3 minute read

The AFL Brownlow Medal count is wide open and, while Patrick Dangerfield is the favourite, several players have strong claims.

Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield might have company if the AFL Brownlow Medalist wins the award for a second time.

Over past decades, there has been a tie when the count has looked this open - one way or another.

Dangerfield was the strong favourite when he won his first Brownlow three years ago, in his first season at Geelong.

He has led the TAB Sportsbet betting again on Sunday as their $2.50 favourite, but there is a widespread feeling that this will be a tough count to predict.

It is vastly different to the past four years, when Nat Fyfe ($2), Dangerfield ($1.16), Dustin Martin ($1.05) and Tom Mitchell ($1.45) had confirmed their outright favouritism.

Collingwood's Nathan Buckley was the $3 favourite in 2003, but it also was an open field and he ended up sharing the award with Sydney's Adam Goodes and Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto.

Then came 2012, when Essendon captain Jobe Watson was the No.1 favourite at the longer odds of $4.50.

Watson won, but eventually had the medal taken away because of the Essendon supplements debacle.

Runners-up Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell share the 2012 medal.

The biggest upset of the past two decades was clearly 2014, when West Coast ball magnet and $41 outsider Matt Priddis came from the clouds to win.

Dangerfield finished off the season strongly, with a trio of 30-plus possession games that looked certain to bring him votes.

So if is he is in the neighbourhood by round 20, the Cats' ace is a massive show to win on Monday night.

Teammate Tim Kelly looms as his achilles heel, given he is certain to take some votes away.

The same applies to Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli, given teammates Jack Macrae and Josh Dunkley also had enjoyed strong seasons.

If Bontempelli wins his first Brownlow, there will inevitably be controversy over his round-22 fine for a high hit that had left GWS opponent Nick Haynes with a neck injury.

Bontempelli effectively was saved a suspension, which would have made him ineligible for the Brownlow, because the Giants did not submit a medical report in time.

Brisbane onballer Lachie Neale, Fyfe and Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps are the other favourites.

Neale and Bontempelli are on the second line of betting at $6.

Fyfe and Cripps will struggle to poll enough three-vote games with their teams failing to make the finals.