Key stats show how badly umpires got the Brownlow votes wrong

A forensic analysis of the Brownlow Medal has revealed just how far apart the umpires and the best judges in the game are.

Lachie Neale and wife Julie after his win. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images

A forensic analysis of the Brownlow Medal has revealed just how far apart the umpires and the best judges in the game are after revelations of not just near misses but 35 massive oversights in the wake of Lachie Neale’s victory.

The Brisbane Lions star recorded a surprise two-vote win over Marcus Bontempelli, having been the recipient of some shock votes, most notably in round 6 when he was given three votes despite a seven-goal effort from teammate Charlie Cameron.

But that oversight was just the tip of the iceberg.

On a staggering 19 occasions this season players were awarded the maximum 10 votes by the coaches for their AFL Coaches Association MVP award yet didn’t receive a single Brownlow vote for the same performance

And on another 16 occasions players received the maximum three Brownlow votes from the umpires but nothing from the coaches that AFL legend Leigh Matthews said was now the “most credible award in football”.

Neale was part of that club in round 6.

“This is what the Brownlow is all about, it’s the umpires award,” Matthews, arguably the greatest player never to win a Brownlow, told 3AW on Tuesday morning.

Players in 2023 getting 3 #Brownlow votes but no @AFLCoaches votes
R01 SBolton
R03 TAdams, BCrouch
R05 APhillips, BClose
R06 LNeale
R07 TEnglish, TMitchell
R08 CPetracca, JSteele
R09 DPrestia
R10 TMitchell
R14 JHorne-Francis
R16 BCrouch
R20 DSheed
R21 JDawson

@AFL

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) September 25, 2023

“Lachie Neale has been a very good player, he didn’t win any of the other awards, and that’s fine.

“Controversy is part of the Brownlow.

“The most credible award now is the coaches award. They vote 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and they add their votes together. I reckon the coaches are the most credible people. I believe that is the most credible award in football.”

Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters took out the coaches award in 2023, with Neale fifth.

Bontempelli won the players association MVP, with Butters third.

Neale, who collected his second Brownlow, did not make the top 10 of the award voted by the players, nor was he included in the All-Australian team.

Among other umpiring howlers were three votes given to Port Adelaide youngster Jason Horne-Francis against Geelong in round 14 where he managed just 13 disposals.

The massive misses by the umpires were attacked by several former players on social media, including Collingwood Brownlow medallist Dane Swan.

“The AFL need to record the umpires in the rooms after a game talking about who they are voting for,” Swan tweeted.

“Cause I’d love to know how the f**k they made some of the decisions the made this year. And you’d get full transparency so we know there was no funny business going on.”

Umpires made some big misses in the Brownlow. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Former Brisbane and Port player Tom Rockliff was equally confused about what the umpires, this year with four whistleblowers on the field, were seeing.

“If one thing has become clear tonight it’s that the Brownlow Medal can no longer be done by the umpires,” Rockliff tweeted.

“Some of these votes are insane.”

Players in 2023 getting 10 @AFLCoaches votes but no Brownlow votes
R02 DZorko CMills
R03 JdeGoey IRankine
R05 CSerong
R08 ERatugolea LJackson ZButters CWilkie
R09 SDarcy CPetracca
R10 LParker MLewis JSinclair
R17 ACerra
R18 STaylor DRioli
R21 LJackson
R23 JLever@AFL

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) September 25, 2023

Even Neale conceded he was shocked by his win.

“I’m pretty rattled at the moment … I didn’t expect this,” he said after the medal was put around his neck.

“To be among those who have won two, I didn’t expect this.”

Among the other howlers were three votes given to Sydney’s Joel Amartey in round 2 despite him being subbed out just after halftime and retired Essendon ruckman Andrew Phillips being given three votes in Gather Round.

Originally published as Key stats show how badly umpires got the Brownlow votes wrong