Predicted most votes: Marc Murphy. In his first year as Carlton’s skipper, the AFL.com.au team awarded Murphy best-afield honours three times and two votes on another two occasions. Ten of these votes came in the opening eight rounds when he was still getting into gear after a pre-season limited by knee surgery.
Consider: Dual medalist Chris Judd missed four games, but can’t be dismissed as a potential club leader. Fellow runners Brock McLean and Andrew Walker should also be rewarded for career-best seasons.
Roughie: Jarrad Waite played just 14 games due to injury and suspension, but averaged two goals and two contested marks and was always dangerous.
Ineligible: Eddie Betts, Jarrad Waite
Where: Crown Palladium, Melbourne
When: Monday September 23, 8:15pm
The Red Carpet: The night is almost as much about the fashion as the Brownlow Medal itself. Partners of AFL players have the chance to dress up and strut their stuff on the red carpet, prior to the count at about 7:30pm.
What is the Brownlow? The Brownlow Medal is the AFL's highest individual honour, awarded to the best and fairest player of any given home and away season. The Charles (Chas) Brownlow Medal was first instituted in 1924 to perpetuate the memory of Charles Brownlow – the Geelong administrator who died aged 62 on January 23, 1924.
How the voting works: At the end of each home and away game across the AFL season, the three field umpires reach a consensus on who they believe are the most influential players on the ground. They then enter their votes on a 3, 2, 1 basis.
Where the votes are stored: The umpires have to deliver their votes to AFL House when lodging the match-day paperwork. The votes are then stored at Armaguard head office in a locked safe. On the night, the envelopes are delivered by Armaguard truck and are only opened once the count begins.
Who attends: Past winners and their partners, AFL Commission members, and then each club invites five players – including the captain. The past winners from those teams are also given the option of attending, in addition to the five players.
The medal: The Brownlow Medal is made by Melbourne-based company Cash's – which also constructs the premiership cup and Norm Smith Medal. The AFL has three Brownlow Medals on hand on the night, while the League has already flown a medal over to Perth and Sydney (in case a Swan, Giant, Eagle or Docker wins). Once the winner receives his medal, he is allowed to hold onto it.
Eligibility: Players who are eligible to win the medal must not receive more than 100 points in an incident assessed by the Match Review Panel during the year. If suspended for a game, a player is ineligible to win the award.
Past winners:
2012: Jobe Watson (Essendon) – 30 votes
2011: Dane Swan (Collingwood) – 34 votes
2010: Chris Judd (Carlton) – 30 votes
2009: Gary Ablett (Geelong) – 30 votes
2008: Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs) – 24 votes
2007: Jimmy Bartel (Geelong) – 29 votes
2006: Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans) – 26 votes
2005: Ben Cousins (West Coast) – 20 votes
2004: Chris Judd (West Coast) – 30 votes
2003: Nathan Buckley (Collingwood), Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans), Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide) – 22 votes
Most wins:
3 – Haydn Bunton – Fitzroy (1931, 1932, 1935)
3 – Dick Reynolds – Essendon (1934, 1937, 1938)
3 – Bob Skilton – South Melbourne (1959, 1963, 1968)
3 – Ian Stewart – St Kilda/Richmond (1965, 1966, 1971)
