The entire country was shocked to see St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera not rewarded with three Brownlow votes against Melbourne, with the umpires seeing Jack Viney as the perfect recipient.
Wanganeen-Milera arguably produced the performance of the century, kicking four goals, two in the last minute to give the Saints a record-breaking win, 34 disposals, six clearances and nine score involvements.
Viney, albeit impressive, gathered 23 possessions, 16 tackles and a goal, but to the average Joe's eye, wasn't best afield.
The Wanganeen-Milera oversight wasn't the only eyebrow raiser of the 2025 Brownlow Medal count...
According to WheeloRatings, there was a major discrepancy between the umpires and the statistics on multiple occasions.
Viney (Round 1) and Brisbane's Dayne Zorko (Round 5) were awarded three votes, when their expected outcome was 0.03, creating a difference of +2.97.
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Brownlow Medal winner Matt Rowell features three times inside the top 10, claiming maximum votes in Round 4, 9 and 7, albeit with a positive differential between 2.88 and 2.92.
Breaking down those nine votes received by Rowell, he had 17 disposals, eight tackles and four clearances against Adelaide in Round 4.
Three weeks later, the umpires favoured the former Pick 1 against Sydney, although the stats show he had 16 possessions, eight tackles and five clearances.
A fortnight after, taking on the Western Bulldogs, Rowell collected 20 touches, five clearances and a goal.
The Suns on-baller received no coaches' votes throughout those three outings.
On the flip side, players who were expected to receive three votes but didn't, placed the umpires' role of determining the Brownlow winner without statistics into disrepute.
GWS' Jesse Hogan was expected to poll three votes in Round 9 against Geelong, when he kicked seven goals from 22 possessions and nine marks. He received zero for a differential of -2.97.
Adelaide's Riley Thilthorpe followed narrowly behind Hogan with a differential of -2.92, as umpires overlooked his five-goal, 16-disposal performance against Gold Coast in Round 4.
Hawthorn Jack Gunston's seven goals against North Melbourne in Round 16 (-2.68) were also neglected.
Carlton's George Hewett, who featured twice inside the top 10, was surprisingly missed in Round 5 (Essendon) and 9 (West Coast) despite WheeloRatings tipping he'd clean up six votes across the two matches. He left with none.
Then there were times when the umpires and the coaches didn't see eye-to-eye.
For the most part, the AFLCA and Brownlow Medal were correct. For the most part.
Players who got 10 coaches' votes but no Brownlow votes
Fremantle's Andrew Brayshaw came fifth in the 2025 Brownlow Medal count, but the coaches didn't see him worthy of a top-20 finish.
North Melbourne ruck Tristan Xerri received maximum votes from the coaches on three occasions (Round 2, 9 and 24) but failed to be recognised by the umpires, despite his height and helmet.
The same happened to Collingwood's Darcy Cameron twice (Round 15 and 23), but all up, on 21 occasions.
Round 1: Toby Greene v Melbourne
Round 1: Jarrod Witts v West Coast
Round 2: Tristan Xerri v Melbourne
Round 4: Riley Thilthorpe v Gold Coast
Round 5: Tom Atkins v Adelaide
Round 6: Shaun Mannagh v Hawthorn
Round 9: Tom Liberatore v Western Bulldogs
Round 9: Jesse Hogan v Geelong
Round 9: Tristan Xerri v Brisbane
Round 10: Noah Anderson v Hawthorn
Round 10: Shai Bolton v Greater Western Sydney
Round 14: Jarman Impey v Adelaide
Round 15: Darcy Cameron v St Kilda
Round 16: Dan Curtin v Richmond
Round 16: Scott Pendlebury v West Coast
Round 17: Brodie Grundy v Fremantle
Round 18: Sam Switkowski v Hawthorn
Round 22: Aliir Aliir v Fremantle
Round 23: Zac Bailey v Fremantle
Round 23: Darcy Cameron v Adelaide
Round 24: Tristan Xerri v Adelaide
Players who got three Brownlow votes but no coaches' votes
On the other hand, players could be deemed lucky by receiving three votes, although in the eyes of the coaches, they weren't worthy of any recognition.
Rowell was favoured by the umpires in Rounds 4, 7 and 9, but received no love from the coaches.
Dual Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps was also endorsed by the umpires in Rounds 14 and 24, despite the coaches overlooking his efforts.
Round 1: Chad Warner v Brisbane
Round 1: Jack Viney v Greater Western Sydney
Round 4: Matt Rowell v Adelaide
Round 5: Dayne Zorko v Western Bulldogs
Round 6: Reilly O'Brien v Greater Western Sydney
Round 7: Matt Rowell v Sydney
Round 9: Matt Rowell v Western Bulldogs
Round 9: Cam Rayner v North Melbourne
Round 12: Tom Green v Richmond
Round 14: Patrick Cripps v West Coast
Round 15: Dayne Zorko v Geelong
Round 22: Mark Blicavs v Essendon
Round 24: Patrick Cripps v Essendon
While statistic can be used to “validate” a player’s impact – it is not the whole story, the effectiveness of each “touch” needs to be considered (no use having 40 touches if they all go to the opponent). There is also the fact that some players have decided a game even though they have “average” stats… but they are consistent through the game and/or result in goals.
It’s more than possible to be best on ground without accumulating massive numbers – there are many a time when a defender plays a miraculous game and dominate his position and half the field… but the votes go to a midfielder simply because he has 30 plus kicks….
But then…..
(1) An ex-umpire has just been done for rigging brownlow votes in the past.
(2) With the umpiring “standard” as it is, who realistically thought that the brownlow voting would be any different?
If they show a marked bias against a particular club on the day…..
If they don’t award a free kick for “holding” ……
If the “deliberate” rule can be used to one team’s advantage….
If a particular player gets a free (basically because he’s playing)……..
If they cannot pay a “holding the ball” …….
If the 15m kick rule is applied “arbitrarily”…..
When the “push in the back” rule is interpreted to the colour of the guernsey….
…. how do we expect an impartial “best on ground”?