Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and dynamic midfielder Dustin Martin again shape as the best chances for the Tigers to break their long Brownlow Medal drought at tonight’s count of the game’s most prestigious individual award.
The two Tiger stars have proven in recent seasons that they have the ability to attract the umpires’ attention.
Cotchin has racked up 78 Brownlow votes over the past four years (15 in 2011, 26 in 2012, 19 in 2013, 18 in 2014) and was equal runner-up to Essendon’s Jobe Watson in 2012.
Martin received 13 votes last year, following on from his 16 in 2013. Two years earlier (2011), he picked up 12 votes.
The pair should figure prominently in this year’s Brownlow voting following some further eye-catching efforts throughout the season.
Brilliant centreman Ian Stewart was Richmond’s last Brownlow Medal winner, in 1971, which was his first season at the Club after being involved in a sensational swap with dual Tiger premiership star Bill Barrot.
Stewart polled 21 votes to capture the ’71 Brownlow and join the elite ranks of triple Medal winners (along with Haydn Bunton, Dick Reynolds and Bob Skilton).
Since then, every other league club has produced a Brownlow Medal winner (or multiple winners), except for Fremantle, which didn’t join the competition until 1995, Port Adelaide, which entered in 1997, and Greater Western Sydney, in 2012.
Fremantle superstar Nathan Fyfe is a warm favorite to take out this year’s Brownlow.
The best Brownlow Medal vote polling performances by Richmond players in the 44 years post Stewart’s triumph have been . . .
1974: Kevin Bartlett, third with 22 votes – five behind winner, North Melbourne’s Keith Greig.
1976: Francis Bourke, third with 36 votes (when both field umpires gave votes) – 12 behind winner, Essendon’s Graham Moss.
1983: Maurice Rioli, runner-up with 23 votes – one behind winner, North Melbourne’s Ross Glendinning.
2008: Matthew Richardson, equal third with 22 votes – two behind winner, Western Bulldogs’ Adam Cooney.
2012: Trent Cotchin, equal runner-up with 26 votes – four behind winner, Essendon’s Jobe Watson.
