Footy fans – rejoice! The much-anticipated return of the 2020 AFL season is right around the corner, kicking off with a blockbuster clash between Collingwood and Richmond at the MCG on Thursday June 11.
In what will undoubtedly be one of the strangest footy seasons most of us have ever seen, no crowds, shortened matches and a condensed season are just some of the anomalies. But footy is back, so who cares!?
Below we look at the some of the main contenders to take out football’s highest individual honour – the Brownlow Medal.
Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
It feels like it’s a matter of when for the budding Carlton star and co-captain to win a Brownlow Medal. Cripps is coming off a dominant 2019 campaign, where he averaged 28.1 disposals, 6.2 tackles and 8.4 clearances. If not for missing a handful of games through injury, Cripps could well have taken out the award.
The shortened quarters should suit Cripps’ explosive, high-power play through the midfield, and there’s no one else really taking votes off him at the Blues. What could be the 25-year old’s biggest obstacle is whether or not Carlton win enough games. We know that the Brownlow Medal winner typically goes to a player on a successful team, and the Blues are likely headed for another bottom six finish.
Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
Could Fyfe make it a magic number three? Only four players have won a record three Brownlow Medals – Hayden Bunton Sr., Dick Reynolds, Bob Skilton and Ian Stewart, so he would be in seriously rare company. The reigning Brownlow medallist was somewhat of an unsuspecting winner last year despite averaging 29.1 disposals and 7.5 clearances from his 20 games.
If the Dockers can add to their nine wins from last year, Fyfe is every chance. But the biggest question is – are Fremantle going forwards or backwards? With Justin Longmuir taking over as coach, the purple haze stand as one of the biggest mysteries in 2020. We don’t expect much from one of the youngest teams in the league, but it would be silly to write off Fyfe for an award he was taken out twice before. For the best bonus bets for your footy bets, click here.
Dustin Martin (Richmond)
The superstar Tiger has done it all in footy – two premierships, two Norm Smith Medals, a Brownlow Medal and multiple All Australians. Arguably the most dominant player in the game, you can bet that if Richmond are up there again this season, Dusty is a chance to take out ‘Charlie’.
Dusty seemed to have a quieter 2019 campaign, by his lofty standards, at least in the first half of the season. And yet he still managed to poll 23 votes and finish fifth in Brownlow voting. Another star who the shortened quarters are sure to benefit, Dusty firms as one of the chief 2020 Brownlow contenders.
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
The runner-up of last year’s award and favourite going into the event, Dangerfield is set for another big season. He averaged 27.1 disposals and booted 27 goals in 2019 and has shown no signs of slowing down. If anything, Dangerfield’s numbers could only improve as he likely takes on more midfield minutes and a bigger role around the ball following Tim Kelly’s deflection to West Coast.
Another thing in Dangerfield’s favour is Geelong now set to play all their home games at GMHBA Stadium. The 30-year old typically lights it up at Kardinia Park and could seriously thrive with the extra true home fixtures.
