How bloody good are speckies, but? Copping a ride on some unsuspecting defender’s back and soaring to the heavens to pull down an absolute screamer. It’s one of the best aspects that the AFL has, and judging the best grab of the year is usually a fairly open-and-shut case. But this year, after the 2017 Mark of the Year was announced at last night’s Brownlow Medal count, people’s brows are well and truly furrowed.
Collingwood backman Jeremy Howe, who should frankly have the award named after him given how prolific his spring heels are, was widely tipped to take the gong out for this unbelievable effort against Melbourne back in Round 12.
Problem is that the “award” is publicly voted, meaning it’s at the mercy of fans clicking. And with Howe’s Magpies teammate Brodie Grundy also present in the nominations, effectively stealing votes away from Howe, it was Essendon good boy Joe Daniher who instead took home the yearly chocolates for this slightly-less-mighty leap.
A good grab, for sure. But Howe’s is *winces as my Bombers-supporting hands type this* objectively better.
The general consensus on Twitter backed that, with howls that Howe was robbed echoing throughout the night.
‘Jeremy Howe won it… Jeremy Howe!’ #Brownlow pic.twitter.com/V8yKK31K4S
— Peter Helliar (@pjhelliar) September 25, 2017
On a scale of one to Jeremy Howe, how salty were you that Joe Daniher won mark of the year?
— Ryan Reynolds (@Reynolds_R) September 25, 2017
Jeremy Howe absolutely ripped off #Markoftheyear #brownlow
— Caden MacDonald (@cados38) September 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/DesmondLau42/status/912286720183345152
Yo Joe, I’m really happy for you, I’ma let you finish, but Jeremy Howe had one of the best marks of all time! #Brownlow #GoPies pic.twitter.com/oVXXTSH6P6
— Brayden Cocks (@brayden_cocks) September 25, 2017
Jeremy Howe’s reaction said it all #Brownlow pic.twitter.com/Euc9ysuPD7
— Matthew Storey (@_MatthewStorey) September 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/paigecardona/status/912286742085984256
https://twitter.com/melly300313/status/912432313421643776
@sportsbetcomau Swanny who was more robbed?
Shannon noll or Jeremy Howe pic.twitter.com/YpWCLNHqXX— dave brown (@dave_brown86) September 25, 2017
Jeremy Howe’s Reaction To Mark Of The Year Sums It Up: https://t.co/8klKVZ98Hn #Brownlow pic.twitter.com/jC8QB0PFhS
— Triple M Footy (@triplemfooty) September 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/mitchgardiner_/status/912286584791220224
What the f…? Jeremy Howe completely robbed.
— Michael McGuane (@MickMCG34) September 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/anguslivingston/status/912286817965064192
Jeremy Howe looked as sour as an oyster sucking a lemon when he got robbed of the Mark of the Year. Fair enough too
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 25, 2017
Now I’m not saying the AFL Mark of the Year vote was illegitimate, but I did find a bunch of Jeremy Howe ballots dumped in a laneway…
— Sean Dooley (@Twitchathon) September 25, 2017
royal commission into jeremy howe being robbed in broad daylight
— Aus Gov Just Googled (Not Really) (@GovGoogles) September 26, 2017
At the time of the announcement, Howe looked ahhh… less than impressed.
Here’s a video replay of Howe feeling robbed for mark of the year! #brownlow What do you reckon @RalphyHeraldSun!?! pic.twitter.com/JEvLnA4sIi
— Matt Hope (@MattHope4) September 25, 2017
Good, I see there was no shortage of salt at dinner last night.
But to his credit he was quick to congratulate Big Joey on the rare air.
Well deserved joey!! #moty
— Jeremy Howe (@howie0038) September 25, 2017
Can’t win them all #moty
— Jeremy Howe (@howie0038) September 25, 2017
At some point though there’s gonna come a year where Howe will have all three nominations for Mark of the Year. And even then someone’ll probably find a way to screw him out of it.
Football. It’s a strange old game sometimes.