WEST Coast midfielder Matt Priddis shocked punters, bookies and AFL pundits last season by taking out the Brownlow Medal.

But he wasn’t the first player in recent years to win the medal from a team that finished around the middle of the ladder and didn’t have a host of vote-stealing midfielders.

Four of the past five Brownlow winners, Priddis included, have come from teams that finished eighth or lower on the ladder. Those winners also polled at least 16 more votes than their next-best teammate.

So could Joel Selwood continue the recent Brownlow trend?

Round 18

When the Geelong skipper stars, it’s near impossible for umpires not to give him votes. He’s already a proven poller, averaging 19 Brownlow votes per season since 2008.

West Coast’s Matt Priddis was a surprise Brownlow Medallist in 2014. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

The Cats aren’t expected to finish too high on the ladder either, yet should win enough games to push for the finals.

And with Jimmy Bartel injured, Steve Johnson set to spend more time in the forward line and younger midfielders like Cameron Guthrie, Mitch Duncan and Josh Caddy not accumulating the same monstrous numbers, Geelong Brownlow votes are Selwood’s for the taking.

After a quiet first two weeks by his lofty standards, the Cats skipper returned to his inspirational self on Sunday, single-handedly lifting his team to victory against the Gold Coast Suns at Simonds Stadium.

Selwood finished with 38 disposals, 23 contested possessions and 12 clearances, of which eight were directly from centre bounces. He also chipped in with one goal and was involved in eight scoring chains.

Joel Selwood gathered 38 disposals against Gold Coast. Source: Getty Images

A fair afternoon’s work, to say the least, that surely caught the umpires’ attention.

Three-time premiership player Jonathan Brown heaped praise on Selwood’s performance, comparing the Cats star to a fellow inspirational skipper — and a Brownlow medallist.

“He (Selwood) is Michael Voss,” Brown told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

“I talk about Luke Hodge standing up in big moments, being very similar to Michael Voss. But Selwood’s a lot closer in style, physical style to what Voss is than to ‘Hodgey’.

“He was fantastic. It was really a one-man band in the second half to get them over the line.”

A common theme among recent Brownlow winners is how dominant they were in crucial stat counts at their respective clubs.

In 2010, Chris Judd averaged more disposals, inside 50s, SuperCoach points, contested possessions and clearances than any other Carlton player en route to his second Brownlow Medal.

In 2014, Priddis averaged four more disposals, two more tackles, 13 more SuperCoach points, five more contested possessions and one more clearance per game than the next-best Eagle in those categories.

In 2015, Selwood already leads the Cats in disposals, tackles, SuperCoach points and clearances. He’s had 50 contested possessions so far this season, with Mark Blicavs — of all players — the second-best Cat with 29. He has clearly spent more time on the ground than any other the Geelong midfielder.

Traditionally, Brownlow Medallists have emerged from teams who have won the most games. This was particularly evident during the 2000s, with 10 of the 12 winners coming from teams inside the top four.

But that has bucked since the turn of the decade.

Kieren Kack, Jarrad McVeigh, Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker polled 55 of Sydney’s 96 Brownlow votes in 2014. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

In 2014, Sydney, which finished on top of the ladder with 17 wins, polled more votes than any other team (96). But if Lance Franklin (22) and Josh Kennedy (21) weren’t pinching votes off each other, they had plenty of teammates that did.

At the moment, Nat Fyfe is the overwhelming favourite to win the medal according to the bookies. But if Fremantle continues to win in such dominant fashion, teammates such as David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Lachie Neale — the latter undoubtedly would’ve received three votes for his performance in Sunday’s western derby — could easily steal votes off Fyfe throughout the season.

The same with second-favourite and proven poller Patrick Dangerfield. Expect teammate Rory Sloane, who has picked up 36 votes across the past three counts, to poll just as well and potentially pinch votes of Dangerfield if the Crows continue to win.

Not many Geelong teammates could steal Brownlow votes from Joel Selwood in 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia

Yes we’re only three rounds in. Yes Selwood is only likely to have polled three votes so far.

But Selwood is the clear superstar midfielder in a team that’s likely to finish mid-table, yet doesn’t have a lot of influential, big ball-winners in the guts that could pinch votes.

SIMILAR BOAT

Other players who might not have much Brownlow competition from teammates this season.

West Coast Eagles: Matt Priddis

Richmond: Trent Cotchin

Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury

Carlton: Chris Judd

Melbourne: Nathan Jones

THE RECENT BROWNLOW MEDAL TREND

2014 count

Winner: Matt Priddis (West Coast Eagles)

Eagles’ ladder position: 9th with 11 wins

Votes: 26

Second-best Eagle: Josh Kennedy (11 votes)

2013 count

Winner: Gary Ablett (Gold Coast Suns)

Suns’ ladder position: 14th with 8 wins

Votes: 28

Second-best Sun: Dion Prestia (9 votes)

Jobe Watson won the 2012 Brownlow Medal and polled 16 more votes than Brent Stanton — the next best Essendon poller. Source: News Limited

2012 count

Winner: Jobe Watson (Essendon)

Bombers’ ladder position: 11th with 11 wins

Votes: 30

Second-best Bomber: Brent Stanton (14 votes)

2011 count (the exception)

Winner: Dane Swan (Collingwood)

Magpies’ ladder position: 1st

Votes: 34

Second-best Magpie: Scott Pendlebury (24 votes)

2010 count

Winner: Chris Judd (Carlton)

Blues’ ladder position: 8th with 11 wins

Votes: 30

Second-best Blue: Kade Simpson (9 votes)