Champion Data Brownlow tracker updated with predicted standings after round 12

While Nick Daicos continues to lead the pack, the chasing peleton continues to grow. So who is moving up the leaderboard? Check out the full Brownlow tracker.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 15: Zach Merrett of the Bombers leads his team into the change rooms after the win during the 2023 AFL Round 05 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval on April 15, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

AFL clubs fear the Brownlow Medal is at risk of becoming a last-man-standing award because of the sudden crackdown on dangerous tackles that is set to double suspensions in 2023.

It has brought the fairest-and-best eligibility criteria into sharp focus with 34 players set to be ineligible for the award after round 12.

Less than 40 players were rubbed out for the entire 2022 season, including finals.

“It’s a crazy number and it seems like there’s countless tribunal hearings every week now because clubs are challenging the MRO’s (Match Review Officer’s) findings,” one club powerbroker said.

Brownlow Medallist, former Match Review Panel member and current GWS football director Jimmy Bartel recently called for the MRO to distinguish between football acts and non-football acts when charging players.

“If you do get suspended for a football act up to a week you should still be eligible for the Brownlow,” Bartel said.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett – who sits fourth in the AFL Coaches’ Association award and on Champion Data’s Brownlow tracker – was one of 18 players suspended for a dangerous tackle this year.

Essendon skipper Zach Merrett is one of the stars ineligible for the Brownlow Medal. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley called for the AFL to penalise the outcome – if a tackled player suffered concussion – rather than the action.

That would’ve saved Merrett because Melbourne’s Tom Sparrow did not leave the field and did not require any medical attention.

Corey McKernan said Merrett would be “way stiffer” than he and Chris Grant if the Bombers star joined them as an ineligible Brownlow winner.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan does not want to budge on changing the criteria this year. Future decisions are likely to be led by incoming chief executive Andrew Dillon.

But McKernan argued the criteria had already changed repeatedly, including this year’s clamp on tackles.

“A year ago you did not get suspended for that,” McKernan said.

“If Zach ended up winning it he would be way stiffer then any player I’ve ever seen … because it’s such a new rule.”

Bombers coach Brad Scott declared Merrett was a “complete player” on Sunday.

The 27-year-old is likely to have polled a maximum nine Brownlow votes in the past three games, where he has averaged 35 disposals, 547m gained, 8.7 marks, 9.3 score involvements with a kicking efficiency of 77 per cent.

Merrett sits fourth on Champion Data’s Brownlow tracker and on the AFL Coaches’ Association leaderboard, where he has shot clear of $8 fancy Marcus Bontempelli.

But McKernan said a bigger issue loomed come finals where players could be tempted to avoid tackling late in games when the result was beyond doubt.

“In September last year if you tackled someone like that there was no way you were going to miss a grand final,” McKernan said.

“This year in the prelim final you could literally tackle someone and you may miss a premiership because of the way it’s interpreted.

“Forget the Brownlow – that would be way worse. We all play for one reason alone, we all want to get our hands on silverware.

“If you didn’t get to play in a premiership because of what Zach Merrett did, that would be horrible.”