Gavin Wanganeen, with '93 Norm Smith medallist Michael Long, won a Brownlow from the back pocket. Almost certainly wouldn't happen today. Credit:Stuart Hannagan If you look back at recent winners, non-midfielders are few and far between. Adam Goodes played in the ruck but was effectively a midfielder when he won his first Brownlow in 2003. Before that Chris Grant missed out in 1997 due to suspension, just as Corey McKernan did in 1996 when he tied with James Hird and Michael Voss. It was a different story in the early 90s with Gavin Wanganeen in a back pocket when he won in 1993. In the two years prior it went to ruckmen Scott Wynd and Jim Stynes, and Tony Lockett also won the medal in 1987. Since then the game has evolved, with midfielders getting far more of the football, but the Brownlow should be less about accumulation and more about influence.

Midfielder Nat Fyfe wins the 2015 Brownlow Medal. Credit:Quinn Rooney That's why I think there is a simple solution. The Brownlow should be decided the way we do the Norm Smith medal for best player on grand final day. Before midfielders ruled: Tony Lockett and John Platten sharing the Brownlow Medal in 1987. Credit:Getty Images The Norm Smith is chosen by various ex-players and respected media people who all vote 3-2-1, before those votes are tallied.

It's a much fairer system that has seen really varied winners in terms of position - such as Cyril Rioli up forward last season, Brian Lake in defence in 2013 and even my old team-mate Glenn Archer in 1996. Rioli had just 18 disposals, but kicked two goals and broke the game open when it was there to be won. It was absolutely the right decision despite the fact Sam Mitchell had 34 possessions. If the umpires had voted, as they do with the Brownlow, I'm not sure the result would have been the same. While I don't think the umpires should be completely frozen out of the voting process, instead they should form one part of a larger panel – perhaps 5 or 6 people. I find it hard to remember a Norm Smith medallist who has been considered overly controversial under that system.

It's worth noting the National Rugby League's highest honour, the Dally M Medal, is decided by experts, rather than the referees. We put Brownlow medallists up on a pedestal, but ultimately only a select group of players can actually win the award because of the flaws in the current model. That's not to say any recent midfield winners are undeserving, far from it. In the case of Dangerfield this year, he doesn't just get the footy, but is also really damaging with it. But that's not always the case. Against Melbourne last week he and Joel Selwood were again brilliant, but I thought Harry Taylor was best on ground with 20 disposals and a number of intercept marks.

What must guys like he and Rance do to get the three votes? If, for instance, you keep Lance Franklin goalless in a grand final you'd probably earn the Norm Smith but, right now, we know it probably wouldn't get you the three votes during the home-and-away season. That type of performance shouldn't be viewed any differently depending on when it happens. Many people will say that we've decided the Brownlow Medal this way for more than 100 years, so why change it now? But we seem to have no problem changing the rules from season to season, so why not this? Loading

Ultimately a change to the voting format will not only ensure a fairer outcome, but would also make for a much more exciting evening when the votes are counted. As it stands the only question worth asking when Brownlow Medal night comes around is: which midfielder wins it this year?