Game Day Brownlow 2020 Discussion

Watsclarkosmob

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Oct 26, 2009
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I'm looking around social media to see which Hawks attended and can only really find Mitchell and Gunston. I wasn't really watching the telecast and the times I did they were focusing on the players getting voted, which for obvious reasons weren't Hawthorn players. Think I saw Mitchell with a black mask on once. But guess the point of this post is was Wingard there? He was our second highest vote poller. I checked his socials to see if he had anything posted or in his IG story but nothing. In fact he hasn't posted since July but before then there was a steady flow of posts. Could we see Wingard look to be traded at the end of the season? Did he come thinking we were closer to a premiership than we really are? Or could the bubble just got to him and he needs time away from the game as he is that type of player who doesn't live and breath football. His interview at the Peter Crimmins Medal was a little lack luster, almost like he was just going through the motions.

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Despite what was clearly a very good season for Neale, I have a theory that the Brownlow is being influenced by the 24/7 media storm and the internet. Umpires are prompted more now than ever to focus on certain players in teams when they play because they'd be reading the same things we do, week in and week out, about how well a certain player is playing.

The Brownlow Medal winners are becoming far more predictable, and far more midfield dominant.

Average votes per winner:

1980s - 21
1990s - 24
2000s - 25
2010s - 30
 
Despite what was clearly a very good season for Neale, I have a theory that the Brownlow is being influenced by the 24/7 media storm and the internet. Umpires are prompted more now than ever to focus on certain players in teams when they play because they'd be reading the same things we do, week in and week out, about how well a certain player is playing.

The Brownlow Medal winners are becoming far more predictable, and far more midfield dominant.

Average votes per winner:

1980s - 21
1990s - 24
2000s - 25
2010s - 30
100%. Usually whoever is favourite by about round 5 or 6 starts polling well in games even when they didn’t play that great, clearly because the umps just start looking for them. Happens every year.
 
Sep 21, 2002
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Midfielders medal - getting more irrelevant each year.

It's an anachronism. It had some significance years ago in the absence of other awards, but to me it's like the impressive 17 floor hotel built in the 1970s that once shone like a beacon against the naked skyline, now engulfed by a plethora of 50 story buildings which surround it.

We need to get real about the Brownlow. It's an umpires' award, no more, no less. We spend all season criticising umpires for their decisions, and then we exalt the player they deem to be the best. He is the King of the football world. As an award it has its' place, but no more important than other awards of the same ilk. Why we continue to regard it as the highest individual award a player can receive is beyond me.

As others have said, the Brownlow years ago was a consideration of the performances of the entire 36 players on the field, an umpire had time to assess each player, hence we often saw key defenders and forwards win the award. Even back pocket specialists and half back flankers would catch the eye. Now with the pace of the game and the style in which it is played, midfielders are the only ones who can gather enough votes to win.

Frankly, I find the entire thing boring. What was once an official meeting of the VFL where they counted the votes and announced the winner has evolved into this extravaganza where all the footballers' partners put everything they have on show. The footballers themselves fade to veritable obscurity in comparison with their more glamorous partners.

Still, I should be thankful. In an era where everything we valued in past eras has been engulfed by the almighty dollar, they do manage to hang onto the importance of the Brownlow. God bless them.
 
Last edited:
Jan 17, 2008
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Despite what was clearly a very good season for Neale, I have a theory that the Brownlow is being influenced by the 24/7 media storm and the internet. Umpires are prompted more now than ever to focus on certain players in teams when they play because they'd be reading the same things we do, week in and week out, about how well a certain player is playing.

The Brownlow Medal winners are becoming far more predictable, and far more midfield dominant.

Average votes per winner:

1980s - 21
1990s - 24
2000s - 25
2010s - 30
It would probably chart pretty well with the rise of average disposals by midfielders.
 
It would probably chart pretty well with the rise of average disposals by midfielders.

It's likely a combination of a few things, what you said and the reduction in output from forwards as mentioned above. That said, there were games in the 90s where Diesel got 40 touches and kicked goals but never polled, that wouldn't happen these days.

I've always taken issue with the fact that when Ablett went to Gold Coast, there was a precedent set for guys getting 3 votes in games they lost by 50+ points.
 
Jan 17, 2008
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It's likely a combination of a few things, what you said and the reduction in output from forwards as mentioned above. That said, there were games in the 90s where Diesel got 40 touches and kicked goals but never polled, that wouldn't happen these days.

I've always taken issue with the fact that when Ablett went to Gold Coast, there was a precedent set for guys getting 3 votes in games they lost by 50+ points.
That specific game of Diesel had reasons other than on field performance behind it. Yeah there has also been a shift towards players in losing teams getting votes. How many times did Dane Swan poll in games against Hawthorn in which we beat them comfortably?
 
May 10, 2007
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+ reduction in goals from forwards or total scores from teams.

Buddy not winning in 2008 remains the biggest farce in my lifetime. Best individual season I’ve seen

Yeah absolutely laughable he didn't win that season, that's when I put the idea to bed that a forward could win the award again.
 

kazzooka

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May 20, 2010
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Despite what was clearly a very good season for Neale, I have a theory that the Brownlow is being influenced by the 24/7 media storm and the internet. Umpires are prompted more now than ever to focus on certain players in teams when they play because they'd be reading the same things we do, week in and week out, about how well a certain player is playing.

The Brownlow Medal winners are becoming far more predictable, and far more midfield dominant.

Average votes per winner:

1980s - 21
1990s - 24
2000s - 25
2010s - 30
I think it was triggered by Dane Swan getting robbed in 2010 so they made sure to notice him the next year more. He won 2011 with a worse year.
 

CHUBBSS

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Apr 6, 2010
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Neale a very deserving winner but this award has been a complete joke for a while now. Coaches award should be held in a higher regard then this.

Umpires should have no control over this award anymore for a multitude of reasons.
 

Billyc

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 17, 2009
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Neale a very deserving winner but this award has been a complete joke for a while now. Coaches award should be held in a higher regard then this.

Umpires should have no control over this award anymore for a multitude of reasons.
To be fair coaches award goes to midfielders too. It’s just a midfielders game now. Gun midfield + strong team defence.
 
Peter Knights was unlucky in 1976. Missed 6 matches and lost the medal by 3 votes in a 2 umpire voting season.
Except he missed 7 games. Which makes it that much more impressive.

Moss also missed two games, so an amazing performance by both of them. In fact the highest player to play all 22 games finished equal 4th. With two other players who also missed games.
 
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