AFLW fans were blown away by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s performance in St Kilda’s recent clash against Melbourne. This has opened a major discussion surrounding how players are acknowledged across the Brownlow Medal voting system. Her return performance of four goals and 34 touches was phenomenal. He received just 2 votes from the AFL umpires. This trend has raised important questions about the criteria used to vote. It sheds light on how high-performing players are recognized, even in the absence of a win.
Wanganeen-Milera’s is the most exotic of this season’s instances, in part because he placed third in the season end 2023 Brownlow Medal count. The current alternative voting system is, and has been, under fire. These days half the clubs unveil the whole top ten at their best and fairest awards, and most still bestow different medals for first-second-third or first-second-third-fourth finishes. The Brownlow Medal is awarded to the best and fairest player each season in the Australian Football League (AFL). In doing so, it often discounts the players who come up short of outpacing the eventual winner.
Nick Daicos, who finished as the runner-up in this year’s Brownlow Medal, has consistently performed at a high level, finishing in the top three for three consecutive years. In contrast, Matt Rowell, another up-and-comer at this season’s voting, showed extraordinary talent. Melbourne’s Jack Viney was given three votes for his brilliant performance, which included 23 touches and 16 tackles.
Fans and analytic types alike are growing impatient for a swap. They hope to have more runner-ups recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments. Andrew Dillon, AFL’s Chief Executive, admitted as much.
“We’d have to work out, would it be on the night or would you do it afterwards? But I think there’s certainly something should be celebrated about the placings in the Brownlow. I think there’s something in that.” – Andrew Dillon
Dillon further hinted that the current conversations about whether umpires should have access to player stats should affect future voting behavior.
“Look we talk to the umpires each year about access to stats and we’ve put that to them in the last three or four years they haven’t wanted that, but we’ll have the conversation with them.” – Andrew Dillon
Media personalities among them Caroline Wilson have come out with an irate tone over the idea of runner-ups being rewarded. She raised the issue of fairness when it comes to leaving out everyone who comes in second or third.
“Does it feel unfair sometimes that the guy who finishes second or even third isn’t recognised?” – Caroline Wilson
Dillon was very enthusiastic in agreement on this contention, proposing something like medals for people who finish in second and third place might be nice touching gestures.
“Yeah, look, it’s a really good point, Caro… So I think if there was a way that we could acknowledge, particularly second and third in the Brownlow.” – Andrew Dillon
