ID :
209730
Tue, 09/27/2011 - 14:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209730
The shortlink copeid
Change Brownlow rules, Hawks urge AFL
SYDNEY (AAP) - 27 Sept - Hawthorn want the AFL to change the Brownlow Medal rules, after Sam Mitchell nearly topped Monday night's count despite being ineligible to win.
The Hawks star polled 30 votes, the most ever by an ineligible player, and was in the lead with three rounds left, before eventual winner Dane Swan surged past to finish on 34 votes.
But outgoing Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said it would have been a "great injustice" had Mitchell topped the voting and not claimed the medal.
Mitchell was ineligible because of a rough conduct charge in round five, even though a discount for an early guilty plea meant he avoided suspension.
Kennett said if an offence was not great enough to warrant a suspension, it should not rule a player out from the game's top individual honour.
"Perhaps it was fortunate that Sam did not win last night because a great injustice would have been rendered on him," Kennett said in a column on the Hawks' website.
"Now that the football year has ended, the AFL can reconsider this matter to make the necessary and obvious change before the start of next year.
"Hawthorn Football Club will be writing to the AFL Commission today to ask them to reconsider this matter."
Kennett said, like Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge, he was grateful that Mitchell did not end up topping the votes, given the awkwardness it would have created.
Former North Melbourne star Corey McKernan, who would have shared the medal with James Hird and Michael Voss in 1996 had he not been ineligible, also said there were problems with the current system.
"It is like the elephant in the room at the function. No one knows how to handle it," McKernan told Nova 100 FM.
The ruckman-forward said his situation was eased because he played in a premiership later that week.
But he said it might be better for players not to receive votes at all once they become ineligible to win.
"It maybe makes it easier for everyone if you just don't vote for the guy," he said.
"If you are not going to change the rule, probably something needs to be done.
"In the situation of Sam Mitchell, if you don't have something to look forward to (such as a grand final) it becomes a crushing blow."
McKernan said Swan would also have found it tough, had he won with fewer votes than Mitchell.
"It becomes awkward for Dane Swan. It becomes more awkward for the actual winner than the other guy."
The Hawks star polled 30 votes, the most ever by an ineligible player, and was in the lead with three rounds left, before eventual winner Dane Swan surged past to finish on 34 votes.
But outgoing Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said it would have been a "great injustice" had Mitchell topped the voting and not claimed the medal.
Mitchell was ineligible because of a rough conduct charge in round five, even though a discount for an early guilty plea meant he avoided suspension.
Kennett said if an offence was not great enough to warrant a suspension, it should not rule a player out from the game's top individual honour.
"Perhaps it was fortunate that Sam did not win last night because a great injustice would have been rendered on him," Kennett said in a column on the Hawks' website.
"Now that the football year has ended, the AFL can reconsider this matter to make the necessary and obvious change before the start of next year.
"Hawthorn Football Club will be writing to the AFL Commission today to ask them to reconsider this matter."
Kennett said, like Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge, he was grateful that Mitchell did not end up topping the votes, given the awkwardness it would have created.
Former North Melbourne star Corey McKernan, who would have shared the medal with James Hird and Michael Voss in 1996 had he not been ineligible, also said there were problems with the current system.
"It is like the elephant in the room at the function. No one knows how to handle it," McKernan told Nova 100 FM.
The ruckman-forward said his situation was eased because he played in a premiership later that week.
But he said it might be better for players not to receive votes at all once they become ineligible to win.
"It maybe makes it easier for everyone if you just don't vote for the guy," he said.
"If you are not going to change the rule, probably something needs to be done.
"In the situation of Sam Mitchell, if you don't have something to look forward to (such as a grand final) it becomes a crushing blow."
McKernan said Swan would also have found it tough, had he won with fewer votes than Mitchell.
"It becomes awkward for Dane Swan. It becomes more awkward for the actual winner than the other guy."
