Footy fans stunned by ‘mind-blowing’ 3-vote games swinging Brownlow

Lachie Neale claimed his second Brownlow Medal, winning by just two votes - but serious questions have been raised over one round.

A couple of shock best on ground votes have rocked the Brownlow Medal count.

Brisbane star Lachie Neale has claimed his second Brownlow Medal, winning by just two votes - but there was controversy over a three-vote game where he had just seven kicks.

Social media erupted when Neale was dubbed best on ground in Brisbane’s Round 6 win; a match where he wasn’t expected to poll and didn’t receive any coaches’ votes for his efforts against GWS.

Watch Fox Footy’s massive Grand Final Day coverage on Kayo including the Grand Final Breakfast and Longest Kick competition, plus analysis from the best team in the business. New to Kayo? Try 14 days free >

Neale ended up claiming the Brownlow with 31 votes - taking the win from Western Bulldogs’ star Marcus Bontempelli who finished on 29 votes.

I think the umpires must have got confused giving Lachie Neale three votes in round 6. Just watched every possession. 7 kicks, 13 handballs. One clanger, five ineffective touches. No coaches votes. Not horrible, but not one eye catching moment. Charlie Cameron seven goals 🤔

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 25, 2023

If one thing has become clear tonight it’s that the Brownlow medal can no longer be done by the umpires.. some of these votes are insane.
Neale 3 vs Giants was a bit how you going but Horne Francis 3 vs Cats is mind blowing #BrownlowMedal

— Tom Rockliff (@rockwiz38) September 25, 2023

And he wasn’t the only controversial three-vote getter with young Port mid Jason Horne-Francis getting the nod in an umpiring decision labelled a “travesty” by Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph.

In a match where Giant Josh Kelly had 41 disposals, and Neale’s teammate Daniel Rich racked up 27 disposals and 750m gained while Charlie Cameron kicked seven goals, Neale was announced as the three-vote getter Brisbane’s Round 6 win.

Neale was the 10th highest disposal getter in the match, with an efficiency of just 65 per cent.

The decision to award him the best on ground title stunned the AFL community, and turned the Brownlow Medal count in the Lions’ star’s favour.

That three-vote effort helped him jump to the top of the leaderboard midway through the count. And he then claimed the win in the final round of the season.

https://t.co/ROau79XUN4pic.twitter.com/esdOGDycPJ

— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) September 25, 2023

Wow, Lachie Neale is right in this. Three votes against GWS for a 20 disposals (six clearances, three score involvements) is found money. Charlie Cameron kicked seven goals that day. J.Kelly had 41 and Cogs 38.

— Michael Whiting (@MichaelWhiting) September 25, 2023

Neale’s 7 kicks got him three votes 🧐 https://t.co/Ao3wkvSisC

— Drew Jones (@DrewJonesFOX) September 25, 2023

Lachie Neale 3 votes (20 touches)
Charlie Cameron 2 votes (7 goals)
Daniel Rich 1 vote (27 touches)

No votes for Josh Kelly or Stephen Coniglio.

Would have been an intriguing discussion between the umpires.

😳😳😳 #BrownlowMedalpic.twitter.com/NNWmQHTL4P

— Paddy Sweeney (@SweeneyPaddy9) September 25, 2023

If you can make a case for Lachie Neale polling 3 Votes in Round 6 when he had 20 disposals, 6 clearances and 3 score involvements ahead of Charlie Cameron 7 goals, kelly 41 disposals, coniglio 38 disposals or Brent Daniels 4 goals. Become an umpire 😂😂😂😂

— Campbell brown (@Browndogg_30x) September 25, 2023

The decision to award Horne-Francis a best on ground honour in Round 14 was just as baffling.

Horne-Francis had just 13 disposals, one mark and one tackle to finish the 22nd highest possession getter for the match.

He didn’t hit the scoreboard and went at just 53.8% disposal efficiency for the clash – while also coughing up four free kicks on the night.

In a tweet, Ralph said Horne-Francis had “zero impact” while other critics were left in equal shock by the umpires’ opinion.

I just watched every possession of Horne-Francis getting three votes for 13 touches v Geelong and it's a travesty. 13 touches. Four ineffective, two clangers, four short kicks. One scrounged kick off the ground that went a metre. Zero impact. Time to let umpires look at stats. https://t.co/s7Ps54fVNC

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 25, 2023

Jason Horne-Francis had 13 disposals and didn’t kick a goal against Geelong in Round 14. But he got the Brownlow three votes. That is a spectacular effort from Jason!

— Adam White (@White_Adam) September 25, 2023

3 votes!! 😂😂 @kanecornes did you give votes this game? #brownlowpic.twitter.com/3UkSs1QuG1

— Brad Klibansky (@BradKlibansky) September 25, 2023

Originally published as Footy fans stunned by ‘mind-blowing’ 3-vote games swinging Brownlow