After a Covid-hiatus of several months, the 2020 AFL season resumed on June 11th with Round 2 of the season. We've got a hub in Queensland, Geelong are playing at home every week and we've got artificial crowd noises...but hey, at least we have some football to get excited about again! The Brownlow Bandit continues with his comprehensive AFL Brownlow Medal coverage with game-by-game analysis of every match for every round of the 2020 AFL season to help you with your Brownlow Medal betting.
Our Brownlow Medal predictions and rolling Brownlow Medal tracker allow you to keep an eye on the Brownlow betting markets throughout the season, so that you can build a green book so that by the time the 2020 Brownlow Medal night rolls around we’re assured of a profit!
You’ll be able to stay up to date with our live 2020 Brownlow Medal vote predictions and leaderboard, while there will be links to round-by-round voting posted there.
For those who need a refresher on how our Brownlow vote predictor 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 then form a 'range' for each player (i.e. 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 features 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 2020 AFL Brownlow Round 2 Vote Predictions below!
Round 2 Brownlow Medal Votes
It was a strange round of games as the 2020 AFL season resumed over the weekend. It started with an much-hyped, but ultimately unspectacular match between the competition's two biggest clubs, before we saw the wooden spoon favourite record their first victory in over a year. There were some great individual performances as we take a look at our Brownlow Medal vote projections for Round 2.
2020 AFL Brownlow Medal Leaderboard
Collingwood 5.6.36 drew with Richmond 5.6.36
It wasn’t the most inspiring match to restart the season with a low-scoring scrap at the MCG ending with an anti-climactic draw. Scott Pendlebury was sublime with 31 disposals, with Steele Sidebottom (27 disposals, 1 goal) and Bachar Houli (26 disposals, 8 marks) also winning plenty of ball. Jeremy Howe (20 disposals, 7 marks) floated across half-back, while Tom Phillips (20 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals) and Taylor Adams (21 disposals, 1 goal) hit the scoreboard early to set up the game for the Pies.
Scott Pendlebury – 3
Jeremy Howe – 2
Tom Phillips – 0.5
Taylor Adams – 0.5
Geelong 17.6.108 def Hawthorn 7.5.47
The Cats were far too good against a poor Hawthorn team in a much more free-flowing game than the previous night. Joel Selwood was clearly best on ground with 28 disposals, 8 clearances and a goal. He was supported by Gryan Miers (20 disposals, 9 marks, 3 goals), Brendan Parfitt (19 disposals, 10 tackles, 8 clearances) and the little master Gary Ablett (21 disposals, 2 goals). They were setup by big man Rhys Stanley who impressed in a solo ruck role with 14 disposals, 26 hitouts, 6 clearances, 9 score involvements and 2 goals.
Joel Selwood – 3
Gryan Miers – 2
Rhys Stanley – 0.5
Gary Ablett – 0.5
Brisbane 12.9.81 def Fremantle 10.9.69
Brisbane escaped with the points after surviving a late surge from Freo. Lachie Neale had plenty of ball with 29 disposals, 7 marks and 2 goals and it was Charlie Cameron who did the damage up front with 4 goals from 14 touches. However the 3 votes might go to Freo captain Nat Fyfe who has a habit over polling well even when on the losing side of the ledger. After a slow start, Fyfe was superb, ending with 24 disposals and 3 goals. Michael Walters (28 disposals, 2 goals) was also one of Freo’s best.
Nat Fyfe – 3
Charlie Cameron – 1.5
Lachie Neale – 1.5
Carlton 7.11.53 def by Melbourne 8.6.54
A bizarre match at the MCG saw Melbourne blow a 42-point lead as Carlton fought back to level the match before Melbourne scrapped a point to claim victory. Max Gawn was instrumental with 21 disposals and 34 hitouts to set things up for the midfield brigade of Clayton Oliver (28 disposals) and Christian Petracca (24 disposals, 5 clearances, 2 goals). It’s hard to see Brownlow votes coming from elsewhere.
Max Gawn – 3
Christian Petracca – 2
Clayton Oliver – 1
Gold Coast 14.6.90 def West Coast 6.10.46
The biggest upset of the round, and perhaps the season, saw the Gold Coast snap a 19-game losing streak to thump the Eagles to the tune of 44 points. In just his second game of AFL, Matthew Rowell might be taking home 3 Brownlow votes for his 26 disposals, 7 tackles, 5 clearances and 2 goals. Lachie Weller was also good for the Suns with 24 disposals, 5 clearances and a goal, while Sam Day picked up 18 disposals and 2 goals. The Eagles were outplayed, but Andrew Gaff (29 disposals), Luke Shuey (25 disposals, 1 goal) and Tim Kelly (24 disposals, 8 tackles) won their share of the ball.
Matthew Rowell – 3
Lachie Weller – 2
Luke Shuey – 1
Port Adelaide 17.8.110 def Adelaide 5.5.35
Port Adelaide have been proudly posting the AFL ladder on social media for the last 3 months, but they can continue to do so for another week at least, after they smashed their cross-town rivals to remain on top of the competition. Travis Boak won his second Showdown medal for his game of 24 disposals and a goal, but he’s no guarantee to get the 3 Brownlow votes with several strong contributors for the Power. Steven Motlop (24 disposals, 2 goals) was brilliant, while young guns Zak Butters (21 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal), Xavier Duursma (17 disposals, 3 goals) and Connor Rozee (17 disposals, 8 clearances, 1 goal) all showed their immense talent.
Travis Boak – 2.5
Steven Motlop – 2.5
Connor Rozee – 1
GWS Giants 8.12.60 def by North Melbourne 12.8.80
The Kangaroos are undefeated and sitting 2nd on the ladder after a huge upset away win against the fancied Giants. They were led by ruckman Todd Goldstein who put in a herculean effort to ruck the entire game and amass 51 hitouts, 19 disposals, 9 clearances and a goal. Shaun Higgins broke a tag to collect 28 disposals and 6 clearances, with Jy Simpkin (25 disposals, 7 clearances) and Jared Polec (23 disposals, 1 goal) also getting plenty of ball. Cam Zurhaar was influential up forward with 3 goals from 11 touches.
Todd Goldstein – 3
Shaun Higgins – 2
Jared Polec – 1
Sydney 11.7.73 def by Essendon 12.7.79
It was a close battle all day, but Essendon did enough to stay ahead throughout to hold on to a six-point win over the Swans. Zach Merrett was the leading ball winner with 29 disposals, while Andrew McGrath (23 disposals, 7 tackles, 6 clearances) and Dylan Shiel (22 disposals, 8 clearances) provided good support. Jake Lloyd (29 disposals) was prolific, while Luke Parker (25 disposals, 5 clearances) and Oliver Florent (27 disposals, 7 clearances) tried hard in a losing effort.
Zach Merrett – 3
Andrew McGrath – 2
Luke Parker – 1
St.Kilda 14.4.88 def Western Bulldogs 7.7.49
The Saints were far too good for a disappointing Bulldogs team to record a 39-point victory. Jack Billings was the star with 24 disposals and 3 goals, but the Saints had winners everywhere. Zak Jones (29 disposals, 6 clearances, 1 goal) and Seb Ross (24 disposals, 7 marks, 5 clearances) were dynamic in the middle, and Dan Butler (14 disposals, 6 tackles, 2 goals) impressed up forward for his new club. Bailey Smith (29 disposals) and Josh Dunkley (28 disposals, 8 tackles) were best for the Dogs.
Jack Billings – 3
Zak Jones – 2
Dan Butler – 0.5
Seb Ross – 0.5
Brownlow Medal Betting
It's still very early in the season but you may like to consider a position on some of the following players who look to be playing well, and potentially polling well, to start the season.
Faves:
Nat Fyfe - the reigning champ, historical overpoller, looked unstoppable this week - $9.20 at Betfair
Lachie Neale - ball magnet, career peak in strong team, price looks big - $14 at Betfair
Value:
Travis Boak - looks to be the clear leader after two rounds and Port look set for a big season - $50 at Betfair
Christian Petracca - may have turned a corner and on the verge of becoming a superstar - $51 at Bet365
Jack Billings - polled well last season and the Saints may be on the rise this season - $101 at Sportsbet
