Why have we such a crap Brownlow History?

[Wallaby]

It's always bugged me how poorly the Tigers do at the Brownlow. We have only won 5 in our History. We rarely show up and challenge in the count (it was great with Richo this year). When we were strong ('30s, '70s) we rarely had a player challenge seriously - when we are crap (last 25 years) so are the Brownlow results. And before you say "It's because we are crap", the teams that have won the most medals are South/Sydney and Footscray - and they've been crap for almost all their history.

Is it the jumper makes our players look less 'impressive'? Maybe it's the dark jumper - Carlton have a worse record than we do. Essendon's record is about 'middle of the pack'.

For what it's worth, these are our leading vote-getters since 1980.

It shows that Rioli, Knights and Richo could have snagged one if they had a bit of luck.

1981 - Geoff Raines 9 (winner 22)
1982 - Jim Jess! 15 (23)
1983 - Maurice Rioli 23 (24) - closest
1984 - Rioli/Mark Lee 12 - (24)
1985 - Rioli 14 (22)
1986 - Dale Weightman 8 (17)
1987 - Weightman 11 (20)
1988 - Michael Mitchell 12 (20)
1989 - Alan McKellar!!! 10 (20)
1990 - Trent Nicholls!!!!!!!!! - 10 (18)
1991 - Matty Knights 17 (25)
1992 - Stuey Maxfield 6 (20)
1993 - Knights 13 (18)
1994 - Paul Broderick 10 (30)
1995 - Knights 16 (21)
1996 - Justin Charles!!! 17 (21)
1997 - Darren Gaspar 12 (27)
1998 - Knights 18 (32)
1999 - Richo 16 (28)
2000 - Knights 9 (24)
2001 - Leon Cameron 11 (23)
2002 - Richo 12 (25)
2003 - Mark Coughlan (sob!) 16 (23)
2004 - Richo 10 (30)
2005 - Coughlan 10 (20)
2006 - Troy Simmonds 11 (26)
2007 - Richo 6 (29)
2008 - Richo 22 (24)

 

[PHX]

I'm sure its the jumper. Its mostly black, it's not flashy or bright so we dont get noticed as much.

Oh and the fact we've had a very ordinary 27 years.


Lol @ Mark Merenda scoring highest for us one year.

 

[Wallaby]

Sorry, just made a correction - in 1997 it was Justin Charles top vote getter with 17 - Merenda got 15.

That's a pretty amazing year by two ordinary players - almost Woewoden-ish. They probably took votes off each other and cost one the medal.

 

[richoatthedisco]

Merenda was an awesome player cruelled by injury.
The reason we don't get Brownlow votes? Umpires hate us, haven't you noticed?!

 

[PHX]

I know he was a good player but I never thought he would be the top (or 2nd) top vote getter although given how flashy he was maybe it shouldnt be a surprise.

 

[froars]

I think the team has to be competitive without being too good with players taking votes away from each other.
In years gone by, the Swans, Bulldogs, Saints etc (the bottom clubs at the time) used to win quite a few, which used to amaze me because if you don't win games generally you don't get votes these days.

 

[Darth_Tiger]

Sorry, just made a correction - in 1997 it was Justin Charles top vote getter with 17 - Merenda got 15.

That's a pretty amazing year by two ordinary players - almost Woewoden-ish. They probably took votes off each other and cost one the medal.

they were both very very good players. both careers wrecked by injury and bad luck.

 

[PHX]

That's taking a bit too far the other way but Charles was an good player that could be have become a very very good player. Even as about a 10 year old I can still see the anguish on Charles' face during that fateful press conference.

 

[oxx]

What did KB poll in 79 or 80 ?

 

[Richm0ndrule]

Well, teh Brownlow Is a load of Crap. Goodes in the top 5? pfft thats a load of S**t. His Coaches called his year Average, and he still gets a high ranking. He wasn't even in his Own Clubs top 10 At the Sydney BnF, but he is good enough to be in the top 5 for browlow.

- Brownlow is a load of crap.

 

[Darth_Tiger]

it has become the midfielders award. if you are not a midfielder you basically have no chance.

 

[Strawbs]

Yeah, the Brownlow has only slightly more cred than the All-Australian team - and that's not saying much.

 

[Wallaby]

What did KB poll in 79 or 80 ?

KB only polled 5 in '79, 9 in '80 and 3in '81. None in '82 or '83.

He came 2nd in 77 (45 votes) and 4th in '78 (19).

 

[tigerbelly]

It shows me what a seriously good player Matty Knights was, still regret deeply the shabby way we forced his carrer to end.
At least we kept Richo to keep the "Matty Flag" flying.
2 great players in lean times, hang on `Cho

 

[oxx]

KB only polled 5 in '79, 9 in '80 and 3in '81. None in '82 or '83.

He came 2nd in 77 (45 votes) and 4th in '78 (19).

Thanks Wall.

in 77,how may votes did he get - 45?

 

[Wallaby]

'76 & '77 were the two years where both field umps gave 3-2-1. As a result, total votes were doubled.

What makes '77 worse, of course, is the winner was Graeme Teasdale - an ex-junior champ on Richmond's list who finally came good - after we got rid of him.

The 70's was the ruckman's decade - 5 of the 10 Brownlows were won by rucks. Three of the greatest rovers of all time - Leigh Matthews, Kevin Bartlett and Garry Wilson were always up there, but none of them could quite grab a medal. KB averaged 10 votes per year in the '70s, Matthews 12 and Wilson 11.

 

[Goldust]

simple!

Because we are a champion team and not a team of champions!!!!!!

We're more interested in premierships!!!!!

Especially when i was growing up in the 70s and early 80s.

We were ruthless richmond for a reason!!!

A champion team!!!!!