Brownlow Medal 2019: Contenders to win AFL’s top honour and their V glam WAGs

The best of the best AFL stars are set to grace the red carpet at the Brownlow Medal count on Monday night, but it will be a new guard of glamorous wives and girlfriends stealing the show. 

The AFL’s night of nights will see players swap their jerseys and boots for ties and coats in the most open race for the coveted medal in years, with no unbackable front runner and plenty of room for surprises during the count.

If the bookmakers have it right, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield – who is the favourite at $2.60 – could be taking home his second Brownlow.  

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield (pictured with his wife Mardi) is the favourite to win the Brownlow Medal on Monday night at $2.60

Charlotte Viney (pictured with husband Jack Viney At Caulfield Racecourse) turned heads in a gorgeous sparkling dress in last years ceremony

Charlotte Viney (pictured with husband Jack Viney At Caulfield Racecourse) turned heads in a gorgeous sparkling dress in last years ceremony

But there will no doubt be some daring fashion choices at the event ready to steal the limelight of the winner, whoever that may be.  

The ceremony has become a glamorous occasion for players partners to show off their style, with fashion choices drawing the same amount of critique and praise as players on field performances.

The event has been nicknamed the ‘Gownlow’, and with notable no-shows from Jordan Ablett and Bec Judd this year, a new crop of ladies are ready to dazzle on the red carpet.

Charlotte Viney (pictured) will be one to look out for on the Brownlow Red Carpet

Charlotte Viney (pictured) will be one to look out for on the Brownlow Red Carpet

Melbourne Demons Captain Jack Viney’s wife Charlotte turned heads last year in a gorgeous sparkling dress, and the model is a certain to shine again this year.

Port Adelaide rookie Connor Rozee’s partner Sophie Barbour is reportedly working with esteemed stylist Suzy Eskander ahead of her Brownlow debut.

Rhiannon Joyce, the longterm partner of Hawthorn star Jaeger O’Meara, is always reliable for her chic fashion sense on the red carpet. 

Sophie Barbour (pictured) will be making her Brownlow red carpet debut on Monday night

Sophie Barbour (pictured) will be making her Brownlow red carpet debut on Monday night

Rhiannon Joyce (pictured) often shares loved up snaps on social media with her partner Jaeger O'Meara

Rhiannon Joyce (pictured) often shares loved up snaps on social media with her partner Jaeger O’Meara

The Brownlow count gets underway at 8.20pm on Monday at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.

BROWNLOW MEDAL WINNERS ODDS 

Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong, $2.60

As one of the AFL’s biggest stars, Dangerfield, 29, is in the thick of the count each year and cruised to victory in 2016.

If he were to win he would be the fourth player to win the award twice in the past two decades and cement his place as one of the game’s greats at age 29. 

He has history on his side as the pre-count favourite has won six of the past seven Brownlows, often by significant margins.

Dangerfield’s odds surged after a strong finish to the regular season and his dominant performance in the last match may get him over the line.

He kicked 4.3 and gained 34 possessions in the Cats’ 68-point demolition of Carlton and almost certainly grabbed the three votes.

Brisbane's Lachie Neale (pictured with his wife Jules) in second place at $5 after a stellar first year at Brisbane after fleeing Fremantle

Brisbane’s Lachie Neale (pictured with his wife Jules) in second place at $5 after a stellar first year at Brisbane after fleeing Fremantle

Lachie Neale, Brisbane, $5

Neale, 26, was a big reason why the Lions went from the cellar to second in 2019 after coming over from Fremantle.

He was considered a longshot at $51 to begin the season but quickly got everyone’s attention with a hot start to the season.

How the Brownlow voting works 

The Brownlow Medal is the AFL’s best and fairest award for each season.

Umpires award votes to three players in each game – one player gets three, another gets two, and the third one.

The votes are tallied and the player with the most wins the award.

Any player suspended fails the ‘fairest’ part of the award and is disqualified. Two players have polled the most votes while ineligible.

Votes are read out for each game over the course of a dinner the same week as the Grand Final in what is the AFL’s biggest function.

The 2019 count begins at 8.20pm on Monday. 

With three games where he gathered more than 40 possessions in the first month of the season, he’s sure to take an early lead on Monday night.

Usually it’s hard to make an impact on Brownlow votes while adapting to a new club, but Dangerfield won during his first year at Geelong in 2016.

Neale holding on for a win would help soothe the pain of Brisbane collapsing in the finals to be bundled out in straight sets after such a strong regular season.

Marcus Bontempelli, Western Bulldogs, $6.50

The Bont is a perennial star and is a Brownlow contender this year with the Bulldogs making it back to the finals.

His chances last year were rubbed out after he was struck down by appendicitis and only managed to poll nine votes for the season.

Bontempelli, 23, is the youngest player with a serious shot at winning this year, in just his sixth season.

Past counts show he is all-or-nothing in the votes, having huge three-vote games or none at all as he only has a few games with one or two votes.

The AFL's most talented bachelor Marcus Bontempelli is a perennial star and is a Brownlow contender this year with the Bulldogs making it back to the finals

The AFL’s most talented bachelor Marcus Bontempelli is a perennial star and is a Brownlow contender this year with the Bulldogs making it back to the finals

Nat Fyfe, Fremantle, $6.50

Fyfe, 28, was one of few bright spots on Freo’s roster as the team again faltered and finally sacked its coach Ross Lyon after eight mostly ineffective seasons.

Easily his team’s best player and one of the club’s greatest-ever players, he won the Brownlow in 2015, accepting the award on crutches with a broken leg.

That year he amassed a ridiculous 26 votes over a 10-game span that sealed the deal. 

Since then he’s been a threat to win every year no matter how badly Fremantle performs and often ranks among the top vote-getters.

However, he missed two games with injury this year which could hold him back from a repeat performance.

Nat Fyfe, 28, (pictured with girlfriend Elli Bradshaw) was one of few bright spots on Fremantle's roster as the team again faltered

Nat Fyfe, 28, (pictured with girlfriend Elli Bradshaw) was one of few bright spots on Fremantle’s roster as the team again faltered

Patrick Cripps (pictured with his girlfriend Monique Fontana) is an outsider to win at $11 but earlier this month took out the AFL Players Association MVP Award

Patrick Cripps (pictured with his girlfriend Monique Fontana) is an outsider to win at $11 but earlier this month took out the AFL Players Association MVP Award

Patrick Cripps, Carlton, $11

The contenders

Top Sportsbet odds for 2019

Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong, $2.60

Lachie Neale, Brisbane, $5

Marcus Bontempelli, Western Bulldogs, $6.50

Nat Fyffe, Fremantle, $6.50

Patrick Cripps, Carlton, $11

Brodie Grundy, Collingwood, $15

Adam Treloar, Collingwood, $21

Tim Kelly, Geelong, $34

Jack Macrae, Western Bulldogs, $34

Josh Dunkley, Western Bulldogs, $51

Recent past winners 

2018: Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn, 28 votes

2017: Dustin Martin, Richmond, 36

2016: Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong, 35

2015: Nat Fyfe, Fremantle, 31

2014: Matt Priddis, West Coast, 26

2013: Gary Abblet Jr, Gold Coast, 28 

Carlton had a disastrous year, finishing 16th on the ladder and only winning seven matches, but Cripps, 24, still feasted on opponents.

With very little backup on the young and talent-starved roster, he carried the team enough to avoid a bottom-two finish.

Cripps is an outsider to win but earlier this month took out the AFL Players Association MVP Award.

That award, chosen by his peers, was also won by the previous four Brownlow winners so he could be on to something.

Brodie Grundy, Collingwood, $15

Midfielders overwhelmingly win Brownlows because they see more of the ball and are more visible to the umpires who cast the votes.

Grundy, 25, as a ruckman, is therefore considered less likely to poll well as his position’s worth to a team compared to the onballers is hotly debated.

But he is an emerging superstar who jumped from two votes in 2017 to 17 last year and if that trend continues he could be a decent chance to win.

This season saw career highs in all the important ruckman stats and he’s becoming increasingly important to Collingwood’s success.

Bodie Grundy (pictured with girlfriend Rachael Wertheim) is an emerging superstar who jumped from two votes in 2017 to 17 last year and if that trend continues he could be a decent chance to win

Bodie Grundy (pictured with girlfriend Rachael Wertheim) is an emerging superstar who jumped from two votes in 2017 to 17 last year and if that trend continues he could be a decent chance to win

Adam Treloar, Collingwood, $21

Grundy’s teammate also made a lot of noise for the star-studded Magpies this year and was a model of consistency.

He might not have as many huge three-vote games but could chip away at the leaderboard with a lot of one or two vote outings.

Treloar, 26, is another player to find success after switching clubs, securing a trade to Collingwood after four years at Greater Western Sydney.

He polled well in 2016, his first year with the Magpies, amassing 21 votes but hasn’t been a factor since then.

Adam Treloar, 26, (pictured with girlfriend Kim Ravaillion) is another player to find success after switching clubs, securing a trade to Collingwood after four years at GWS

Adam Treloar, 26, (pictured with girlfriend Kim Ravaillion) is another player to find success after switching clubs, securing a trade to Collingwood after four years at GWS

Tim Kelly, Geelong, and Jack Macrae, Western Bulldogs, $34

Two longshots that still have a chance include a budding superstar and a veteran making his first assault on the Brownlow.

Kelly, 25, is in just his second season but arguably the second-best player on the Cats’ roster behind Dangerfield.

Last year he was voted the best first-year player by the AFLPA and will at some point his career likely top that with a Brownlow – maybe as early as Monday.

Macrae, 25, is the same age as Kelly but has five years more experience including playing in the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership.

He played every game of the season for the first time and had his best statistical year by far to put him in the same echelon as the main contenders.

Conventional wisdom says anyone further back doesn’t have a chance, but West Coast captain Matt Priddis stunningly won in 2014 with odds of $41. 

Tim Kelly, 25, is in just his second season but arguably the second-best player on the Cats' roster behind Dangerfield

Jack Macrae played every game of the season for the first time and had his best statistical year by far to put him in the same echelon as the main contenders

Two longshots that still have a chance include budding superstar Tim Kelly (left) and veteran Jack Macrae (right) who is making his first assault on the Brownlow

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