A HOST of Melbourne players believe this year’s Brownlow Medal will be won by either Fremantle star Nat Fyfe or West Coast’s Matt Priddis, who is a chance to go back-to-back.

Speaking to Dee TV, North Melbourne big man Todd Goldstein was also tipped, with Sydney’s Dan Hannebery and Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield also in the mix.  

Bernie Vince, who won Melbourne’s 2015 best and fairest, is regarded as the standout to poll the most votes for the Demons, according to roughly 15 players. 

But Vince said skipper Nathan Jones will get the most votes “because he does most years” and he is predicting Hannebery to win overall. Youngster Billy Stretch was the only other surveyed Melbourne player to tip Hannebery.

“Fyfe’s the red-hot favourite, but he hasn’t played enough games, so I reckon the smoky might be Dan Hannebery. I like him too,” Vince said. 

Key forward Jesse Hogan believes Fyfe has “it locked up” but says Dangerfield is his smoky. He also says Jones and defender Tom McDonald won’t be far behind Vince in Melbourne’s votes.

Jack Viney thinks Fyfe deserves to win and Vince will gain a few best-on-grounds.

“I’d like to think Nat Fyfe will win, especially at the start. He had a few injuries towards the end of the season, but when he was playing his best footy, no one even came close to him, so I’d like him to win,” he said.

“I think Bernie Vince will poll the most votes for us. He had some games where he had 38 touches and absolutely dominated, so I think he’ll have a few [games where he’ll get] three votes.”

Western Australian duo Neville Jetta and Jeff Garlett are backing fellow Sandgroper Priddis to make it two in a row, but another WA boy Dean Kent is going with the other local, Fyfe.

For defender Col Garland, it’s a toss-up between Fyfe and Priddis.

“It’s hard to go past Fyfe, but I think Matt Priddis will come home pretty strong,” he said.

Angus Brayshaw, who finished fifth in this year’s NAB AFL Rising Star award, said this year’s Brownlow was tough to predict.

“I like Fyfe, who might just hold on, but maybe [it could be] Matt Priddis or Todd Goldstein,” he said.

“I think Bernie Vince has got the best chance to poll the most for Melbourne, and that’s because he had a month or two where he averaged around 35 touches and a couple of goals a game, so he’ll do well for a couple of months in the season.”

But midfielder Dom Tyson is adamant Priddis will claim consecutive medals.

“The winner will be Matt Priddis – I think he’ll get the nod again. He’s just super consistent. I don’t think he ever plays a bad game. He’ll be right up there and he’ll be close with Fyfe, but I think he might just run him over at the end,” he said.

First-year Demon Alex Neal-Bullen also likes Priddis to win and believes Vince will poll best for the Dees.

“I can’t go past Bernie. Bernie’s been elite with his standards this year and getting a few 30-plus numbers. He’s a great leader and a great bloke to play with and he’s a good looking bloke and the umpires love that,” he said.

Half-back/winger Heritier Lumumba said Goldstein will take home ‘Charlie’ and believes Viney will pinch a few votes from Vince, as Melbourne’s best.

“I think Todd Goldstein will win the Brownlow Medal. He’s just been a class act and dominant. He stands out and is always close to the umpires. His influence is always noted, I would assume,” he said.

“I think for us, Bernie Vince will poll the most votes. He had a fantastic season. I don’t know how many votes, but I also think Jack Viney will steal a few votes as well.”

Max Gawn is also backing his fellow ruckman Goldstein to win the game’s highest individual honour and has thrown his support behind Vince being dominant in the month of June.

“It’s going to be an interesting race. Fyfe will be up there early and a few guys will try and pip him late. Just because he beat me, I’m going to put Goldstein’s name forward,” he said.

“Bernie’s got a chance to get four best-on-grounds in a row. We did lose a couple of those games as well, but he got roughly 35 [disposals] four out of five times and kicked a few goals, so Bernie might just top a few people off there.”