COULD Clayton Oliver become the first Melbourne player to win the Brownlow Medal since Shane Woewodin claimed the ‘Charlie’ in 2000?
Although Oliver is an outside chance, he is widely regarded as a top 10 contender and can’t be dismissed.
No doubt his win would be an upset – given Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is the raging hot favourite – but when dissecting Oliver’s season, and analysing his impact, it’s easy to see why he’s at least in the conversation.
Certainly, he looms as Melbourne’s most likely top vote-getter.
Oliver, who won the 2015 Morrish Medal (the Brownlow equivalent in the TAC Cup), gained two votes in his first AFL game last year and finished with three from his first 13 games in 2016.
This year, he was awarded the 2017 AFL Coaches’ Association best young player of the year and finished seventh overall in this season’s AFLCA player of the year votes.
But incredibly, he was left out of this year’s All-Australian squad of 40.
That was despite the 20-year-old, 35-gamer finishing with the most handballs, second most contested possessions, third most clearances, fourth most tackles and fifth most disposals in the competition.
In the afl.com.au Brownlow Medal predictor, it has Oliver finishing with 17 votes – a long way off Martin, who is tipped to finish with 38.
It has Oliver polling in nine matches, with three vote matches in round one and 10.
Michael Hibberd and Jack Viney are the other two Demons to gain double-figure votes in the afl.com.au predictor, with 10 each.
Tom McDonald (eight votes) and Christian Petracca (six) are next best.
Interestingly, Since Woewodin’s win, Brent Moloney’s 19 votes in 2011 has been the most votes recorded in a Brownlow count by a Melbourne player.
Next best was Adem Yze (17) in 2001 and Max Gawn last year with 16 votes.
For the record, six Melbourne players have won the Brownlow Medal: Ivor Warne-Smith (twice in 1926 and 1928), Don Cordner (1946), Brian Wilson (1982), Peter Moore (1984), Jim Stynes (1991) and Woewodin (2000).
Below is a look at how Melbourne players could fare in this year’s Brownlow Medal count …
Round 1 v St Kilda
3. Clayton Oliver, 2. Max Gawn, 1. Bernie Vince
Others in mix: Jordan Lewis, Nathan Jones, Jesse Hogan
Round 2 v Carlton
3. Christian Salem, 2. Clayton Oliver, 1. Jeff Garlett
Others in mix: Max Gawn, James Harmes, Dom Tyson
Round 3 v Geelong Cats
3. Nathan Jones, 2. Jack Watts, 1. Jayden Hunt
Others in mix: Billy Stretch, Alex Neal-Bullen, Clayton Oliver
Round 4 v Fremantle
3. Jeff Garlett, 2. Clayton Oliver, 1 Jake Spencer
Others in mix: Christian Salem, James Harmes, Sam Frost
Round 5 v Richmond
3. Michael Hibberd, 2. Clayton Oliver, 1. Jayden Hunt
Others in mix: Jack Watts, Christian Petracca, Nathan Jones
Round 6 v Essendon
3. Cam Pedersen, 2. Clayton Oliver, 1. Jack Watts
Others in mix: Tom McDonald, Christian Petracca, Jordan Lewis
Round 7 v Hawthorn
3. Jack Viney, 2. Sam Frost, 1. Nathan Jones
Others in mix: Jordan Lewis, Jayden Hunt, Dom Tyson
Round 8 v Adelaide Crows
3. Michael Hibberd, 2. Clayton Oliver, 1. Bernie Vince
Others in mix: Christian Petracca, Jack Viney Cam Pedersen
Round 9 v North Melbourne
3. Michael Hibberd, 2. Mitch Hannan, 1. Cam Pedersen
Others in mix: Dom Tyson, Jack Viney, Nathan Jones
Round 10 v Gold Coast Suns
3. Nathan Jones, 2. Jeff Garlett, 1. Clayton Oliver
Others in mix: Michael Hibberd, Mitch Hannan, James Harmes
Round 11
Bye
Round 12 v Collingwood
3. Christian Petracca, 2. Clayton Oliver, 1. Nathan Jones
Others in mix: Dom Tyson, Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald
Round 13 v Western Bulldogs
3. Michael Hibberd, 2. Oscar McDonald, 1. Cam Pedersen
Others in mix: Jack Watts, Clayton Oliver, Christian Salem
Round 14 v West Coast Eagles
3. Tom McDonald, 2. Jack Viney, 1. Dom Tyson
Others in mix: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Bernie Vince
Round 15 v Sydney Swans
3. Tom McDonald, 2. Michael Hibberd, 1. Oscar McDonald
Others in mix: Neville Jetta, Christian Petracca, Dom Tyson
Round 16 v Carlton
3. Tom McDonald, 2. Clayton Oliver, 1. Alex Neal-Bullen
Others in mix: Neville Jetta, Christian Petracca, Sam Frost
Round 17 v Adelaide Crows
3. Jordan Lewis, 2. Jayden Hunt, 1. Michael Hibberd
Others in mix: Alex Neal-Bullen, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Jake Melksham
Round 18 v Port Adelaide
3. Michael Hibberd, 2. Dom Tyson, 1. Neville Jetta
Others in mix: Jesse Hogan, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney
Round 19 v North Melbourne
3. Clayton Oliver, 2. Jordan Lewis, 1. Neville Jetta
Others in mix: Dom Tyson, Max Gawn, Tom McDonald
Round 20 v GWS Giants
3. Max Gawn, 2. Jordan Lewis, 1. Clayton Oliver
Others in mix: Michael Hibberd, Bernie Vince, Neville Jetta
Round 21 v St Kilda
3. Cam Pedersen, 2. Nathan Jones, 1 James Harmes
Others in mix: Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Jordan Lewis
Round 22 v Brisbane Lions
3. Jesse Hogan, 2. Cam Pedersen, 1 Nathan Jones
Others in mix: Michael Hibberd, Jake Melksham, Clayton Oliver
Round 23 v Collingwood
3. Clayton Oliver, 2. Christian Petracca, 1. Jake Melksham
Others in mix: Jordan Lewis, Jeff Garlett, Jack Watts
