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2015 Brownlow confidential: Quirky moments from AFL medal count

BROWNLOW CONFIDENTIAL: NAT Fyfe’s speech has been hailed as one of the all-time greats, but was he upstaged by a teammate before he even got his medal?

Ben Waterworth and Max Laughton
6 min read
September 29, 2015 - 12:45PM
2015 Brownlow Medal
2015 Brownlow Medal

THERE have been an array of Brownlow Medal winners whose partners have received just as much attention. None more so than Rebecca Judd in 2004.

And Michael Barlow — Fyfe’s “date” for Monday night — did his best to embarrass his teammate at Crown.

A round before Fyfe’s win was declared official, Barlow was interviewed by MC Bruce McAvaney.

“I don’t think anyone’s been interviewed a week after being subbed at half-time, so thanks for that (Ross),” Barlow.

WATCH THE HILARIOUS INTERVIEW IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Nat Fyfe is congratulated by Michael Barlow. Picture: Michael Klein
Nat Fyfe is congratulated by Michael Barlow. Picture: Michael Klein

McAvaney, who was on the same Melbourne-bound flight from Perth as Fyfe and Barlow, asked Barlow to retell their encounter to the room.

“Please Bruce, I don’t think you’ve seen the back of a plane since you were about six,” Barlow laughed.

“You were 1A, I was 1B, you offered to change seats so Nathan could sit next to me. But I sit with him every day Bruce, I want to talk to an icon of the game like yourself for four hours.”

But a cheeky McAvaney replied with: “I just didn’t want to talk to you Michael, that’s the truth,” McAvaney laughed.”

CROWD WOWED: FYFE DELIVERS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREAT SPEECHES

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FYFE THE BEST EVER... FACT

DID Nat Fyfe have the best run in the history of the Brownlow Medal?

The record for most three-vote games in a row is five, set three times — by Brent Harvey in 2007, Chris Judd in 2010 and Justin Madden in 1985.

Fyfe from rounds 4 to 9 received the full three votes five times and then two votes once as well, against Essendon in Round 6.

RE-LIVE: THE BROWNLOW COUNT

VIDEO: CUTE KID’S RED CARPET SHOW

By definition it’s the most votes you could possibly receive in six straight games while not being best on ground each time, so ... yes, he did.

He then made it even more impressive when, in Round 14, Fyfe recorded his ninth best-on-ground performance.

The record for the most 3-vote games by a Brownlow winner is nine, set by Greg Williams in 1994.

Fyfe matched that record in 13 matches. Insanity.

He ended up totalling 29 votes from rounds 2 to 14, the best run of form in the history of the VFL/AFL.

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NAT ‘WONKA’ FYFE

AS IF Nat Fyfe needed anymore attention on Brownlow Medal night.

The star Fremantle midfielder — and favourite to win the award — rocked up to the count with an interesting object in hand: A walking stick.

Nat Fyfe arrives to the Brownlow Medal count in style.
Nat Fyfe arrives to the Brownlow Medal count in style.

Fyfe limped down the red carpet with a cane having just undergone surgery to fix the leg he fractured in the Dockers’ 27-point loss to Hawthorn on Friday night.

“It’s not my chosen accessory,” Fyfe told Fox Footy.

“It was either this or the crutches and the moon boot, so I thought I’d go the silly stick.”

But sporting a big mop of brown hair, comparisons to Willy Wonka were hard to hold back.

SO CLOSE

IT would have been the perfect start to a career.

Kamdyn McIntosh was the Rising Star nominee for Round 1 after a terrific performance in Richmond’s season-opening win over rivals Carlton.

He was a real chance to join an elite group of players who have polled three votes on debut, including Dean Polo, Scott Cummings, Darryl White, Andrew Jarman and Brownlow winner Brad Hardie.

Except he didn’t poll a solitary vote. Former Cat turned Tiger Taylor Hunt did though, and it put him on top of the leaderboard.

WHO WORE IT BEST?

ON footy’s night of nights, all eyes are on the glamorous gowns worn by the better halves of the AFL’s stars.

Rebecca Judd is a star every year with her outfits and this year wasn’t any different in a glittering golden piece.

However some have compared her dress to a certain unloved guernsey that thankfully won’t be featuring in the grand final this weekend.

So who wore it best — Hawthorn or Bec Judd?

Who wore it best — the Hawks in the ‘Power Rangers’ guernsey or Bec Judd?
Who wore it best — the Hawks in the ‘Power Rangers’ guernsey or Bec Judd?

THE OUTSIDE CHANCES

MANY punters favour the team Brownlow markets, trying to figure out who the umpires thought was the best player on each side.

There was some value to be had there in 2015 with seven teams having someone not the favourite win or tie for the lead in their club’s count.

The biggest outsider was St Kilda’s Jack Steven ($10), who tied with hot favourite David Armitage ($1.01).

Other outsiders to win were Dane Swan ($4), Harley Bennell ($4.50), Travis Boak ($2.75) and Swan Josh Kennedy ($3.50).

FINALLY!

IT took 167 games but finally the duck has been broken.

Port Adelaide’s Alipate Carlile polled two votes in Port Adelaide’s Round 4 win over Hawthorn, his first ever Brownlow Medal votes.

His teammate Robbie Gray was asked about Carlile’s lack of votes on Fox Footy’s red carpet coverage and said he didn’t even know it was the case.

Alipate knew, though.

ROBBIE ROBBED

PORT Adelaide’s Robbie Gray would’ve been thrilled with his Showdown Medal win as the Power defeated Adelaide in Round 6.

Yet clearly the umpires weren’t enamoured. He received zero votes for the match.

DON SUB STEALS VOTES

MAYBE the sub rule isn’t so bad after all. Well, according to Ben Howlett.

The Essendon midfielder polled three votes against Sydney at ANZ Stadium in Round 1, despite starting as the sub — and his team losing.

After David Myers was forced to leave the game early due to injury, Howlett came on and had an immediate impact, finishing with 19 disposals and 12 tackles.

Howlett out-polled Swans duo Kurt Tippett (one vote) and Kieren Jack (two votes).

Remarkably, Luke Parker didn’t even poll a vote, despite collecting 35 disposals and 10 clearances.

RUCKING LOVE

RUCKMEN traditionally find it hard to poll in the Brownlow Medal.

So Brownlow nerds were staggered when two ruckmen polled in the same game late in Monday night’s count.

Star big boys Aaron Sandilands and Todd Goldstein polled three and two votes respectively in the Round 21 clash between Fremantle and North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

Despite his team losing by 11 points, Sandilands starred with two goals from 43 hit-outs, 14 disposals, five tackles and 142 SuperCoach points.

Goldstein was just as influential, also booting two goals from 15 disposals, six marks, five tackles and 116 SuperCoach points.

In the end, though, neither got close to eventual winner Nat Fyfe, with Goldstein polling 18 votes and Sandilands 14.

Todd Goldstein polled 18 votes. Picture: Tim Carrafa
Todd Goldstein polled 18 votes. Picture: Tim Carrafa

JUDD, GOODES DEPART IN STYLE

IT WASN’T three votes and — it wasn’t read out by Andrew Demetriou — but Chris Judd still had one more vote left in him before he officially farewelled the AFL community.

The dual Brownlow Medallist polled his 210th and final vote for his one-goal, 20-disposal and five-inside 50 performance against Essendon in Round 3.

Seven weeks later, Judd would suffer a season-ending — and, consequently, career-ending — knee injury against Adelaide at the MCG.

But on his final Brownlow night as a player, one of the most popular winners in the award’s history left a lasting impression.

And the honours continued when retiring Swan Adam Goodes polled a vote in Sydney’s Round 9 win over Carlton.

BLINK AND YOU MISSED IT

“RACING!” Or so we thought.

The start of the Brownlow Medal vote-reading felt like the start of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes over 1000m at Flemington, such was the pace set by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan.

The league boss wasted no time whipping through the first nine games.

TIE PATROL

RICHMOND forward Jack Riewoldt found a clever and creative way to keep himself entertained for the red carpet arrivals.

Before hitting the red stuff, Riewoldt put the call out to his Twitter followers to help him decide which style of tie to don for the count.

As the votes came in, Riewoldt kept a tally.

It was a close count with a controversial finish.

‘KILLA’ SNUBBED

CHARISMATIC Brisbane skipper Tom Rockliff arrived at the Brownlow with partner Josie Charman by his side.

However our friends at SuperFooty thought that Rockliff’s dog Killa — who features in a large percentage of Rockliff’s Instagram posts — was stiff to miss out on a date.

And Rockliff agreed.

PAV UNCERTAIN OF FUTURE

FREMANTLE veteran Matthew Pavlich is adamant he still hasn’t decided whether he will play on in 2016.

There was a school of thought the Dockers’ loss to Hawthorn on Friday would be Pavlich’s final AFL game, especially after he was seen walking and posing for photos with family and friends after the game.

But Pavlich told Fox Footy he’s still uncertain about his future.

“We’ll take the emotion out of it all and make a calculated decision,” he said.

“I’ve rarely made a rushed decision in my life. And when I have it’s normally been a bad one.

“I’ll have some time away and give it some good thought.”

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