gander]

While the iron is hot, I thought I would help enlighten those that are seeking answers.

There is a reason why this award was given the 'prestige' of a fancy ballroom style event, heightening the officiality of it all.

The award is 'voted' upon by umpires, people that are directly employed by the AFL themselves.

Umpires - literally the last people that should be voting and having an opinion, after the fans, yet this is the award that get's the night out, everyone dressed up, lights, cameras and attention. More 'prestige' than an award voted upon by the players and more media coverage than an award voted upon by the coaches.

Humans are easily manipulated and extremely lazy, and those of you that can clearly see how much of a 'joke' some of the games voting was, not just this year, but prior years (JHF hilarious 3 vote game where he had 12ish touches and most were clangers, headless chook game yet got 3 votes, L. Neale 3 votes consistently yet rarely was top 10 on stats sheet), you see these, witness everything put in front of you but just laugh it off as a 'shocker' and not ask any questions as to how it's possible for something that should be impossible, can happen.


Now a lot of people have dropped off by now, proving my point above.

Here are some simple questions with the most logical answer.


Why would the people voting not give the 3 votes, and sometimes 0 votes to a player that was clearly, without doubt, the best player for that game?

Ignorant and low IQ people will say something like 'because the umpires see the game differently' or 'the umpires have favourites'.

Logical answer? Manipulation.


Keep probing - Why would the umpires/AFL manipulate the vote count?

Now that is the question where things become more clear - $$


Who profits the most from the manipulation?

Even the ignorant and low IQ people can answer this - Betting Companies


I hear you, you have doubts and are laughing at the possibility that such a prestigious, official award could be compromised.

But how does the impossible become possible so frequently?
How does an outsider, not a favourite or even someone in the top 3, most of the time, win such an prestigious award?

Almost like a horse race, where the favourite rarely wins, but horses just run right? They aren't controlled, except, they do have jockey's.
What a silly proposition, where is the evidence that jockey's and horse racing is corrupt....... lol

And now you see why the umpires are voting, they are the jockey's.

And just how closely tied is the AFL to betting companies?


Someone who was previously the boss of the largest sport in Australia is now the current boss of Australia's largest gambling company.

But wait, there's more, the brother of the guy who was previously the boss of the largest sport in Australia and currently the boss of Australia's largest gambling company, is the host of the most prestigious and official award of the largest sport in Australia, which fuels one of the largest betting frenzy's/events in Australia.

You can't make this up, yet there it is, in your face.

Speculation on the details of how - well, that's something only those on the inside know, use your imagination for exactly how the manipulation takes place. This is the game they play and I don't blame them, they just play this game because they can get away with it.
A now watch as the AI bots and human bots come in to defend them, create confusion and/or, this thread is deleted or moved.

Reckon you might be overthinking it.

It’s an award with a long history dating back to a time when the pace and style of the game gave umpires more time to have a better perspective on the whole game and influential players.

Plus there were limited people who could make the call - no TV and replays, no accessible stats. Their view was as good as anyone’s view. Plus it is the fairest and best (in that order) so the people charged with officiating fair play on the day are were the most sensible choice for the job.

It’s not working well now for any number of reasons, but incompetence or corruption are the least likely for the result.

I don’t bet so I don’t care. You either have an award that stays true to its original rules, or update it in a manner that acknowledges the changes that have occurred since it was established. I’m not too fussed either way.

One thing I know that will remain regardless of voting system is wonderful threads like this where people lose their shit for whatever reason, and I support this BF tradition. It’s always funny reading