Champion Data Brownlow Medal tracker: Christian Petracca looms as only threat to Nick Daicos
Dustin Martin and Ollie Wines’ 36-vote seasons could be in danger as Nick Daicos continues to take the footy world by storm. Can he do it? Have your say here.
Christian Petracca’s Brownlow Medal credentials are flying under the radar.
No doubt Nick Daicos is in pole position, with another best on ground performance against the Dockers doing his chances no harm, but don’t rule a late charge from Petracca.
The Demons gun kicked four goals for the second week in a row on Friday night in a performance where he will vie with Steven May for maximum votes.
It’s emblematic of his year — there are only a few games where Petracca has been the standout player on the ground, but equally, he has only missed out on AFL Coaches Association votes three times this season.
With Clayton Oliver not playing since round 10 and Max Gawn also missing a chunk of the season through injury, Petracca would likely have been the main man the umpires look to at Melbourne.
Oliver polled 25 votes to Petracca’s 24 in 2022, and 31 votes to Petracca’s 23 in 2021.
If Oliver continues to be sidelined by hamstring setbacks, Petracca will have the opportunity to charge home and be the greatest threat to Daicos.
Daicos leads considerably in both the coaches’ votes and Champion Data’s tracker, with Petracca second.
The Herald Sun’s player of the year award has Petracca and Daicos tied on 26 votes through 18 rounds, with Brisbane skipper Lachie Neale five votes behind in third.
That trio have been prominent in voting throughout the season, setting themselves apart in the past two months.
Neale could challenge for his second Brownlow after a big past month where he registered three best on ground performances in a row before the loss to Melbourne, helping him rocket up to fourth in the coaches association’s award.
Near best on ground games from Tim Taranto and Jordan Dawson at the weekend are keeping them in the race too, but a huge final six weeks would be needed for one of them to take Charlie home.
Especially given Daicos’ imperious form, with the 20-year-old on track to eclipse Dustin Martin (2017) and Ollie Wines’ (2021) record of 36 votes in a season.
It’s feasible that Daicos will net a perfect 12 votes in his past four games.
This stretch is included in a run of nine matches where the Pies star is tipped to poll the three votes.
Three of those have been against Geelong, Port Adelaide and Essendon — all of which the Pies play again to close out the home and away season.
At one stage Daicos looked to be under threat from Zak Butters, however the Port Adelaide midfielder has only polled one coaches’ vote in the past three weeks.
Daicos vs Petracca
Tied on 26 votes in Herald Sun player of the year award
Daicos (99) leads Petracca (84) in Coaches Association award
BROWNLOW TRACKER LEADERBOARD
1. Nick Daicos 27.24 votes
2. Christian Petracca 19.81 votes
3. Marcus Bontempelli 18.65 votes
4. Lachie Neale 16.73 votes
5. Tim Taranto 15.93 votes
6. Zach Merrett 15.57 votes*
7. Patrick Cripps 14.76 votes
8. Matt Rowell 13.08 votes
9. Clayton Oliver 12.75 votes
10. Rowan Marshall 12.43 votes
11. Rory Laird 12.31 votes
12. Noah Anderson 12.25 votes
13. Zak Butters 12.01 votes
14. Stephen Coniglio 11.65 votes
15. Andrew Brayshaw 11.51 votes
16. Jack Viney 11.40 votes
17. Connor Rozee 11.42 votes
18. Tom Green 10.94 votes
19. Caleb Serong 10.68 votes
20. Tim English 10.52 votes
COACHES ASSOCIATION LEADERBOARD
99 Nick Daicos
84 Christian Petracca
77 Zak Butters
70 Lachie Neale
66 Marcus Bontempelli
65 Noah Anderson
65 Zach Merrett
63 Connor Rozee
62 Jordan Dawson
62 Tim Taranto
58 Toby Greene
57 Jack Sinclair
53 Caleb Serong
50 Jordan De Goey
50 Errol Gulden
50 Dan Houston
49 Adam Cerra
48 Shai Bolton
47 Jai Newcombe
46 Patrick Cripps
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