AFL grand final 2015: Nat Fyfe tipped to win Brownlow Medal

NAT Fyfe will tonight find himself in a similar position to when Gary Ablett watched his early Brownlow Medal lead gobbled up late in the count while he was injured.

Fremantle Dockers player Nat Fyfe (left) and Hawthorn Hawks player Matthew Suckling contest during the first preliminary final of the AFL at Domain Stadium in Perth, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

NAT Fyfe will tonight find himself in a similar position to when Gary Ablett watched his early Brownlow Medal lead gobbled up late in the count while he was injured.

The difference is I think Fyfe can hang on.

The Fremantle star’s first half of the season was so dominant he should have a massive lead by the halfway mark but the round 17 clash with the Tigers at the MCG is the only game from there I think he will poll in.

It will then be a matter of whether his main rivals, Crow Patrick Dangerfield, Eagle Matt Priddis, the reigning champion, or Hawk Sam Mitchell catch him.

All are proven vote winners.

Fremantle Docker Nat Fyfe sis the Medal favourite.

There has been a lot of talk about Kangaroos’ ruckman Todd Goldstein and I expect him to poll well, 18 votes, maybe 20 with a bit of luck, which is enough to finish in the top five but not to win.

Remember, Fyfe missed four games, two lots of two between rounds 18-19 and 22-23 at the end of the season.

Brownlow Medal: The ultimate formguide

Priddis and Mitchell weren’t as dominant during those final five weeks but Dangerfield was flying.

The best players over the final month were Sydney’s Josh Kennedy and Port’s Robbie Gray but I don’t think they would have earned enough votes in the opening half of the season to be genuinely pushing for their first “Charlie”.

Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield dodges Sam Mitchell. Picture: Sarah Reed

I think Fyfe can hang on, but the key for the powerhouse Docker is to cash-in with three votes during his brilliant start to the season.

Fyfe should poll in 12 of the first 12 games and is likely to get three votes in between seven and nine of those.

If the umpires are favourable, he could be over 30 votes by the halfway point of the season.

It should be enough to win.

Originally published as AFL grand final 2015: Nat Fyfe tipped to win Brownlow Medal