Brownlow Medal Top 3
Clayton Oliver – Is my favourite for the 2021 Brownlow Medal. His elite running and pure skills has led Melbourne to a grand-final this year and has been unstoppable in the midfield. Very clean around the centre clearances and runs all day, which has been hard for the opposition to stop him. Clayton has added another element to his game which is a goal kicking midfielder and been very accurate. The bookies have him at $3.75 and polling around 30 votes. I doubt he gets 30 because the Demons have had a great year and others will steal votes off him but when the Demons won, he was one of the best, so will be hard to catch for this year's Brownlow.
Marcus Bontempelli – Absolute freak of the competition and wouldn’t be surprised if he won the Brownlow by Round 16 because he had such a terrific start to the year, but he didn’t end the season well but that might not matter. Dogs have performed well all year and when they were up and going, the Bont was on fire. Again like Clayton Oliver, the Dogs did have a good year and other players like Hunter, Macrea, Libba and Naughton will take votes off him. I have the Bont leading after Round 12. His end to the year might cost him but at $4, he is a nice bet.
Ollie Wines – What a season for the big bull from the Power. The Power didn’t get off to the greatest start to Season 2021, but Ollie Wines never played a poor game. He was on fire and collected the ball over 30 times on more than 6 occasions. He was also a goal kicking mid and used the ball sublimely this year. When the Power won he was leading the charge and not many other Power players will take votes from him other than Boak, and maybe Dixon, a few times. He is $3.25 with bookies and might be a little too short but can certainly win it.
Smokie – My smokie this year at odds is Sam Walsh from Carlton. He is $26 and if anyone from Carlton is going to poll votes, it is going to be Sam Walsh. Ball magnet who has an elite running ability, also kicked goals and won a few games off his own boot to help Carlton. Cripps would be the only player to take votes off Walsh this year and he only played 17 games, so he will be polling well. Unlikely to win it but umpires love players who collect the ball e.g., Matt Priddis in 2014. At Sam Walsh's odds, have a little dabble.
