AFL.com.au have taken a look at the leading Brownlow Medal contenders for each league club to this stage of season 2018, using the prestigious AFL Coaches’ Association’s Player of the Year voting as a guide. Here’s their assessment of the Brownlow prospects of key Richmond players...
AFLCA votes
Trent Cotchin 45 votes, Dustin Martin 35, Alex Rance 28, Kane Lambert 27, Shane Edwards 22, Nick Vlastuin 19, Josh Caddy 18, Jack Riewoldt 13
Number of players to receive votes: 19
Total club votes: 239
AFL.com.au Brownlow Predictor leaders
Trent Cotchin 11 votes, Dustin Martin 11, Josh Caddy* 6, Shane Edwards 6, Kane Lambert 3
Summary
It's no surprise Trent Cotchin has caught the eye of the coaches more than any other Tiger. He's recorded two perfect 10-vote games (rounds three and six), for which he's also been tipped to poll Brownlow votes. Interestingly, Alex Rance has been tipped for just two Brownlow votes to this stage despite the coaches' opinion he's had a much better season than that. In AFLCA voting, the four-time All Australian is third at the Tigers. Jack Riewoldt is eighth, and, like Rance, has been neglected in Brownlow observations and hasn't registered a single predicted vote. Kane Lambert, Josh Caddy and Shane Edwards have been acknowledged for their decent seasons across both award categories. – Jennifer Phelan