Dustin Martin, Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane battle in wide-open Brownlow Medal raceJay Clark,
Herald Sun
June 5, 2017IT is shaping up as the most wide-open Brownlow Medal races of the modern era.
Just like the premierships race, one of the most intriguing sub-plots of an incredibly even season is the race from the batch of superstar midfielders for the top individual honour in footy.
And right now, barely a whisker separates Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield from the career-best form of Richmond’s Dustin Martin and Adelaide ball-winner Rory Sloane.
In fact, Champion Data, which has perfected its Brownlow predictor in recent years, believes there’s a maximum two votes between the blistering trio at the half-way mark of the season.
It has Dangerfield (16.8 votes) ahead of Martin (16.5) and Sloane (15.2), and the chasing pack, headlined by Geelong superstar Joel Selwood (11.4) and sought-after Greater Western Sydney star Josh Kelly (9.9).
Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver (13.1) is the wildcard even though history says he probably can’t win it in his second season.
While Dangerfield remains a slender favourite to win back-to-back medals, Martin secured another guaranteed three votes with his superb 38-possession and two-goal demolition job on North Melbourne on Saturday night.
And it comes amid a challenging personal backdrop that makes his performances so far this season even more remarkable.
Martin on Sunday jetted out of Melbourne airport to New Zealand see his father, Shane, who was deported out of the country last season due to some character concerns, according to the Federal Police.
He is also out of contract and the subject of a bidding war from North Melbourne and St Kilda, even though Richmond sources are supremely confident he will stay on a deal in excess of $1 million a season.
Clearly, the distraction hasn’t worried him.
Former Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola has suggested Martin is completing extra sessions three times a week outside of his normal training to enhance his tank.
Former North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey and dual best and fairest winner Wayne Schwass on Sunday both tipped Martin to take out his first Brownlow.
However, Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling and Richmond goal kicking great Matthew Richardson both tipped Dangerfield.
Richardson said he’d tip Dangerfield ahead of Martin and Sloane.
“You’d put a trifecta on them for the top-three,” Richardson said on 3AW.
Schwass said Martin’s fitness improvements were key to his form this season.
“It’s not surprising when you learn about that that he is consistently producing that sort of performance every week,” Schwass said on Triple M.
“It’s testament to the work that he is doing away from the footy club.”
What could hurt Dangerfield is his inspirational teammate Selwood taking some votes.
Dangerfield has overcome a three-round slow patch in the early part of the season amid concerns he was dealing with a broken rib.
Selwood inspirationally led the Cats to their third-straight win at home on Friday night, beating premiership heavyweight Adelaide. Selwood reportedly received up to 10 stitches after an on-field collision with Crow Andy Otten yet bravely played on.
MIDFIELDER’S MEDAL
Champion Data’s Brownlow Tracker1. Patrick Dangerfield (Adel) 16.8 votes
2. Dustin Martin (Rich) 16.53. Rory Sloane (Adel) 15.2
4. Clayton Oliver (Melb) 13.1
5. Joel Selwood (Geel) 11.4
6. Trent Cotchin (Rich) 10.347. Josh Kelly (GWS) 9.9
8. Gary Ablett (GC) 9.5
9. Marcus Bontempelli (WB) 9.3
10. Zach Merrett (Ess) 9.1
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