2026 Brownlow Medal

[footballsack35]

bont's time has surely passed by now. freijah will take votes

 

[Big Animal]

guide for brownlow:
1. team wins more games than most so can pick up a lot of 3 votes. Need a lot of votes to win it now
2. not competing with another star teammate for votes
3. umps recognised you as worthy from previous year so you'll get benefit of the doubt/can't be criticised, votes
4. you are easily recognisable amongst the other players
5. Mid

so:

• Naicos - concerned Pies won't win enough games (yes, of course their supporters think they will...)
• Bont - passed his prime. starting to play more forward off the ball as all stars do as they age. still love him though
• Brissie - too many others to share votes with
• B. Smith - if he can play all of the games he's a chance as he ticks 1-5
• Sydney - see Brissie
• Freo - see Brissie with Brayshaw and Serong and Young sharing
• GWS - no obvious standout. Just lots of good players
• Ade - maybe Dawson
• GC - unless Noah dies his hair blue so the umps actually see what he is achieving, I'd say Rowell again.

so, for me, based on last year - Rowell, B. Smith, or Dawson

 

[RUNVS]

guide for brownlow:
1. team wins more games than most so can pick up a lot of 3 votes. Need a lot of votes to win it now
2. not competing with another star teammate for votes
3. umps recognised you as worthy from previous year so you'll get benefit of the doubt/can't be criticised, votes
4. you are easily recognisable amongst the other players
5. Mid

so:

• Naicos - concerned Pies won't win enough games (yes, of course their supporters think they will...)
• Bont - passed his prime. starting to play more forward off the ball as all stars do as they age. still love him though
• Brissie - too many others to share votes with
• B. Smith - if he can play all of the games he's a chance as he ticks 1-5
• Sydney - see Brissie
• Freo - see Brissie with Brayshaw and Serong and Young sharing
• GWS - no obvious standout. Just lots of good players
• Ade - maybe Dawson
• GC - unless Noah dies his hair blue so the umps actually see what he is achieving, I'd say Rowell again.

so, for me, based on last year - Rowell, B. Smith, or Dawson

You actually bring up an interesting point late in this post. I have always been of the opinion that if you are a talented midfielder but look fairly generic the best thing you could do for your brownlow prospects is dye your hair a bright colour.

 

[Big Animal]

You actually bring up an interesting point late in this post. I have always been of the opinion that if you are a talented midfielder but look fairly generic the best thing you could do for your brownlow prospects is dye your hair a bright colour.

we call it the Priddis effect. Worth an extra 5-10 votes.

 

[Elixuh]

It’ll be a sad comp if Bont never wins one.

Daicos will probably poll 300 votes though because none of the geriatrics in the Pies squad will be taking votes off him. And if they have a poor year they’ll pivot to a gamelan which revolves around trying to give him the Brownlow. Like in 2024.

 

[KanesBurner]

Butters would be my tip came ~10th last year in a season where he missed some of the preseason, first 3 games and Port had a shocking season. Was 3rd and 4th the seasons previous.

Like everyone else though it’d be good to see Bont win one, haven’t been too many more deserving players.

 

[YeoShuey]

I would not be shocked if Jai Newcombe wins either. Seems like a nice guy that the umpires would give votes to

 

[Dewyyyyy]

guide for brownlow:
1. team wins more games than most so can pick up a lot of 3 votes. Need a lot of votes to win it now
2. not competing with another star teammate for votes
3. umps recognised you as worthy from previous year so you'll get benefit of the doubt/can't be criticised, votes
4. you are easily recognisable amongst the other players
5. Mid

so:

• Naicos - concerned Pies won't win enough games (yes, of course their supporters think they will...)
• Bont - passed his prime. starting to play more forward off the ball as all stars do as they age. still love him though
• Brissie - too many others to share votes with
• B. Smith - if he can play all of the games he's a chance as he ticks 1-5
• Sydney - see Brissie
• Freo - see Brissie with Brayshaw and Serong and Young sharing
• GWS - no obvious standout. Just lots of good players
• Ade - maybe Dawson
• GC - unless Noah dies his hair blue so the umps actually see what he is achieving, I'd say Rowell again.

so, for me, based on last year - Rowell, B. Smith, or Dawson

Based off your points.

Newcombe could. He has no Day till half way, with Ward, MacDonald, Mackenzie, Nash and co until then. Who in the case of Ward/MacDonald could be really good, and the others could take big steps. They aren’t going to be direct competition if Newcombe gets going as he has been.

He’s polled well previously, Hawthorn in contention including the mentioned above. Recognisable & obviously a mid.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I would not be shocked if Jai Newcombe wins either. Seems like a nice guy that the umpires would give votes to

Has polled well previously. Including now being a captain. Can see it happening, and a big year.

 

[Fadge]

I would not be shocked if Jai Newcombe wins either. Seems like a nice guy that the umpires would give votes to

Wouldn't be a bad effort given apparently he wouldn't get a game in Carlton's midfield...

 

[RAPPA]

It’ll be a sad comp if Bont never wins one.

Daicos will probably poll 300 votes though because none of the geriatrics in the Pies squad will be taking votes off him. And if they have a poor year they’ll pivot to a gamelan which revolves around trying to give him the Brownlow. Like in 2024.

And if fails to win one, they'll give him an honorary participation medal.

 

[RWnBluey]

guide for brownlow:
1. team wins more games than most so can pick up a lot of 3 votes. Need a lot of votes to win it now
2. not competing with another star teammate for votes
3. umps recognised you as worthy from previous year so you'll get benefit of the doubt/can't be criticised, votes
4. you are easily recognisable amongst the other players
5. Mid

so:

• Naicos - concerned Pies won't win enough games (yes, of course their supporters think they will...)
• Bont - passed his prime. starting to play more forward off the ball as all stars do as they age. still love him though
• Brissie - too many others to share votes with
• B. Smith - if he can play all of the games he's a chance as he ticks 1-5
• Sydney - see Brissie
• Freo - see Brissie with Brayshaw and Serong and Young sharing
• GWS - no obvious standout. Just lots of good players
• Ade - maybe Dawson
• GC - unless Noah dies his hair blue so the umps actually see what he is achieving, I'd say Rowell again.

so, for me, based on last year - Rowell, B. Smith, or Dawson

Last year was statistically Bont’s best year of his career. No signs of slowing down yet.

 

[matey]

Wouldn't be a bad effort given apparently he wouldn't get a game in Carlton's midfield...

Just saw on the news after today’s match sim re Jagga Smith’s performance it was reported that Carlton fans think that they have a Nick Daicos on their hands.

Typical Carlton hype over summer but once the real stuff starts ……

 

[Fadge]

Just saw on the news after today’s match sim re Jagga Smith’s performance it was reported that Carlton fans think that they have a Nick Daicos on their hands.

Typical Carlton hype over summer but once the real stuff starts ……

I expect Jagga will be a very, very good player.

But we're talking only one other player who exploded in his early years anywhere near the level of Daicos in all my time watching footy, and that is Chris Judd.

So Jagga has quite the task ahead of him to be considered in that company, particularly coming off a knee...

 

[AFL By The Numbers]

With everyone else getting older i would have to say Nick Daicos.

 

[RUNVS]

With everyone else getting older i would have to say Nick Daicos.

Nick Daicos has managed to stop himself from getting older?

If that were the case he won't be playing in the AFL much longer as he would be kidnapped and locked in a lab where he would be experimented on until those scientists find out why he has stopped aging.