Patrick Dangerfield a worthy Brownlow winner after unusual count, writes Jon Ralph
THERE were several head-scratching moments but in the end the best — and fairest — player in the competition won a worthy Brownlow Medal, writes JON RALPH.
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IF CHARLES Brownlow assembled the prototype of a player to embody football’s best and fairest qualities, that man would be Patrick Dangerfield.
When the revered Geelong official passed away in 1923 the league minted the Brownlow Medal in his honour.
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And 93 years later Dangerfield lived its motto for an entire record-breaking season.
His scintillating season lived up to the hype the Cats had hoped for as he surged to a 35-vote platform no player had reached before.
The real surprise was that for 22 rounds at least the Brownlow count turned into a cracking affair against the odds.
White-hot favourite Dangerfield had expected be high-fiving and yahooing by Round 17.
Instead, he was fist-pumping in relief as a Brownlow Medal count expected to be a victory march for a while turned into a pitched battle.
It was a strange old Brownlow Medal count that mixed the bizarre with the poignant 
His three votes in that Round 17 win against Fremantle finally gave him breathing space as runner-up Luke Parker kept pace and young turks Dustin Martin and Marcus Bontempelli kept charging.
His visible sign of joy after extending his lead came after two hours of Channel 7 promos, needless distractions and nerve-filled moments for the Geelong master.
Then, finally, as he polled in the final eight games — and a record 15 matches in total — he had a chance to savour a worthy win.
“I tried to act all cool, calm and relaxed but I was pretty nervous underneath,’’ admitted Dangerfield post-count.
Strip away the tension as well as the interminable count and the ideals of the award still hold true.
And this year Dangerfield was the walking, talking manifestation of the AFL’s best-and-fairest player.
Dapper beyond belief with that sweptback shock of hair and the debonair Errol Flynn grin.
Scrupulously fair, a single fine for umpire contact the only blemish on 178 games without suspension.
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And combining the very best elements of what this domestic code holds so dear.
From the minute the home-and-away season started in a blaze of MCG sun to its last seconds dominating Melbourne at Simonds Stadium, it was a command performance.
What this event meant to Dangerfield was illustrated a speech from the heart touching on his love for Adelaide, his reconnection with his family and reverence for the “Geelong way”.
Instead of cracking gags, he dripped with emotion as he referenced his wife, Phil Walsh and then found time to pay tribute to departed Cats Brownlow medallist Paul Couch.
It was a strange old Brownlow Medal count that mixed the bizarre with the poignant.
Twitter took particular delight in beating up on singer Alex Lloyd, the first few rounds dragged as usual, and the usual bizarre results bobbed up.
How Heath Shaw could only snag one vote for 33 effective kicks and 203 Supercoach points boggled the mind.
Alex Rance’s seven total votes were similarly mystifying as Daniel Talia (two votes), Robbie Tarrant (one) and Jeremy McGovern (two votes) went friendless.
Jimmy Bartel’s current predicament — do I play when Geelong doesn’t want me? — was put into perspective by his Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.
Nothing he has done on the footy field — and there has been plenty — has been as brave as his harrowing account of his father’s domestic abuse.
And the tribute to 1989 winner Paul Couch hit all the right notes to describe a larrikin and mate to so many.
But this night was for Dangerfield and his record-breaking achievements.
It has taken over nine decades but he has put a marker in the ground that will take some time to catch.
Originally published as Patrick Dangerfield a worthy Brownlow winner after unusual count, writes Jon Ralph
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