GUIDE TO THE BROWNLOW MEDAL CONTENDERS
FAVOURITES
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong). The 2016 winner has enjoyed another sterling season and will finish in the top three. If he’s close late he’s a great chance as he will poll well over the last three rounds. But he might bleed too many earlier votes to teammate Tim Kelly.
Lachie Neale (Brisbane). The move from Fremantle has been very good for the onballer. He ticks all the Brownlow boxes – his side made the finals, he’s a midfielder and no teammates should take a lot of votes from him.
Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs). Certain to poll well after his All-Australian season. But teammates Jack Macrae and Josh Dunkley also shone in the midfield. There will be controversy if Bontempelli wins, given the round-22 fine for hitting Nick Haynes.
Nat Fyfe (Fremantle). Like Dangerfield, a former winner (2015) and a perennial favourite. Fyfe is hamstrung to an extent because the Dockers did not make the finals, meaning less chances for three-vote games. But Fyfe enjoyed an outstanding year and he will be prominent on the leaderboard.
Patrick Cripps (Carlton). The Blues midfield bull has the same profile in this count as Fyfe – no top-eight finish, but what a stellar season from him. The feeling is Cripps will need a solid lead at halfway, with not so many eye-catching games later in the season.
SMOKIES
Brody Grundy (Collingwood). Can the Magpies ruckman snatch away the midfielder’s medal? A stellar season, rewarded with his second-straight All-Australian honours.
Tim Kelly (Geelong) Remember when Gary Ablett was the hot favourite to win his first Brownlow in 2007, only for Cats teammate Jimmy Bartel to come from the clouds?
Adam Treloar (Collingwood) A solid season and if Grundy isn’t the Collingwood frontrunner, then it will be him.