AFL’s biggest snubbing continues as Marcus Bontempelli snubbed in medal count again

Marcus Bontempelli was rated the best player in the league by his peers, and finished with the highest average ranking points for the season – and yet finished a whopping 26 votes behind the winner.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 23: Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs is seen during the 2024 Brownlow Medal at Crown Palladium on September 23, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Marcus Bontempelli has been robbed – again.

Not of a Brownlow Medal – Patrick Cripps was a thoroughly deserving winner, beating the record by a whopping nine votes despite only one extra game.

But he’s been robbed of votes, placement, and officially recognition from the game’s most prestigious trophy.

Scott Pendlebury may end his career as the most-polled player not to take home Charlie, but by the time The Bont retires he may overtake him, as the umpires’ snubbing one of the league’s best players continues.

This time, the conspiracy theorists have ammunition, thanks to Amanda Dillon – wife of AFL CEO Andrew – letting slip that the Bulldogs skipper was “maybe not in the mix” while on the red carpet.

Marcus Bontempelli at the Brownlow count on Monday night. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Bontempelli didn’t poll in the Dogs’ Round 2 win over Gold Coast, a 32-touch, two goal game where he was awarded 10 coaches’ votes – Tom Liberatore had 20 touches and nine tackles for three votes and Ryley Sanders received two votes for his 22-touch game.

A 35-touch, one-goal, 141 ranking point game in Round 4 was similarly snubbed, and again in a Round 8 loss to Hawthorn where he had 142 ranking points, 26 touches and two goals, nearly willing his side over the line.

Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli clears by hand during the 2nd quarter against Gold Coast in Round 2. Picture: Michael Klein

Bontempelli was rated the best player in the league by his peers, finished with the highest average ranking points for the season, and finished sixth in the AFL coaches votes with 93 votes – Nick Daicos won that count with 117.

For a player of that calibre to finish 26 votes behind the winner is gobsmacking. In years gone by, 26 was more than enough to win the count outright.

Part of it is the design of the medal itself – Bontempelli was victim of star players in his own side taking the limelight which has long-cursed players from strong clubs – Sydney had Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden and Chad Warner all finish on 28, 25 and 23 votes apiece, albeit with Heeney ineligible.

Adam Treloar stole votes from his captain in a career-best year, as did the ineligible Tom Liberatore, but we’re facing a situation where Marcus Bontempelli – easily the equal of Patrick Cripps and Lachie Neale on the field – may finish his career with two or more less Brownlows than that pair.

And that would truly be a sporting travesty,