Brownlow Medal: Jon Anderson says defenders and forwards were snubbed in 2015 Brownlow count
THE Brownlow is the game’s highest individual honour, but Jon Anderson says unless things change don’t expect anyone but midfielders to win the award again. Vote: Midfielders only?
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HOW can those who determine each year’s Brownlow medallist remain so ignorant to the significance and difficulty of playing permanently in attack or defence?
It continues to detract from an award that is always won by a deserving winner, and none more so than Nat Fyfe, but one that continues to belittle those who don’t have the opportunity of roaming the ground from stoppage to stoppage.
It’s insulting to All-Australian back pocket Heath Shaw that he didn’t receive a vote in this year’s Brownlow and it robs the award of credibility, or that fellow back pocket Josh Gibson got one vote and full back Michael Hurley three.
The half-back line of Easton Wood (six votes), Alex Rance (eight) and Robert Murphy (five) recorded startling figures by comparison, yet so far short of the midfielders to highlight yet again how biased the voting is towards the on-ballers.
LEADERBOARD: SEE HOW THEY FINISHED
THE SPEECH: AUSTRALIA LOVES NAT
It’s the same up forward where Western Bulldogs’ excitement machine Jake Stringer got just three votes. Or centre half forward Jack Riewoldt the same tally, while only Josh Kennedy of the West Coast cracked it for double figures after kicking 75 goals in 22 games.
How much more difficult is it to do what Kennedy did than grab 20 or 30 possessions on-ball, yet still the umpires refuse to acknowledge the hardships of playing set positions.
Maybe we have reached a stage where they need to be re-educated, so we can again see a full forward such as Tony Lockett win the medal as he did in 1987 or a centre half forward like Kelvin Templeton in 1980.
Thinking that full backs like Verdun Howell (1959) and Fred Goldsmith (1955) can again win is nothing more than dreaming. The last chance for the defenders came in 1990 when Stephen Silvagni finished third to Tony Liberatore.
It’s sad because it remains a unique part of our game.
The Brownlow is always won by a deserving person. Just don’t expect that person to play anywhere near the goalposts.
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