Brownlow Medal shock wins: Matt Priddis joins a long list of surprise medallists
EVERY now and then Brownlow Medal night turns up a surprise, with the player nobody rated scoring an unlikely victory. Remember these shock winners?
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BROWNLOW Medal night often turns up a surprise.
The player few people gave a chance scoring an unlikely victory.
Or the favourite everybody backed who just didn’t get over the line.
KNOW SOME MORE SURPRISE BROWNLOW WINNERS? TELL US BELOW.
The umpires views on the best players don’t always correspond with everyone elses.
It happened last night when West Coast Eagle Matt Priddis shocked all to beat Brownlow fancies Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood.
It has happened before.
Like when a young Tony Liberatore won the award in 1990 and Woewodin’s shock win in 2000.
HOW PRIDDIS CRACKED THE BROWNLOW CODE
Gordon Collis (Carlton) 1964
After a poor season 1963, Gordon Collis’s form underwent a remarkable transformation in 1964. The reason was Collis had struggled to see in 1963 and with the help of contact lenses could now see the ball a lot clearer.
In round five Collis was moved to centre-half-back and starred in the role.
He won the Brownlow by eight votes.
Brian Wilson, Melbourne, 1982
After first playing for Footscray, Wilson moved to North Melbourne, but was moved on at the end of the 1981 season.
Still aged just 20 years, Wilson joined Melbourne in 1982 and had a breakout season averaging 28 possessions a game.
In Brownlow voting he was judged best on ground seven times and won the award by five votes.
Robert DiPierdomenico, Hawthorn 1986
Famous for his tough game and frequent visits to the tribunal, Robert DiPierdomenico managed to avoid being suspended in 1986.
Dipper played all 22 games, booting 23 goals and averaging 23 possessions. He tied for the Brownlow with Greg Williams after polling just 17 votes.
Tony Liberatore, Footscray 1990
Going into season 1990, 163cm tall Tony Liberatore had played just 18 games.
Liberatore played 19 matches in season 1990, averaging 26 possessions a game and was a shock Brownlow winner.
Liberatore injured his knee later in the season and attended the Brownlow count on crutches.
While he won the top AFL award Liberatore didn’t win his club’s best and fairest.
Gavin Wanganeen, Essendon 1993
In just his third year of football 20-year-old Gavin Wanganeen was a vital part of the Baby Bombers side that won the 1993 flag.
The courageous back pocket had an outstanding season, averaging 19 disposals a game, but many expected Carlton star Greg Williams to win the award.
Williams lost by one vote and controversially didn’t poll in a game against Melbourne where he had 44 possessions.
Shane Woewodin, Melbourne 2000
Perhaps the most surprise Brownlow Medal winner in history was Melbourne midfielder Shane Woewodin.
After starting the year as a 200-1 chance for the Brownlow the Demon had a solid season. Woewodin polled four best-on-grounds and was tied with Scott West going into the final round. An unexpected two votes got him over the line.
Adam Cooney, Western Bulldogs, 2008
The 2007 Brownlow winner Jimmy Bartel and fellow Cat Gary Ablett were the favourites for the award in 2008.
Cooney picked up three votes in round 22 and two in round 21 to surge to the front having not polled a single one for the seven previous rounds.
In the final round, ahead by one vote, he failed to poll — but so did all his major rivals, Gary Ablett, Matthew Richardson and Simon Black.
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