Once again Before You Bet is back with our rolling Brownlow Medal Tracker for the 2018 season. We’ll be providing comments for every game of the season, along with our vote predictions to help with your projections for the 2018 AFL season.
Our Brownlow predictions are one of the most popular aspects of the site with punters able to scoop huge profits using the information found in these pages. You’ll be able to stay up to date with our current Top 20 2018 Brownlow Medal leaderboard, while there will be links to every single round-by-round voting posted there.
For those who need a refresher on how our Brownlow vote system works, we assign 6 votes per game so that our total votes are the same as the official 3-2-1 system, however we break up those votes as we see fit across potentially more than three players. Some games are really tough to call which way the votes will go, so a better predictive model is to split performances and assign half points to each player where there is doubt. So for example if two players dominate and it's too hard to split their performance, they are given 2.5 votes each, with the remaining 1 vote given to another player(s). This will give us a predictive total closer to their true total, rather than guessing. We can form a 'range' for each player (ie a min and max we think players can poll) with the thinking behind this that the variations from the half votes will even out over the long term.
If you intend on using our Brownlow votes to bet why not consider one of the best Australian sports betting sites which offer some great incentives for new customers. Also be sure to check out our Twitter page at @Before_You_Bet and continue returning to the site for our AFL tips, and of course, check out our 2018 Brownlow Round 18 Vote Predictions below!
2018 Brownlow Medal Predicted Votes – Round 18
St Kilda 8.9.57 def by Richmond 16.15.111
The Tigers had no worries against the Saints in another even team performance. Dion Prestia was one of their best with 26 disposals and 3 goals, while Dusty Martin was also in the thick of it with 30 touches and a goal. Jayden Short (26 disposals) and Kane Lambert (23 disposals, 1 goal) are also a chance for a vote. Seb Ross was best for the Saints with a game-high 33 touches and 6 tackles.
Dion Prestia – 3
Dustin Martin – 2
Seb Ross – 0.5
Kane Lambert - 0.5
Collingwood 20.10.130 def North Melbourne 9.10.64
A comprehensive win for the Pies against a rather lacklustre North Melbourne outfit with the midfield brigade doing the damage. Scott Pendlebury (30 disposals, 6 tackles), Taylor Adams (28 disposals, 10 tackles, 1 goal) and Steele Sidebottom (24 disposals, 5 tackles) were influential with Jordan De Goey finishing their work with 4 goals to go with 19 disposals and 6 tackles. Ben Cunnington (30 disposals, 7 tackles) and Shaun Higgins (33 disposals) tried hard but are unlikely to figure in the votes.
Taylor Adams – 2.5
Scott Pendlebury – 2.5
Jordan De Goey – 1
Sydney 8.16.64 def by Gold Coast 12.16.88
The biggest upset for many years has seen Gold Coast come from 29 points down, to win by 24 points in a remarkable victory. Jarrod Witts won the battle of the rucks with 56 hitouts, 14 disposals and 9 tackles, to give his players first use of the ball, while Steven May was a rock at half-back with 23 disposals and 14 marks. Lachie Weller (23 disposals, 2 goals) and Will Brodie (27 disposals, 6 tackles) were good while Aaron Young was the hero up forward with 4 goals from 17 disposals. Josh Kennedy (33 disposals, 8 tackles) and Luke Parker (29 disposals, 7 tackles, 2 goals) got plenty of the ball but it wasn’t enough to get their side over the line.
Jarrod Witts – 2
Lachie Weller - 2
Steven May - 1
Aaron Young - 1
Essendon 13.21.99 def Fremantle 11.4.70
Orazio Fantasia returned to the side with a bang as his 5 goals from 19 possessions, helped to propel the Bombers to a victory. Devon Smith again starred with 23 disposals, 10 tackles and 2 goals, while Zach Merrett (28 disposals, 8 tackles), David Zaharakis (26 disposals, 1 goal) and Dyson Heppell (26 disposals) won plenty of the Sherrin in the midfield. Lachie Neale tried hard for the visitors with 30 touches and a goal.
Orazio Fantasia - 3
Devon Smith – 2
Lachie Neale – 0.5
David Zaharakis – 0.5
Brisbane 13.10.88 def by Adelaide 13.15.93
A tough away win for the Crows kept their finals chances alive. Matt Crouch ran rampant with 40 disposals, while Rory Laird patrolled across half-back with 29 touches and a goal. Hugh Greenwood starred in a forward role with 4 goals from 17 possessions. For the Lions it was Alex Witherden who was their best with 31 disposals and 12 marks.
Rory Laird – 2
Hugh Greenwood – 2
Matt Crouch – 1
Alex Witherden – 1
Geelong 16.4.100 def Melbourne 14.14.98
Heartbreak for Demons fans as a kick after the siren by Zach Tuohy gave the Cats a come-from-behind victory. It capped off a big last quarter for the Cats with Tom Hawkins kicking four of his seven goals in that quarter, to go with 19 disposals and 8 marks in a best-on-ground performance. Gary Ablett was also brilliant when it mattered, with 14 disposals in the last quarter to end up with 31 for the match. Mitch Duncan (31 disposals, 11 marks, 1 goal), Tim Kelly (32 disposals, 1 goal) and Patrick Dangerfield (28 disposals, 7 tackles, 2 goals) were also influential. Clayton Oliver was excellent for Melbourne with 40 disposals and 6 tackles.
Tom Hawkins – 3
Clayton Oliver – 2
Gary Ablett - 0.5
Patrick Dangerfield - 0.5
Carlton 7.10.52 def by Hawthorn 18.16.124
The Hawks did what they had to do with a comfortable win against the bottom-placed Blues. Tom Mitchell boosted his Brownlow chances with 46 disposals, 9 marks, 9 tackles and 2 goals, in a performance that should net him the 3 votes. In just his fourth AFL game, James Worpel also found plenty of the ball with 32 disposals. Luke Breust kicked 5 goals from 14 touches, while Paul Puopolo added 4 majors from 22 possessions. Patrick Cripps was again the Blues best with 30 disposals, 7 tackles and 2 goals, but it might not be enough for a vote this time around. Marc Murphy also won plenty of the ball with 35 possessions.
Tom Mitchell – 3
James Worpel – 1
Luke Breust – 1
Paul Puopolo – 1
West Coast 14.16.100 def Western Bulldogs 6.10.46
It was scrappy but the Eagles landed an easy win over the Dogs to push for that coveted top two spot. Elliot Yeo (28 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal), Andrew Gaff (35 disposals) and Luke Shuey (28 disposals) were good in the middle, with Lewis Jetta (28 disposals) and Jeremy McGovern (20 disposals, 6 marks) controlling things down back. Josh Dunkley was arguably best for the Dogs with 29 disposals and 6 tackles.
Elliot Yeo – 2.5
Andrew Gaff – 2.5
Lewis Jetta - 1
Port Adelaide 8.10.58 def by GWS 11.14.80
A crucial away win for the Giants puts them right in contention for September action. The on-ball brigade were tireless with Lachie Whitfield (31 disposals), Josh Kelly (30 disposals), Callan Ward (28 disposals), Jacob Hopper (28 disposals, 2 goals) and Stephen Coniglio (25 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal) all putting in strong performances which might make it hard to decide on votes. Dawson Simpson helped provide them with first use, with 46 hitouts, but he didn’t have much opposition with Port opting against playing a ruckman for many of the ruck contests. Jared Polec (29 disposals) and Robbie Gray (24 disposals, 2 goals) were good contributors for the Power.
Stephen Coniglio – 2
Lachie Whitfield – 2
Jacob Hopper – 1
Josh Kelly - 1
