Every year the Brownlow Medal always throws up its fair share of controversy. From surprise votes to lower than expected totals, we’ve picked out a handful of potential headscratchers.
Have your say on the night in the comments below
Round 2 v Brisbane
3 - J. Waite (NMFC)
2 - B. Cunnington (NMFC)
1 - T. Goldstein (NMFC)
Todd Goldstein received a perfect 10 from Brad Scott and Justin Leppitsch for his game at Etihad Stadium.
23 disposals, 37 hit-outs, eight tackles, four clearances and a goal is normally enough to earn a player three votes.
But Waite, equalling his career-high with seven goals, and Cunnington collecting 26 disposals and 11 clearances was enough in the eyes of the umpires to push the ruckman down to one vote.
Round 6 v Richmond
3 - A. Miles (RICH)
2 - L. Thomas (NMFC)
1 - B. Harvey (NMFC)
This was the first of three instances for the night when North took out the four points, but not the three votes.
A low possession game perhaps made Miles stand out more in the eyes of the umpires. Meanwhile, Sam Wright could consider himself unlucky not to poll in the victory. 21 disposals, 10 rebound 50’s, eight marks and a goal for good measure meant he was one of the best on ground.
Round 9 v Collingwood
3 - D. Swan (COLL)
2 - J. Elliott (COLL)
1 - B. Cunnington (NMFC)
Despite North’s disappointing fadeout in the second half, Goldstein was immense throughout the afternoon.
The ruckman had 51 hit-outs, 19 disposals, eight marks, six inside 50’s and a goal, yet was unable to poll a vote.
Round 10 v West Coast
3 - S. Wellingham (WCE)
2 - S. Higgins (NM)
1 - M. Priddis (WCE)
Despite winning by 10 points, North only had one player poll against the Eagles.
Higgins could arguably have received the three votes for his 22 disposals and four goals. Meanwhile Ziebell (24 disposals, 11 clearances, eight tackles, one goal) and Goldstein (47 hit-outs to Nic Naitanui’s 30) were also key contributors on the afternoon.
Round 19 v Melbourne
3 - S. Higgins (NMFC)
2 - T. Goldstein (NMFC)
1 - N. Dal Santo (NMFC)
The umpires were spoiled for choice in the 35-point win against the Demons.
In addition to sweeping the votes, Cunnington (31 disposals, nine clearances) and Thomas (five goals) could each have legitimate claims to poll themselves.
Round 21 v Fremantle
3 - A. Sandilands (FREM)
2 - T. Goldstein (NMFC)
1 - B. Harvey (NMFC)
The game against Fremantle brought a rare occurrence, as Sandilands and Goldstein earned the three and two votes respectively, despite being matched up on each other throughout the afternoon.
Elsewhere, Cunnington (26 disposals, six clearances) and Swallow (21 disposals, 12 tackles, nine clearances) were both immense in hauling North back from an early four goal deficit.
Round 22 v Western Bulldogs
3 - M. Bontempelli (WB)
2 - L. Dahlhaus (WB)
1 - L. Hunter (WB)
In a game that was extremely close up until the last 15 minutes, no Kangaroo polled a vote.
Despite being double-teamed all afternoon, Goldstein still racked up the hit-outs, collecting 54 to go with 15 disposals.
Overall, North players polled 68 votes out of the 132 available.
NMFC leaderboard
18 – Todd Goldstein
8 – Jack Ziebell
8 – Shaun Higgins
8 – Andrew Swallow
7 – Drew Petrie
4 – Brent Harvey
3 – Jarrad Waite
3 – Ben Cunnington
2 – Jamie Macmillan
2 – Nick Dal Santo
2 – Lindsay Thomas
2 – Ben Brown
1 – Sam Wright
