



ADELAIDE: Patrick Dangerfield In the absence of Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker, Dangerfield has spent more time in attack this season, resulting in lower possession numbers. His class, skill and explosive speed, though, have been on full show. He is clearly the Crows' best player and has booted four goals on three occasions this season. He's missed two games with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder but should poll in just about every one of Adelaide's six wins. - Harry Thring





BRISBANE LIONS: Matthew Leuenberger The Lions have stormed home in the back half of the season to move to eight wins, but expect the Brownlow votes to be shared. Pearce Hanley is ineligible due to an early season suspension, while ruckman Matthew Leuenberger and midfielders Brent Moloney and Tom Rockliff should poll well. Leuenberger was best afield against Gold Coast in round 15 and should pick up votes in other matches. Moloney's clearance work and power running has been prominent, particularly against Melbourne (round five) and Geelong (round 13), while Rockliff has had a super stretch from rounds 16-19 that could see him poll in each match. - Michael Whiting





CARLTON: Andrew Walker

Andrew Walker has been Carlton's best and most eye-catching player this season. The reborn rebounder has become the Blues' preferred ball-user in the back half with his enterprising running and delivery, which was most telling in the first half of the season. Second in the AFL in defensive rebounds, fifth in kicks and sixth in running bounces, Walker has amassed 25-plus possessions on eight occasions and topped 30 three times. But more impressive than the numbers has been the daring manner in which he goes about his work, as evidenced by his long run and goal in round nine against St Kilda. Will face some opposition from Lachie Henderson, Jeff Garlett and two-time Brownlow medallist Chris Judd. - Ben Collins

















Andrew Walker may edge past Carlton's star-studded midfield in this year's vote count. Picture: AFL Media





COLLINGWOOD: Dane Swan or Scott Pendlebury



Toss of thecoin. Take your pick. Call for the developed print. Both have form, with Swanthe winner in 2011 and Pendlebury a consistent vote getter, with 81 votes tohis name in six seasons including 24 in 2011 when he tied for third behindSwan. Pendlebury is running fourth in the AFL Coaches Association votes, whileSwan is in eighth place. The pair have dominated this year, with Pendleburyaveraging 29 touches and Swan 31 a game. - Ashley Browne





ESSENDON: Jobe Watson



It wouldn't surprise if Jobe Watson is leading this year's Brownlow count by the half-way mark, given his form at the start of the season. There were several standout performances by the Essendon skipper in the first nine games for the Bombers, and he could reap up to four best-on-ground showings. It's likely to slow down from there, however. A patch of quieter form and then a broken collarbone, which saw him miss three games, means although Watson will lead Essendon's count, it's hard to see him being a back-to-back Brownlow medallist. - Callum Twomey





FREMANTLE: Nat Fyfe (ineligible) There is a potential heartbreak brewing at Fremantle, with ineligible midfielder Nat Fyfe expected to poll more than 20 votes on Brownlow Medal night. The eye-catching young star, who has averaged 26.4 possessions this season, was suspended for two matches for kicking Richmond's Daniel Jackson in round five. Otherwise, he has not missed a game, regularly rating as one of the top two players on the ground. Midfielder Michael Barlow, who has averaged 27 disposals in 17 games, has rediscovered his best football this season and should poll strongly. Stoppage specialist David Mundy has also enjoyed a fine season. Michael Walters and Hayden Ballantyne could snare the maximum three votes in a handful of games between them. - Nathan Schmook





GEELONG: Joel Selwood The Match Review Panel has not been kind to a number of Cats this season. Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly and James Podsiadly are all ineligible to win the Brownlow. However, Geelong skipper Joel Selwood remains right in contention. According to projections, Selwood could poll maximum votes in six games so far this season. He is also likely to be the early leader, after potentially receiving three votes in round one (Hawthorn), round two (North Melbourne) and, almost certainly, round four (Sydney Swans). The umpires love him and his style of play screams pure 'match-winner'. - Ben Guthrie





GOLD COAST: Gary Ablett - Ben Guthrie You could put a down payment on your house for Gary Ablett to poll the most Brownlow votes for the Suns, and not even break a sweat. Not only is Ablett a certainty to poll the most votes for the Suns, but according to most betting markets he is nearly assured of taking home 'Charlie' No. 2. Look for the Suns star to poll maximum votes in round one against the Saints, round seven against Melbourne, round nine against the Hawks, round 11 against North Melbourne and round 17 against Collingwood. If those projections are accurate, then September's count could be a one-horse race.





GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY: Jeremy Cameron

- James Dampney For a team stuck on the bottom of the ladder, Brownlow votes will be hard to come by. Last year, Jonathan Giles' modest seven votes led the way. Forwards are also often overlooked in voting, but Jeremy Cameron's eye-catching season has him as the best-placed Giant this year. His career-high seven goals against Collingwood in round 18 left all observers in awe and should also bring three Brownlow votes. Six goals against Essendon in round six and an 18-possession, nine-mark and four-goal haul against Geelong in round 11 may also bring a vote or two. He has also only missed one match to date, rested against North Melbourne in round 14.

















Star forward Jeremy Cameron has been a beacon of light at GWS this year. Picture: AFL Media

HAWTHORN: Sam Mitchell AFL.com.au's running count, while Roughead is ahead of the other two in- Mark Macgugan The Hawks' vote leader should come from the trio of Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jarryd Roughead, but their order is hard to pick. Hodge is the leading Hawk inrunning count, while Roughead is ahead of the other two in the AFL Coaches Association award , and Mitchell ($21 to win) is favoured by bookies (Hodge and Roughead are both $51). Given Roughead's poor voting history (only 17 career votes) and Hodge's recent thumb fracture, perhaps the historically prolific Mitchell is your best bet to be on top by season's end.

MELBOURNE: Nathan Jones Considering Melbourne has only won two games this season, it shouldn't be too hard to work out who will be the club's leading Brownlow vote-getter. Alongside Colin Garland, Nathan Jones has been Melbourne's best player in 2013, and it's no surprise he led the way in the wins over GWS (round four) and Bulldogs (round 14). The nuggety midfielder received 14 votes last year, proving umpires are starting to take notice. Effectively a lone hand in a dismal Melbourne midfield, Jones has averaged 24 disposals this season and should poll well in the two victories, while his consistency may result in a few sneaky votes in Melbourne losses. - Niall Seewang





NORTH MELBOURNE: Brent Harvey - Nick Bowen Picking North's top vote-getter in this year's Brownlow is like trying to pick a Melbourne Cup winner. Captain Andrew Swallow sprung out of the gates this year but hit a mid-season form trough and will miss the final five rounds through injury. North's most consistent player in 2013, Scott Thompson, is a defender and unlikely to win many votes from the umpires. So, despite missing the first six rounds through suspension, veteran Brent Harvey is the Roos' likely top poller. The 35-year-old is a proven vote-getter and has played a string of outstanding games since his return.





PORT ADELAIDE: Chad Wingard - Harry Thring His skipper Travis Boak would be Wingard's greatest challenger in terms of Port's highest Brownlow vote-getter this year, but the 20-year-old's recent form suggests he's edging ahead. His magnificent five-goal game to topple Adelaide last weekend surely locked his place in the All Australian side and he's attracted votes in 12 of his 18 games this season for the AFL Coaches Association player of the year award. A consistently skilful, smooth-moving midfielder/forward who kicks goals, Wingard is sure to catch the umpires' attention.





RICHMOND: Trent Cotchin While he didn't reach his high standards during the first half of the season, captain Trent Cotchin has been building form and could be the Tigers' leading vote-winner. Equal second in the Brownlow Medal last year with 26 votes, he has played 17 games and averaged 26.9 possessions in 2013. Brett Deledio has been hot and cold this year, either taking the game by the scruff of the neck or being tagged out of the contest. Likewise, Dustin Martin has played some superb games but is not expected to poll consistently. Expect the evenness of Richmond's midfield to be reflected in votes also being shared among Brandon Ellis, Daniel Jackson and Reece Conca. - Nathan Schmook





ST KILDA: Leigh Montagna Leigh Montagna and Jack Steven have had solid years while David Armitage started the season well and could poll votes in rounds one and three, where he had 25 and 31 disposals respectively. Then there's Nick Riewoldt, who had a solid month towards the mid-part of the season and could very well sneak ahead with impressive displays in rounds six, seven and nine in particular. But it's likely to be Montagna who polls the most with a spate of handy performances in the second half of the season, including his 35 disposals against Melbourne in round 13. - Jennifer Phelan





SYDNEY SWANS: Kieren Jack

- James Dampney During the opening half of the season, Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery was being discussed as possibly the biggest challenger to Gary Ablett. But Jack has now gone past his great mate. No less than 12 times in 18 games Jack has scored better than 100 Dream Team points and his all-round ability will catch the eye of the umpires. Jack is leading the AFL Coaches' Association champion player award , having averaged 26 disposals, a team-high 7.2 tackles and one goal per contest. Some of his possible three-vote games include 32 touches and a goal against Adelaide in round 11 and a stunning 30-disposal, two-goal and career-best 13-tackle effort against the Bulldogs last week.









Is Sydney Swans midfielder Kieren Jack the biggest challenger to Gary Ablett? Picture: AFL Media





WEST COAST: Matt Priddis

It will be a tight, low-scoring race between Priddis, Scott Selwood and Luke Shuey for the highest polling Eagle but Priddis has played four more matches than Selwood to date and five more than Shuey. The 2006 Sandover medallist has polled 62 career votes and polled 19 in 2011 when he averaged 26 disposals. He's averaged 24 this season. Priddis gathered 33 touches in wins versus Adelaide and Melbourne and should poll three votes against St Kilda for 27 and two goals. - Alex Malcolm



