One 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 8 Vote Predictions below!
2018 Brownlow Medal Predicted Votes – Round 8
Hawthorn 10.11.71 def by Sydney 12.7.79
In just his third career game, Sydney youngster Ben Ronke put in one of the great small forward performances with seven goals to win the match for the Swans. Just as impressive were the 10 tackles he laid in a best-on-ground performance. James Sicily was superb with 26 disposals and 9 marks, while Jack Gunston kicked five goals and Shaun Burgoyne had 26 touches and ten tackles in a losing effort for the Hawks. For the Swans, Jake Lloyd had 36 disposals, but many of those were cheap ones deep in defence, while Luke Parker was instrumental in the middle with 28 disposals and 2 goals.
Ben Ronke – 3
James Sicily – 2
Luke Parker - 1
GWS 8.13.61 def by West Coast 12.14.86
West Coast big man Jack Darling continued to build his case for All-Australian selection with a dominant performance in a big away win for the Eagles. Darling kicked 4 goals in the first half and ended with 19 disposals, 9 marks and 6 tackles. Brad Sheppard was rock-solid with 23 touches and 8 marks, while Andrew Gaff (32 disposals), Elliot Yeo (28 disposals, 8 tackles) and Jack Redden (29 disposals) were typically prolific. Callan Ward was best for GWS with 30 disposals and a goal.
Jack Darling - 3
Brad Sheppard - 2
Jack Redden – 0.5
Andrew Gaff – 0.5
Carlton 14.7.91 def Essendon 10.18.78
The Blues got their first win of the year in a big upset win as the Bomber fans were left burning their memberships. Carlton had many contributors with Ed Curnow (24 disposals, 13 tackles, 2 goals), Patrick Cripps (27 disposals, 7 tackles) and Dale Thomas (29 disposals, 14 marks) among the best. Matthew Kreuzer was good in the ruck with 20 disposals and 31 hitouts, while Charlie Curnow provided a spark up forward with 3 goals. The Bombers can’t blame new recruit Devon Smith who was tireless laying 15 tackles to go with 21 disposals.
Ed Curnow – 3
Patrick Cripps – 2
Matthew Kreuzer – 0.5
Devon Smith – 0.5
Gold Coast 11.11.77 def by Melbourne 21.20.146
Melbourne ran away in the last quarter to score a decisive victory with Tom McDonald kicking 5 goals from 17 touches and 7 marks in a powerful display. James Harmes had a career-high 33 disposals to go with 9 marks and 6 tackles, while Clayton Oliver (29 possessions, 11 tackles) and Christian Salem (27 disposals, 8 marks, 2 goals) won plenty of the ball. They were well fed by big man Max Gawn (18 disposals, 41 hitouts, 1 goal) while Jesse Hogan (22 disposals, 8 marks, 3 goals) also had another big game.
Tom McDonald – 3
James Harmes – 2
Christian Salem – 0.5
Clayton Oliver – 0.5
Port Adelaide 14.11.95 def Adelaide 14.6.90
A classic showdown saw the Power pinch victory after a late surge from the Crows, with Robbie Gray winning the medal for best on ground with 6 goals from his 20 possessions, including 5 goals in the third quarter. Tom Rockliff had his best game for the Power with 31 disposals and 9 tackles in the midfield, while Tom Jonas was superb in defence with 21 touches and 10 marks. Rory Atkins (29 disposals, 11 marks, 1 goal) and Rory Laird (27 disposals) were the best for the Crows.
Robbie Gray – 3
Tom Jonas – 1.5
Tom Rockliff – 1.5
Western Bulldogs 16.11.107 def Brisbane 14.9.93
Once again the Dogs struggled but got an unconvincing win against lowly opposition. Jack Macrae was again brilliant, with a mammoth 47 disposals, including 18 contested, and 8 tackles. Lachie Hunter (33 disposals), Matthew Suckling (30 disposals, 7 marks) and Toby McLean (26 disposals, 2 goals) also got plenty of the ball, while Marcus Bontempelli finished it off with 24 touches and 4 goals. For the visitors, Dayne Zorko continued his good form with 24 touches, 7 tackles and 4 goals, while Stefan Martin was the dominant big man on the ground with 20 possessions and 49 hitouts.
Jack Macrae - 3
Matthew Suckling – 1
Marcus Bontempelli – 1
Dayne Zorko – 1
Betting Note: That’s two consecutive clear best-on-grounds from Jack Macrae and we now have him among the Brownlow leaders. It might be hard for him to win it due to the Bulldogs lack of wins this season, but if he keeps this form up, he’s certainly worth a nibble with $34 available at some books just after the match on Saturday.
Fremantle 13.11.89 def St.Kilda 8.11.59
2015 Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe is on track for his second “Charlie” with more votes likely in the Dockers win over the Saints. Fyfe had a game-high 36 touches, including 13 clearances and a goal. He was well supported by Connor Blakely (35 disposals, 11 marks), Ed Langdon (33 disposals, 9 marks) and Lachie Neale (32 disposals, 1 goal). Big man Aaron Sandilands did a good job to give his midfield first use with 41 hitouts to go with 13 touches and a goal.
Nat Fyfe - 3
Ed Langdon – 1
Connor Blakely – 1
Aaron Sandilands - 1
North Melbourne 11.6.72 def by Richmond 12.10.82
The Tigers got a scare as North hit the lead in the last quarter, but the reigning champs again absorbed the pressure and came away with a win. The engine room of North was led by Ben Cunnington who had 38 possessions, including an AFL record 32 contested, as well as 7 tackles. The Tigers almost matched that with skipper Trent Cotchin amassing 37 disposals, including 22 contested, as well a goal. Nick Vlastuin patrolled at half-back with 26 touches, 12 marks and 8 tackles, while Bachar Houli (27 disposals, 8 marks) and Alex Rance (20 disposals, 7 marks) also ensured the ball bounced back to the Tigers’ end. Josh Caddy was also good with 21 touches and 4 goals. Dusty Martin was well held, with tagger Ben Jacobs restricting the reigning medallist to just 16 touches, while picking up 15 of his own.
Ben Cunnington – 3
Trent Cotchin – 2
Nick Vlastuin – 0.5
Josh Caddy – 0.5
Collingwood 5.15.45 def by Geelong 9.12.66
The Cats got the job done against the Pies in a scrappy affair, with Sam Menegola the difference as he amassed 24 possessions, 13 of which were contested, and three of Geelong’s nine goals for the day. Tom Stewart was also one of the best for the Cats with 28 disposals and 9 marks across half back. Gary Ablett (32 disposals, 1 goal) and Patrick Dangerfield (26 disposals, 1 goal) got a bit of the ball without being dominant. Matthew Scharenberg had his best game for the Pies with 29 disposals and 14 marks, while Jack Crisp (32 disposals, 11 marks) and Adam Treloar (34 disposals) got a lot of the ball but wasted their opportunities.
Sam Menegola – 3
Tom Stewart – 2
Matthew Scharenberg - 1
