AFL umpires expected to be given access to game statistics for Brownlow Medal voting in 2026

After a recent meeting at league headquarters, the huge Brownlow Medal-winning totals of Matt Rowell and Patrick Cripps might be a thing of the past.

With the Brownlow Medal continuing to lose its lustre due in large part to massive recent winning totals, expect the umpires to be given access to game statistics in 2026.

In another vote for commonsense at league headquarters, whistleblowers were consulted this week for a meeting as to how after-match voting procedures will work.

AFL football boss Greg Swann had flagged the change after Matt Rowell won the 2025 Brownlow with 39 votes, a year after Patrick Cripps had polled a record 45 to win.

Swann’s thoughts were backed by veteran AFL umpire Simon Meredith, who said: “If you get stats, I’m sure that would add something that we could look at, to help us.”

Matt Rowell after winning the 2025 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

HUGE SHAKE-UP FOR AFL’S U18 COMPETITION

The AFL’s under-18 competition is again on the hunt for a new name after Coates ended its sponsorship.

Known as the Coates Talent League, the equipment rental company chose not to renew its naming rights for the majority feeder of prime draft talent in boys and girls heading into 2026.

Coates’ departure from the league was confirmed last week.

The Coates branding will stay on during most communications leading into the AFLW Draft on December 15 but it will be largely referred to as just the ‘Talent League’, with that name to be in place until a new sponsor emerges.

Draftees Oliver Greeves, Xavier Taylor and Lachy Dovaston after 2025 Coates Talent League Boys Grand Final. Picture: Lachie Chugg/AFL Photos

In an email to officials Talent Competition Operations Coordinator Michaela Adair confirmed the change.

“Coates has confirmed it will not be renewing its partnership with the Talent League for the 2026 season.

“The AFL thanks Coates for its support and significant contribution of the Talent League over the past three seasons.

“We will now commence a phase-out of the Coates branding across Talent League assets.

“In the interim, please refer to the competition as the Talent League.”

Coates took over as naming rights sponsor of the competition in 2023, with the competition previously known as the NAB League.

NAB sponsored the league for four years starting in 2019.

It was previously known as the TAC Cup, which held naming rights from the league’s inception in 1992.

Most genuine prospects spend their draft years aligned with a Coates Talent League team, with 36 of the 60 players taken in the national draft last month from Talent League sides.

It includes 12 Victorian sides, teams from Tasmania and Northern Territory and academy teams aligned with Sydney, GWS Giants, Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast.

The Victorian clubs also compete in shorter under-16 competitions.

VFL CLUBS TO BE HANDED BLUEPRINT

Expect the AFL to set out a clear pathway over the next three years for stand-alone teams and interstate sides in the VFL.

The cost of an eastern seaboard competition is prohibitive and in an ideal world the NSW and Queensland-based teams would play in their own leagues.

The six stand-alone teams in Victoria are likely to be given a blueprint as to what is required of them over the next three years.

Originally published as AFL umpires expected to be given access to game statistics for Brownlow Medal voting in 2026