Cats accept ban

PATRICK Dangerfield could find himself in the uncomfortable position of handing this year’s Brownlow Medal to a player with fewer votes than him.

The AFL yesterday confirmed Dangerfield ( right) would still be invited to present this year’s Brownlow Medal, despite being ineligible.

As the current holder of the most recent Brownlow Medal he will have the task of putting the 2017 Brownlow around the neck of the winner.

Dangerfield yesterday accepted a one- match suspension for his dangerous tackle on Matthew Kreuzer, making him ineligible.

The star Cat said it was now time to move forward.

“Nobody likes missing games of footy, I certainly don’t, but we’ve got a greater goal that is bigger than myself, and just this weekend we’ve got a clear vision for what we want to achieve,” Dangerfield said.

“You weigh up a whole myriad of different things and that ( challenging) comes into your calculations but at the end of the day it’s a decision that is based on what is best for us as a group and as a club and now it is about moving forward and focusing on this week.

“It ( the Brownlow Medal) is not in my thinking, and people can speculate as much as they like, but if you’re involved in any sort of sport you understand that the most important thing is being involved on the final day and being triumphant.”

Dangerfield could still poll the most votes but be on stage as he hands the medal to an eligible victor.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane confirmed he would be invited to this year’s Brownlow Medal and asked to perform that task.

“All former winners are invited for life. We have had plenty of Brownlow Medallists who have been suspended in later years who have attended,” Keane said.

Richmond’s Dustin Martin is now the white- hot Brownlow favourite – $ 1.18 at TAB – to take out the Brownlow Medal.