Brownlow Medal: Could North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein beat Nat Fyfe?

TODD Goldstein is making a charge at what many thought was Nat Fyfe’s Brownlow, but history suggests ruckmen aren’t popular with the umpires.

Could North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein claim this year’s Brownlow Medal?

ONE month ago, Nathan Fyfe seemingly couldnÂ’t be beaten for this yearÂ’s Brownlow Medal.

In fact, such was his blistering start to the season, one bookmaker paid out on the Fremantle midfielder to claim the medal.

However, a thigh injury forced him to miss Round 18 and potentially the Dockers’ upcoming clash with St Kilda on Sunday night.

After polling 100 of a possible 130 votes in the AFL Coaches’ Association award at Round 13, he is unlikely to have been awarded a Brownlow vote in Fremantle’s past four games.

While Fyfe’s vote tally has been sitting idle, some of his contenders have been making their charge.

TODD GOLDSTEIN IS A SPECIAL GUEST ON AFL360

Matt Priddis is putting together a season to match, if not better, his 2014 Brownlow-winning campaign, while Dan Hannebery must not be far behind.

And, if the umpires were privy to Champion Data ranking points then Todd Goldstein would be the clear Brownlow leader after Round 18.

If votes were awarded purely to the three players who record the most ranking points, then Goldstein would be sitting eight clear of Fyfe.

Goldstein has averaged 130 ranking points per game this season — just under five more than the second-placed Fyfe.

Of course that’s not the case in reality, with Champion Data’s more sophisticated Brownlow model having Fyfe leading Goldstein by 10 votes. Big Goldy actually sits well outside the top 10.

Goldstein said his ability to attack more contests was behind his career year.

“It’s been a big development probably the last three or four years, I think obviously the ruck work stuff alway’s come naturally to me, it’s just having more of an impact around the ground and that’s sort of the focus going in this year to start well and have more of an impact,” Goldstein told AFL 360.

“I think for me it’s mainly a confidence thing, I think I’ve probably had the ability, probably had the skillset to do it, but I probably doubt, second guess myself, not attacking the footy as if I want it, it’s more hoping that it’s going to come to me.

“This year I sort of really tried to forget any mistakes I make out of my head straight away, they don’t really affect me too much, it’s onto the next contest and make a big impact that next one.”

But Goldstein is not looking too far ahead especially when it comes to the Brownlow Medal.

“I remember sitting there last year at the Brownlow with Drew Petrie and it got to about Round 13 and neither of us had a vote and we’re both sitting there thinking this is going to be so embarrassing if we don’t get a vote,” Goldstein said.

News_Image_File: Todd Goldstein is ranked No.1 in the competition for ranking points. Picture: Colleen Petch

Fyfe is the clear leader of all the media awards, he’s still the raging favourite with the bookies and history is on his side.

Since Jim Stynes (1991) and Scott Wynd (1992) saluted in consecutive seasons, Adam Goodes (2003) is the only ruckman to claim the Brownlow.

Despite their influence on the game, ruckmen have been ignored by the umpires when it comes to awarding votes for what has become a midfielder’s award.

In 2002, Luke Darcy claimed the AFL Players’ Association MVP and arrived on Brownlow night as a favourite. However, the Bulldogs ruckman polled just 16 votes as Simon Black claimed the award with 25.

Aaron Sandilands is the only big man to poll 20 or more votes in the past 10 years.

Is Goldstein the man to buck the trend? He might be.

He’s ranked No. 1 in the competition for hit-outs, in the top 20 for contested marks and is averaging almost five tackles per game.

He’s ranked No. 1 in the competition for ranking points. The next best Roo is Nick Dal Santo at No. 65 (96.75 points), so there’s no obvious competition for votes.

Across North Melbourne’s ten wins this season he’s averaging 144.5 ranking points and over the past four games that soars to 165.25. With fixtures against Melbourne and St Kilda to come, this trend could easily continue.

Very soon we might then be comparing Goldstein’s second half of the season to Fyfe’s first.

He will be need poll more votes than the 24 he’s earned across the previous seven seasons, but there’s enough reason for Goldy to be sipping on waters come Brownlow night.

CHAMPION DATA RANKING POINTS

GOLDSTEIN — 29

FYFE — 21

HANNEBERY — 19

ARMITAGE — 14

DELEDIO — 13

HODGE — 13

EBERT — 12

MUNDY — 12

BEAMS — 12

PRIDDIS — 12

JACOBS — 12

COTCHIN — 12

CHAMPION DATA BROWNLOW FORMULA

FYFE — 24

PRIDDIS — 20

HANNEBERY — 20

COTCHIN — 17

MITCHELL — 17

DANGERFIELD — 15

MARTIN, HODGE — 14

PENDLEBURY, MUNDY — 13

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GOLDSTEIN — 10 (= 17th)

BEST RUCKS LAST 10 YEARS

2014 — Shane Mumford (8 votes)

(Winner: Priddis — 26)

2013 — Matthew Leuenberger (8)

(Winner: Ablett — 28)

2012 — Nic Naitanui (10)

(Winner: Watson — 30)

2011 — Dean Cox (18)

(Winner: Swan — 34)

2010 — Aaron Sandilands (20)

(Winner: Judd — 30)

2009 — Aaron Sandilands (10)

(Winner: Ablett — 30)

2008 — Aaron Sandilands (10)

(Winner: Cooney — 24)

2007 — Brendon Lade (8)

(Winner: Bartel — 29)

2006 — Brendon Lade (15)

(Winner: Goodes — 26)

2005 — Justin Kozchitze (11)

(Winner: Cousins — 20)

THE BOOKIES

FYFE — $1.60

PRIDDIS — $6

GOLDSTEIN — $9

HANNEBERY — $9

GAFF — $15

MITCHELL — $15

FOX FOOTY POTY

FYFE — 29

PRIDDIS — 24

MITCHELL — 18

GOLDSTEIN — 18

KENNEDY (SYD) — 17

BOAK — Boak

ARMITAGE — 14

HODGE — 14

MUNDY, HANNEBERY VINCE, DELEDIO — 13

HERALD SUN POTY

FYFE — 30

GOLDSTEIN — 23

PRIDDIS — 20

MITCHELL — 19

GAFF — 17

ARMITAGE, HANNEBERY, MUNDY — 15

SHIEL, COTCHIN, KENNEDY (SYD), WINES — 12

AFLCA CHAMPION PLAYER

FYFE — 100

HANNEBERY — 85

GOLDSTEIN — 65

PRIDDIS — 65

GAFF — 60

MUNDY — 56

PENDLEBURY — 55

ARMITAGE — 53

COTCHIN — 53

KENNEDY — 53