Brownlow Medal 2015: Dan Hannebery pipped, Sam Mitchell the bridesmaid again
THE teacher’s pet doesn’t always get the chocolates. Just ask Dan Hannebery. But don’t ask Sam Mitchell about the Brownlow bridesmaids tag.
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THE teacher’s pet doesn’t always get the chocolates.
Just ask Dan Hannebery.
The Swans midfielder was the golden child of the AFL coaches this year, coming from the clouds to knock off Nat Fyfe in the final round to win their best player award.
Everyone, including Hannebery, had given up hope after Fyfe led him by 37 votes after Round 13.
But the Fremantle superstar would only receive two more votes from the coaches for the rest of the season which left the door ajar for the Swan.
Hannebery stormed through it, polling seven votes in Sydney’s Round 23 win over Gold Coast to claim the prize by one vote.
This put him very much in the mix for Charlie given out of all the awards, the coaches’ thoughts carry a lot of weight.
The bookies had him at $11 and for a fleeting moment moment after Round 18 of the count those who put their money on were getting excited.
Hannebery got three votes against Adelaide to move into second spot on 22 votes.
That lasted for approximately 10 seconds.
In the next game AFL boss Gillon McLachlan read out Matt Priddis getting two votes in the Eagles draw against Gold Coast and from there his dreams of a podium finish faded.
Hannebery grabbed two votes in Round 22 against St Kilda to briefly move into third spot before Sam Mitchell and his own teammate, Josh Kennedy, blew past him in the final round.
Any disappointment he felt should be short-lived given what Mitchell has gone through.
The Hawthorn veteran owns the bridesmaid tag on Brownlow night.
Last night was his third top three finish and his 26 votes took him to a career tally of 204 which moves him into second place - behind Gary Ablett (209) - for most votes without winning.
In 2011 Mitchell polled 30 votes when ineligible - he copped a one-match ban which was reduced to reprimand for rough conduct - to finish second behind Collingwood’s Dane Swan.
The next year he finished equal second behind Essendon’s Jobe Watson.
As shattering as those statistics are, the fact Mitchell will be lining up on Saturday searching for his fourth premiership probably eases the pain.
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