Just as predicted, Geelong gun Patrick Dangerfield is the 2016 Brownlow Medallist after an absolutely unreal first season with the Cats.
Although Geelong were eventually felled by Sydney in a semi-final, it was Dangerfield’s efforts in every game of the home-and-away season which powered ’em there in the first place.
The 26-year-old eventually amassed 35 points at tonight’s ceremony, fending off challenges from Sydney’s Luke Parker on 26, Richmond’s Dustin Martin on 25 and former Adelaide teammate Rory Sloane on 24 to claim the AFL’s top individual honour.
Oh, it’s also the highest points tally ever, even besting the total of 34 collected by Collingwood’s Dane Swan in 2011. Fair. Bloody. Effort.
A Brownlow nod is just the latest honour he’s racked up this season; Danger also nabbed the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player gong, as well as the Coaches’ Association player of the year award.
Best and fairest is one thing, but the awards for individual moments of excellence also did a damn good job of reminding us how good we have it watching this sport for half the year.
For the second season in a row, Adelaide’s Eddie Betts was awarded Goal Of The Year, this time around for his mazy run and finish at home against Greater Western Sydney:
Back-to-back for Betts! ?? https://t.co/SX0iPlo4dT
Eddie’s won Goal of the Year… again! #weflyasone #BrownlowMedal pic.twitter.com/cYW3yjqg6D— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) September 26, 2016
North Melbourne’s towering ruckman Majak Daw was also recognised for this absolute screamer of a mark against Collingwood:
The Majak moment #Brownlow pic.twitter.com/OUjjUeEqIL
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) September 26, 2016
Honourable mentions from us go to Jimmy Bartel and his magnificent face-shrubbery. He actually also picked up the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award – Bartel did, we mean, not the beard:
Image via Quinn Rooney / Getty.
Also, props to Moana Hope, who lead the Western Bulldogs women’s team to an expo match glory against Melbourne. The future Collingwood gun appeared with Bulldogs’ VP Susan Alberti, and you could hardly tell who was more chuffed:
Image via Daniel Pockett / Getty.
Hell bloody yeah, footy. Now, it’s just that lil’ game on Saturday we’ve all gotta pay attention to…
Source: ABC.
Photo: Daniel Pockett / Getty.
Photo: Daniel Pockett / Getty.
