How have Brownlow Medal winners - and their clubs - fared in that season’s Grand Final?
After Lachie Neale won his second Brownlow Medal on Monday night, and with the Brisbane Lions preparing for this season’s decider against Collingwood, that is the question we want answered.
In order to do so, we have taken a look back at each of the Brownlow winners who played in the Grand Final in the same year to see if their team won and what sort of contribution they had.
See each of the Brownlow/Grand Final doubles in the AFL era (since 1990) below:
2017 - Dustin Martin (Richmond)
The Tigers superstar polled a record 36 votes to claim ‘Charlie’ on his way to a first premiership and the Norm Smith Medal as his club broke a long-standing drought in a dream season.
‘Dusty’ had 29 touches and kicked two majors in the 48-point win over the Crows, becoming the first man to win all three - Brownlow, Norm Smith, premiership - in the same season.
WON
2012 - Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
This one doesn’t really count as Mitchell didn’t know he would be retrospectively awarded the Brownlow (alongside Trent Cotchin) four years later. The Hawks did lose to the Swans.
LOST (but technically this doesn’t count)
2011 - Dane Swan (Collingwood)
Swan was somewhat of a surprise winner in 2011 as Chris Judd was the hot favourite. (It makes up for Swan’s loss to Judd a year earlier).
The Magpie was ok in the Grand Final with 20 disposals in a 38-point loss to Geelong.
LOST
2009 - Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong)
‘Gaz’s’ first Brownlow came in the week of his second premiership.
The Cats beat the Saints by 12 points with Ablett picking up 25 touches and polling two Norm Smith votes.
WON
2007 - Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
After claiming Charlie, the then 23-year-old then contributed significantly in the thumping Grand Final triumph over Port Adelaide with 28 disposals.
WON
2006 - Adam Goodes (Sydney)
Goodes won his second Brownlow but was unable to cap the season with a flag.
The Swans lost to the Eagles by one point in a classic. He was one of his side’s best with 22 touches and a goal.
LOST
2005 - Ben Cousins (West Coast)
The gun midfielder edged his Eagles teammate Daniel Kerr by one vote in the Monday night count.
West Coast would lose the season decider by four points but not due to a lack of effort from ‘Cuz’ who had 27 touches and kicked a goal.
LOST
2003 - Nathan Buckley (Collingwood)
Buckley was part of a three-way tie in the 2003 Brownlow with Mark Ricciuto and Adam Goodes.
He was one of Collingwood’s best few with 24 touches in the defeat to Brisbane, but he couldn’t quite replace his Norm Smith form of 2002. Although it was the same end result.
LOST
2002 - Simon Black (Brisbane)
The classy midfielder took out the prestigious honour in 2002 before contributing in the hard-fought win over the Maggies.
He had 22 disposals and nabbed one Norm Smith vote on a wet and slippery day at the MCG.
WON
2001 - Jason Akermanis (Brisbane)
‘Aker’ claimed the medal on Monday then helped Brisbane win a first premiership by beating Essendon with two goals and 15 touches.
He would start a Lions trend of sorts with teammate Simon Black following him in the next season.
WON
2000 - Shane Woewodin (Melbourne)
The Demons midfielder, who was not selected in the 2000 All-Australian team, was a surprise winner of the Brownlow that year.
He then played in his first Grand Final but the Dees were demolished by the Bombers. ‘Woey’ had 19 touches the season decider.
LOST
1997 - Robert Harvey (St Kilda)
The smooth-moving Harvey won the Brownlow in controversial fashion. Western Bulldogs star Chris Grant had polled the most votes but was ineligible.
Nonetheless, ‘Banger’ took the medal and ran, but it didn’t lead to a drought-breaking premiership with the Saints going down to the Crows. Harvey had 36 disposals and was St Kilda’s best.
LOST
1993 - Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon)
As a 20-year-old, Wanganeen became the youngster Brownlow winner since 1936.
The wiry back pocket played his part as the ‘Baby Bombers’ comfortably accounted for arch rivals Carlton. He had 20 touches in the club’s 44-point triumph.
WON
In conclusion, six Brownlow Medallists have gone on to win the flag in the same year in the AFL era.
Dustin Martin (Richmond) was the most recent to do it in 2017. Also on the winning is: Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong), Jimmy Bartel (Geelong), Simon Black (Brisbane), Jason Akermanis (Brisbane) and Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon).
The fact that the Lions have two Brownlow winners who backed it up with flags bodes well for them against the Magpies this weekend in the wake of Neale’s triumph.
Six players have lost after claiming Charlie: Dane Swan (Collingwood), Adam Goodes (Sydney), Ben Cousins (West Coast), Nathan Buckley (Collingwood), Shane Woewodin (Melbourne) and Robert Harvey (St Kilda).
(We won’t count Sam Mitchell, but we will mention it).