Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto says it’s ‘ridiculous’ umpires cannot access player stats before voting

In 2003, Mark Ricciuto won a Brownlow Medal with 22 votes – just the 23 shy of Patrick Cripps’ tally last year. And the Crows great says the AFL’s latest decision might be the wrong one.

Brownlow Medal winner Mark Ricciuto has slammed the voting system for the prestigious award, saying it is “ridiculous” umpires cannot access player statistics before casting their votes.

Ricciuto won the Brownlow alongside Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley and Sydney’s Adam Goodes in 2003.

They polled 22 votes that year, just the 23 shy of what Carlton captain Patrick Cripps received for his win last year.

“My kids remind me of that all the time,” Ricciuto told The Advertiser.

“I don’t know how to explain Cripps getting 45 votes, I don’t know if he can explain it.”

2003 Brownlow Medallists Mark Ricciuto, Nathan Buckley and Adam Goodes.

The huge amount of votes that Cripps got last year – as well as some of the other votes dished out throughout the home-and-away season – has reignited debate about the voting process with the Brownlow.

The AFL has ruled out allowing its umpires access to any player statistics amid some senior umpires asking the league to be allowed to look at stats before they vote.

But Ricciuto said they needed to be allowed to do so.

“I think it is ridiculous that umpires can’t get stats after the game,” he said.

“I’ve done Triple M and Fox Footy commentary since I have finished playing and whenever I have had the responsibility of picking the best on ground I always look at the stats because when you are commentating or when you are umpiring a game of football you need to double check yourself.

“Sometimes you are surprised that someone kicked three, four or five goals, sometimes you are surprised that someone had 12 tackles, sometimes you are surprised that someone had 53 hit-outs.

“It is not as simple as you look at the stats and because a midfielder got 35 touches you give them best on ground, clearly the umpires are looking at the midfielders without the stats and thinking they have dominated.”

Patrick Cripps after his 45-vote win last year. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Herald Sun reported this week that the AFL has worked through its 2025 Brownlow Medal voting protocols and retains confidence in the umpires to make a call without any official stats.

“We trust our umpires implicitly. They are professional, elite athletes (and) incredible decision-makers,” AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said.

“In relation to the stats, it’s something that we look at, at the end of each year.

“We spoke to the umpiring group at the end of last season and the consensus from the umpires was that they were comfortable making the calls on the 3-2-1 without access to statistics. Again, at the end of the year we’ll review all the rules and regulations.”

Originally published as Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto says it’s ‘ridiculous’ umpires cannot access player stats before voting