DANGER A HOT TIP FOR MEDAL
SUPERSTAR Cat Patrick Dangerfield could score a perfect nine votes in the final three rounds to storm home in tonight’s Brownlow Medal count.
The brilliant midfielder yesterday shortened into a $2.50 favourite (TAB) to chase down his rivals in the red-hot finish and claim his second league best and fairest award.
He would become only the 15th man in the game’s history to win dual Brownlows and will be in striking distance of becoming only the fifth man to pocket three next year.
Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe is also chasing multiple medals after another outstanding season, averaging 29 possessions and almost one goal a game.
Dangerfield, 29, seems certain to poll three votes as he led Geelong to big wins over North Melbourne in Round 21 (33 disposals and one goal) and Carlton in Round 23 (34 and one goal).
Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron is the only man who can prevent the perfect hat-trick after the electric small forward bagged five goals in the win over Geelong in Round 22.
Geelong coach Chris Scott publicly questioned how influential Cameron was in that game after the match as Dangerfield racked up an amazing 36 touches, nine clearances and one goal.
But his five biggest threats — Fyfe, Brisbane’s Lachie Neale, Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli — are all tipped to poll votes in Round 23, setting the scene for a thrilling finish.
The quartet all polled coaches’ votes in the final round, with Grundy receiving the perfect 10 from Nathan Buckley and John Worsfold for his 33 disposals and 35 hit-outs in the win over Essendon.
Carlton’s inspirational cocaptain, Cripps’ medal claims will hinge on whether he can replicate Gary Ablett’s performance in 2013 and regularly poll votes in a losing side.
Cripps started the season on fire, racking up at least 28 touches in each of the first four matches, but his Blues won only one of their first 11 games under Brendon Bolton.
His herculean four-goal and 38-possession effort in David Teague’s first game in Round 12 to topple Brisbane is the most certain three-vote performance of the count.
Intrigue also surrounds Neale’s votes in the final round and whether he will be rewarded with the three votes for his 51 possessions in a loss to Richmond at the MCG.
The Tigers chose not to tag Neale as he ran riot with 14 clearances.
AFL figures have called on the umpires to provide defenders with greater recognition in the Brownlow Medal.