Tom Mitchell’s 2018 Brownlow Medal triumph was predicted by the majority of the AFL world.
The Hawthorn midfielder won comfortably, four votes ahead of second placed Steele Sidebottom.
What many didn’t expect from that night was the third-placed finish of Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw, who wasn’t even invited to attend the event.
Following Mitchell's leg injury, the door is wide open for someone to sneak in and claim the Brownlow in the 2019 season.
Here are five players who won’t be favoured to win the medal, but could just sneak in and get enough votes.
1. Lachie Neale
Neale was one of the big movers in the off-season, heading east from Fremantle to join the Brisbane Lions. He led the league in disposals per game in 2016 demonstrating his ability to win the ball. He is joining a team that is full of promise and will be one of the leaders at the club.
He polled 11 votes in 2018 while averaging 30 disposals a game. On a better side, one that will be looking to push for the finals, the 25-year-old will have the chance to become one of the league’s leading midfielders.
