A lack of on-field success this year will be reflected when the votes are read out at Monday night’s Brownlow Medal count, with the Gold Coast SUNS set for a barren night at football’s most prestigious night.
Dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett has not polled under 20 votes since 2006, but given he only made six appearances, including several that were clouded by injury, he is set for his lowest haul in a decade.
The SUNS captain sits in equal third with Chris Judd on the list of all time votes with 209 – if he polls more than six votes he will eclipse another dual Brownlow medallist in Robert Harvey and move into second place behind Gary Dempsey.
During the first four seasons of Gold Coast’s existence, the SUNS have always entered the night with one of the favourites. Of course, each occasion has centred around one G. Ablett. This year, with the eight-time All Australian enduring the most difficult season of his career, and a handful of the clubs stars missing enormous chunks of football in 2015, the SUNS aren’t expected to feature prominently.
Bookends – Tom Lynch and Steven May – were both dominant through the back nine of the season, with a handful of stellar performances that accrued high votes in the SUNS Club Champion. With the Brownlow widely regarded as a midfielder’s medal, it will be intriguing to see how the umpires view their performances.
But despite a quiet night predicted, goldcoastfc.com.au has dissected the season and identified opportunities where Gold Coast players might poll votes in.
Round Three v Geelong at Simonds Stadium
Michael Rischitelli – 27 possessions, eight clearances & seven inside 50s
Best and Fairest votes: 15
Coaches Association votes: Four
The Age votes: Eight
Herald Sun votes: Two
Champion Data votes: Two
Round Five v Brisbane at Metricon Stadium
Charlie Dixon – 19 possessions (15 contested), seven marks, six goals
Best and Fairest votes: 19
Coaches Association votes: Ten
The Age votes: Eight
Herald Sun votes: Two
Champion Data votes: Two
Adam Saad – 26 possessions at 81 per cent, 554m gained, Rising Star Nomination
Best and Fairest votes: 15
Coaches Association votes: Seven
Champion Data votes: One
Harley Bennell – 31 possessions at 81 per cent, seven marks, six inside 50s
Best and Fairest votes: 11
Coaches Association votes: Four
The Age votes: Seven
Herald Sun: Three
Champion Data votes: Three
Marcus Ashcroft Medal voting:
8: Charlie Dixon
7: Harley Bennell
2: Adam Saad
1: Dayne Beams
Round 11 v Fremantle at Metricon Stadium
Michael Rischitelli – 23 possessions, nine tackles, four clearances
Best and Fairest votes: 12
Coaches Association: Seven
The Age votes: Seven
Herald Sun votes: Two
Champion Data votes: Two
Round 14 v North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium
Charlie Dixon – 15 possessions, five marks inside 50, 7.2
Best and Fairest votes: 18
Coaches Association: Nine
The Age votes: Eight
Herald Sun votes: Two
Champion Data votes: Two
Kade Kolodjashnij – 28 possessions (14 contested), six rebound 50s, 554m gained
Best and Fairest votes: 16
Coaches Association votes: Nine
The Age votes: Eight
Herald Sun votes: Three
Champion Data votes: Three
Steven May – job on Drew Petrie, 14 spoils
Best and Fairest votes: 15
Coaches Association: Six
The Age votes: Seven
Champion Data votes: One
Gary Ablett – 31 possessions at 81 per cent, 11 clearances (7 centre square), seven inside 50s, three goals
Best and Fairest votes: 15
Coaches Association: Three
The Age votes: Seven
Herald Sun votes: One
Round 15 v Western Bulldogs at Cazaly’s Stadium
Gary Ablett – 30 possessions, eight clearances, eight inside 50s, six tackles, 758m gained
Best and Fairest votes: 14
Coaches Association votes: Four
Kade Kolodjashnij – 30 possessions, ten marks, six rebound 50s, 503m gained
Best and Fairest votes: Ten
Coaches Association votes: Two
The Age votes: Seven
Herald Sun votes: One
Champion Data votes: Two
Round 16 v Greater Western Sydney at Metricon Stadium
Gary Ablett – 30 possessions, 17 tackles, nine clearances, five inside 50s, three goals
Best and Fairest votes: 17
Coaches Association votes: Eight
The Age votes: Eight
Herald Sun votes: One
Champion Data votes: Two
Touk Miller – 27 possessions (18 contested), nine clearances, seven inside 50s, two goals, Rising Star Nomination
Best and Fairest votes: 15
Coaches Association: Two
The Age votes: Seven
Herald Sun votes: Two
Champion Data votes: One
Round 17 v Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Tom Lynch – 21 possessions, 11 marks (four inside 50), five inside 50s, 4.1
Best and Fairest votes: 18
Coaches Association votes: Four
Round 18 v West Coast at Metricon Stadium
Tom Lynch – four goals, five marks (three inside 50)
Best and Fairest votes: 13
Coaches Association votes: Seven
The Age votes: Seven
Herald Sun votes: Three
Steven May – job on Josh Kennedy, 16 possessions, 12 spoils
Best and Fairest votes: 17
Coaches Association: Six
Champion Data votes: Three
Harley Bennell – 28 possessions, seven clearances, seven tackles and four rebound 50s
Best and Fairest votes: 10
Coaches Association votes: Five
Champion Data votes: Three
Round 19 v Brisbane at the Gabba
Tom Lynch – 18 possessions, 9 marks (five inside 50), 5.2
Best and Fairest votes: 18
Coaches Association votes: Nine
The Age votes: Eight
Herald Sun votes: Three
Champion Data votes: Three
Aaron Hall – 28 possessions at 82 per cent, eight inside 50s, three goal assists
Best and Fairest votes: 15
Coaches Association votes: Nine
The Age votes: Eight
Herald Sun votes: Two
Champion Data votes: Two
Marcus Ashcroft Medal voting:
8: Tom Lynch
6: Aaron Hall
3: Pearce Hanley
1: Dayne Zorko
Round 21 v Essendon at Metricon Stadium
Aaron Hall – 31 possessions (16 contested), 13 inside 50s, eight clearances
Best and Fairest votes: 12
Coaches Association votes: Ten
The Age votes: Six
Herald Sun votes: Three
Round 22 v Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium
Kade Kolodjashnij – 27 possessions, eight rebound 50s, seven marks
Best and Fairest votes: 10
Coaches Association votes: Four
The Age votes: Seven
