Brownlow Medal 2015: Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy hoping to beat Nat Fyfe
THE 2015 Brownlow Medal count is set to be a Vo Rogue type event with Nat Fyfe looking to hold off the likes of Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy.
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MONDAY night’s Brownlow Medal count is set to be a Vo Rogue type event with Nat Fyfe to set up a massive lead just past the halfway mark and hold off the challengers like Swans pair Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy.
Some forecasters have the Fremantle star racking up as many as 30 votes by round 13, which will almost certainly be enough to win the medal.
If he doesn’t then Hannebery, Kennedy and a group of others including last year’s winner Matt Priddis (West Coast), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) and Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne) will pounce.
Both Hannebery and Kennedy believe they’ve had the best seasons of their outstanding careers and the AFL coaches agree, with Hannebery winning the coaches association best player award last week and Kennedy finishing third.
“I’ve had my best year to date and certainly my most consistent,” Hannebery told The Daily Telegraph.
“I think being a bit older and more mature has helped my football, I’ve also played a lot more inside and taken that responsibility in the centre bounces. I’ve honestly got no idea about how I’ll go.”
Hannebery is fifth favourite at $10 with the TAB and Kennedy is seventh at $17. Kennedy finished the year like a steam train, becoming the first player to register 30 or more disposals in 11 consecutive matches.
“I reckon the second half of the year was the best footy I’ve played in my career,” Kennedy said.
“I was able to impact the scoreboard and my game all round went up a level and I was able to maintain the standard. I had some average games early in the season and was determined to turn that around.”
A Kennedy win would leave the All Australian selection panel with egg on their face after inexplicably leaving him out of the line-up last week. They also made the embarrassing mistake of leaving Priddis out of the 22 last year and he won the Brownlow the following week.
The Sydney Swans/South Melbourne have won more Brownlows than any other club (13) with Adam Goodes the last to take home Charlie in 2006.
Their best performance since then was Lance Franklin’s second place last year. Kennedy’s best result was last year as well when he finished fourth.
Hannebery’s best year came in 2013 when he tied for fifth with 21 votes.
“I’ve definitely benefited from the year that Joey Kennedy has had and have fed off him,” Hannebery said.
“If he plays well I generally play well, he wins the hard ball and pick up a lot of handballs received. I think Joey’s last 10 games were outstanding and he’ll be the Swans best vote getter.
“I’m really looking forward to having a great night with the blokes who are going. We’ve got a great crew going and whatever happens.
“Obviously Nat Fyfe is the deserved favourite and he’s had a better year than last year when he almost win the Brownlow.”
Callan Ward is the shortest-priced GWS Giant at $150.
The GWS Kevin Sheedy medallist, Heath Shaw, is at $2500.
BROWNLOW MEDAL
$1.95 Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)
$5 Matt Priddis (West Coast)
$6 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
$9 Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)
$10 Dan Hannebery (Sydney)
$11 Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
$17 Josh Kennedy (Sydney), Andrew Gaff (West Coast)
Originally published as Brownlow Medal 2015: Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy hoping to beat Nat Fyfe
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