We're now two thirds of the way through season 2016, and with the top eight looking set -- with only positional changes left to take place -- Brownlow Medal interest is hotting up.

After Round 8, we assessed the top five Brownlow hopes with Jack Viney, Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Mitchell, Luke Parker and Joel Selwood rated the best chances to take home footy's most prestigious individual honour.

Much has changed since then.

There's still 63 matches remaining and 378 votes up for grabs in 2016's home and away season, but ESPN has narrowed the field down to five main contenders.

Rory Sloane (Adelaide)

Predicted votes after Round 16: 21

When Patrick Dangerfield packed up and departed to Geelong at the end of 2015, many expected the Crows midfield to struggle in his absence. But Sloane has filled the void left by his best mate and has emerged as one of the competition's most complete players. His gut-running and inside game have long been admired, but his leadership, polish and ball-winning ability in 2016 have been a welcome sight for Crows fans and a major reason why Adelaide are in the top four.

Rory Sloane 3 vote games 2 vote games 1 vote games Round 6 - FRE Round 4 - SYD Round 5 - HAW Round 14 - NM Round 8 - GEE Round 9 - GC Round 16 - CAR Round 11 - STK Round 12 - WCE Round 15 - MEL

Did you know? Sloane is producing a career-best year in disposals, contested possessions, tackles and clearances.

ESPN predicts votes for Sloane in 10 of Adelaide's 15 matches played so far - the equal most of any player in the league. The Crows have a favourable run home and will likely start overwhelming favourites in five of their final seven matches, so there's plenty of opportunity to add to his already impressive tally.

UBET says: Opened $81. Now $9.00. One of the big firmers in betting over the last month or so, the hard-running mid has been in everything for the Crows and looks to have more left to give. Solidly specked at long odds prior to the season, the now co-second favourite represents a hefty liability for our fixed odds traders.

Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

Predicted votes after Round 16: 20

Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

If he wasn't one of the hot favourites after eight rounds, he certainly is now. Dangerfield has undoubtedly been the recruit of the year, taking his elite game to another level since joining Geelong at the end of 2015. His ability to win the hard ball and use his speed and brute strength to gain metres is second to none.

Patrick Dangerfield 3 vote games 2 votes games 1 vote games Round 1 - HAW Round 5 - PA Round 7 - WCE Round 3 - BRIS Round 6 - GC Round 8 - ADE Round 12 - NM Round 11 - GWS Round 13 - WB Round 16 - SYD

Did you know? Dangerfield has polled at least 20 votes in the past four seasons - no other player boasts a similar record.

Back-to-back masterclasses from Dangerfield in rounds 12 and 13 -- when he single-handedly destroyed North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs -- exemplified what it takes to win the prestigious award. He's come close to winning the medal on a couple of occasions, but Dangerfield heads into the final third of 2016 with his best chance yet of snaring the award.

UBET says: Opened $8.00. Now $2.35. Still heads proceedings by some margin, but may not have been amongst the vote getters the past few rounds. A prolific ball winner who plays in one of the premier teams, he has been popular with punters all season and has several five-figure bets riding on him.

Luke Parker (Sydney)

Predicted votes after Round 16: 20

Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Parker is one of the most important cogs in the Sydney engine room. He started the year in ominous fashion, before a midseason dip in form saw him fall off the Brownlow radar. But, another impressive month has seen the 23-year-old shoot back into contention and he appears on course for a serious tilt at the medal.

Luke Parker 3 vote games 2 vote games 1 vote games Round 1 - COL Round 2 - CAR Round 11 - GC Round 3 - GWS Round 5 - WCE Round 6 - BRIS Round 13 - MEL Round 15 - WB

Did you know? Parker has only polled Brownlow votes in 12 of his 101 AFL matches before 2016.

Parker's goal-kicking and high-disposal games are likely to attract the umpires' attention, but the plethora of stars at the Swans in Dan Hannebery, Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy could snatch valuable votes. Nevertheless, he's certainly one to keep an eye one.

UBET says: Opened $26. Now $15. Relatively 'safe' in the betting at $26 before the season started, he got into $6.50 for the award at one stage, before blowing like the north wind back out to $15. An important cog of the Swans' engine room, he is always close to the action, which is a trait umpires love.

Dustin Martin (Richmond)

Predicted votes after Round 16: 18

Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

After a relatively quiet first third of the season, Martin has catapulted himself into Brownlow Medal discussions after a blistering patch of form. The Tiger averaged 24 disposals through five rounds, but since then has upped it significantly to 33. At his best - which is starting to appear on a more consistent basis - Martin is a menace for any opposition with his power, strength and ability to turn any match on its head.

Dustin Martin 3 vote games 2 vote games 1 vote games Round 10 - ESS Round 8 - SYD Round 2 - COLL Round 12 - GC Round 9 - FRE Round 7 - HAW Round 14 - BRIS Round 16 - WB

Did you know? Between rounds 8-23 last year, Martin polled more votes than any other player in the competition (21).

In recent seasons, the Tigers have won the majority of their games in the second half of the year. If they can do it again, you'd expect Martin will have a great chance of becoming the first Richmond player to win the award in 45 years.

UBET says: Opened $34. Now $9.00. Another noted vote poller, the Tigers' star has been steadily moving up the odds board over the past few rounds. Among the more popular selections over the last month, Martin is often the best on ground in a losing side and must be considered a realistic hope.

Joel Selwood (Geelong)

Predicted votes after Round 16: 15

Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

The arrival of Dangerfield has thrilled everyone at Geelong, but none more so than Selwood. The skipper has relished less attention from opposition players and is back to his 2013 best; a year where he finished runner-up in the Brownlow with 27 votes.

Joel Selwood 3 vote games 2 vote games 1 vote games Round 5 - PA Round 3 - BRIS Round 6 - GC Round 11 - GWS Round 7 - WCE Round 12 - NM Round 13 - WB

Did you know? After Nat Fyfe and Gary Ablett, Selwood has the best vote polling average of any current player with an average of 0.82 votes per match.

While his season has been superb, Selwood will need to turn in a few more best-on-ground performances if he's to upstage his team-mate and take home the medal. His consistency is impressive, but Selwood needs more three-vote games or he may just have to witness a third team-mate in 10 years take home Charlie.

UBET says: Opened $17. Now $9.00. Punters have gone cold on him in the past month, coinciding with the Cats dropping a couple of winnable games. Will be fighting for votes with Dangerfield and has had injury and tribunal problems in the past, which are concerns.