Martin’s medal but by how far
THERE are two big questions at tonight’s Brownlow Medal count.
The first is whether last year’s medallist, Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield, a former Crow, earns the most votes but becomes just the fourth player to lose the medal after being ruled ineligible.
The second is whether brilliant Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin can set a record for most Brownlow votes in one season.
Martin, the Tigers’ key man in Saturday’s AFL grand final against Adelaide, is the shortestpriced Brownlow favourite in history at $ 1.05 with UBet.
Hawthorn ball magnet Tom Mitchell is next in the line of betting at $ 12 followed by GWS star Josh Kelly at $ 26. So it is a one- horse race. Martin needs 36 votes to break the Brownlow record Dangerfield set last year ( under the system when a player can earn a maximum three votes in a game) when his 35 saw him beat Sydney’s Luke Parker by nine.
But in what could put a dampener on tonight’s count, AFL statistical king Champion Data has Dangerfield narrowly edging Martin. By its voting system – based on player performance, a player’s voting history and most votes going to the winning team – it has Dangerfield finishing 0.5 votes ahead of Martin.
Rounding the votes out, Dangerfield gets 34 and Martin 33.
Demon Clayton Oliver is way back in third on 21.5 votes.
Dangerfield was ruled ineligible after a reckless tackle on Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer in round 19, which controversially cost him a one- match ban for rough conduct.
He missed the following week’s match against Sydney.
How many votes Dangerfield polls after his suspension in Round 19 is questionable.
The umpires might simply mark him harder, knowing he cannot win the medal and save the AFL the embarrassment of having an ineligible player poll the most votes.
By contrast, Martin went from strength to strength after Dangerfield’s suspension.
Champion Data has Martin potentially polling votes in 19 of Richmond’s 22 home- and- away season games.
With the Tigers winning 15 matches to finish third, Martin's chances of dominating the voting increase.
Martin polled 25 votes to finish third last year when the Tigers won only eight games.
Martin polled votes in all eight victories.
The electrifying midfielder, who has averaged 30 disposals and 1.5 goals, is such a dominant on- field figure that the umpires cannot ignore him.
Thirty- six is the magic number for Martin but don’t be surprised if he crashes through the 40- vote barrier.