AFL Futures Tracker, 2023 Brownlow Medal
Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
$1.72
Is the progeny of the Mauritian Marvel the best second-year player we’ve ever seen?
After averaging 25.76 disposals in his debut year in 2022, the $1.72 Brownlow Medal favourite has gone to another level for the ladder-leading Magpies, with his 32.63 possessions ranked second behind Clayton Oliver.
His ability to outrun and outwork every opponent who dares to try and negate his influence is second-to-none, with three games of 40+ disposals and 12 above 30. Despite copping a tag most weeks, his lowest output has been 25 touches. Unbelievable.
Unsurprisingly, Daicos has also damaged the scoreboard with 17 goals. In fact, his goalless effort in Collingwood’s loss to Carlton snapped an eight-game run of at least one major.
Given Collingwood’s success with 16 wins and the minor premiership all but sewn up, it’s hard to see any player coming over the top of Daicos on Brownlow night as he surpasses Chris Judd as the most dominant second-year operator.
Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
$5.50
Another year, another dominant display from Trac.
While Melbourne’s form has fluctuated more than we’re used to, Petracca’s certainly hasn’t, as he continues to exert his influence with 28.4ppg, 6 clearances, 4.3 tackles and a total of 21 goals.
Simon Goodwin was forced to make major changes in recent weeks with Clayton Oliver sidelined and Melbourne struggling to post a winning score. As such, Trac has been used more as a forward but still managed to post 26+ disposals in eight of his last nine matches.
He has finished sixth, ninth and third in the Brownlow over the past three years but will almost certainly benefit from Oliver’s absence and the fact he won’t need to ‘share’ the votes with his star teammate.
Is this finally the year Trac breaks through as the number-one player in the AFL? He won’t get a better chance, that’s for sure.
Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
$6.00
The 2021 Brownlow runner-up has pieced together another incredible season for the Western Bulldogs and could be on track to eclipse the 33 votes he polled two years ago.
While he started the season as slowly as his 0-2 team, Bont has turned it on from Round 3 with 27ppg and 15 goals. He ranks sixth for tackles and fifth for clearances, showcasing his ability to impact a game with the contested stuff.
If nothing else, for those who follow our great game’s weird patterns, Bont is about to have an ‘on’ year. History says every second season is when he catches the eye of the umpires, with his vote tallies since 2017 going 19, 9, 22, 10, 33 and 10. He must be in store for a big year, right?
Toby Greene (GWS)
$41
I know what you’re thinking, surely not Toby? Well, we say yes. Potentially. And at $41, it’s certainly worth some thought.
The GWS skipper has been nothing short of outstanding this season, piecing together his most consistent year and leading his side into the top eight.
His performance in the Giants’ comeback against the Western Bulldogs was worthy of three votes alone, with Greene slotting five goals in the second half and lifting his side its sixth straight win.
He is currently in the top five of the AFL Coaches’ Award – having polled a perfect 10 on the weekend – and has kicked a career-high 49 goals alongside 18.1ppg.
The Giants are coming, and so is Toby. Watch out.
