Agree Smoke shouldn't have been eligible thats another argument.
You can poll votes in losing sides, it doesn't matter how many you win? Gary Ablett Snr won a Norm Smith in a losing side, so did Nathan Buckley. Jack Riewoldt polled in the loss to St.Kilda. Morton polled against Port and we lost?
Jack Riewoldt can win a Coleman from the 15th side that won 6 games, Judd can win the Brownlow from a team that won 11.
It's a traditional award that chosen by the officials that umpire the game. The MVP players award has holes as well being voted by the players, most who don't actually watch opposition games and vote on media perception. The most transparent award is the coaches votes awards on Channel 9.