The Brown-nose Medal

[Sainternist]

It must be the only pro sports MVP award in the world that is decided by umpires-referees.

Last night’s count was an embarrassment for the league. Surely, they are starting to question how inept their fluorescent maggots are in deciding the three best players in a game of footy?

And they invariably choose midfielders as BOGs. It’s like no other position on the field matters. I can’t believe the AFLPA never says anything about it.

I generally don’t watch it, but decided to catch the tail-end of it last night because I heard it was close. With the umpires’ #1 drinking buddy winning for the second time, I went to bed feeling pissed off.

[Life Long Saint]

Did it need another thread?
viewtopic.php?p=2032677#p2032677

Also, the AFLPA and AFLCA have their own awards which are also always won by a midfielder!

[B.M]

Errol Guldin

42 possessions 2 goals

1 vote


Jack Sinclair
37 possessions 2 goals 10 coaches votes

No votes


Decided by the clueless

[SaintPav]

“Deal with it” is an invalid argument.

[The_Dud]

What would be an alternative ideal scenario for determining the best player for that year?

[Sanctorum]

Back in the days when there was a single field umpire and even when there were 2 and 3 they followed the play all over the ground and could observe the way players performed. Now that there are 4 field umpires they set up 4 parts of the ground and don't necessarilly follow every play when it goes from defence to attack.

Therein lies the problem.

I have long advocated that the Umpire's Association should nominate 2 off-field umpires situated in a special room to watch the game from the grandstand, complete with video repkay technology, and award the 3, 2, and 1 votes accordngly.

The Brownlow Medal is the most prestigious AFL award with substantial historical recognition and significant financial benefit to the winner in terms of endorsements.

It goes to the player adjudged to be the year's "best and fairest". As such it is incumbent on the AFL to ensure the voting process is likewise, "best and fairest"!

[Otiman]

What would be an alternative ideal scenario for determining the best player for that year?

The problem isn't the Brownlow voting itself, more that it's the most revered award above the players and coaches association awards.

The Brownlow medal is and should always be an umpires award.

I don't know how the voting currently works, but if it's individual umpires votes tallied up to a 3-2-1 then that's flawed. IMO they should convene at the end of each match and share opinions, stats, and vote 3-2-1 as a group.

[The_Dud]

What would be an alternative ideal scenario for determining the best player for that year?

The problem isn't the Brownlow voting itself, more that it's the most revered award above the players and coaches association awards.

The Brownlow medal is and should always be an umpires award.

I don't know how the voting currently works, but if it's individual umpires votes tallied up to a 3-2-1 then that's flawed. IMO they should convene at the end of each match and share opinions, stats, and vote 3-2-1 as a group.

I think this is the first year the AFL haven't let the umpires look at stats before voting?

[CURLY]

Its done by umpires that are both biased and pretty much clueless.

[Life Long Saint]

What would be an alternative ideal scenario for determining the best player for that year?

The problem isn't the Brownlow voting itself, more that it's the most revered award above the players and coaches association awards.

The Brownlow medal is and should always be an umpires award.

I don't know how the voting currently works, but if it's individual umpires votes tallied up to a 3-2-1 then that's flawed. IMO they should convene at the end of each match and share opinions, stats, and vote 3-2-1 as a group.

That last part is my understanding. The umpires discuss and agree the 3-2-1.
They should be allowed to look at stats.
I umpire sub-district cricket, and we vote as a group but look at the score card to help us determine best players.

Agree on the first part. There are many awards in the game that aren't voted on by the umpires. ALFPA, AFLCA, media, AA. Leave the Brownlow be.
Oh, and all the other individual awards are always won by midfielders. Not surprising when you have 1/3 of players in most teams running through the midfield.
What surprises me is the high number of votes players get today compared to previous decades. We seem to have less vote spread than we used to.
Not sure why that is.

[The_Dud]

Its done by umpires that are both biased and pretty much clueless.

[Otiman]

I think this is the first year the AFL haven't let the umpires look at stats before voting?

Yes but it's less about restricting access to stats and more about the betting rorts that happened. "No access to phones" is the reason.

[sunsaint]

Its done by umpires that are both biased and pretty much clueless.

I wonder if they were clueless when Locket got his or Harvey twice?

[CURLY]

Its done by umpires that are both biased and pretty much clueless.

I wonder if they were clueless when Locket got his or Harvey twice?

Yep

[D.B.Cooper]

Its done by umpires that are both biased and pretty much clueless.

Take that to the bank, as posted by someone who is an expert in being both biased and clueless.

[CURLY]

Its done by umpires that are both biased and pretty much clueless.

Take that to the bank, as posted by someone who is an expert in being both biased and clueless.

No dramas Squeezer.

[The_Dud]

Its done by umpires that are both biased and pretty much clueless.

Take that to the bank, as posted by someone who is an expert in being both biased and clueless.

[The_Dud]

In a shock twist, apparently the NRL world aren't happy with their league B&F (Dally M) winner either!

In their system it says two independent judges award 3-2-1 votes each.

So maybe, just maybe, the issue is actually with every man (and woman) and they're dog having an opinion and access to the internet and not so much the system that chooses the winner?

I doubt there could ever be a system devised that would satisfy everybody.