Key detail in Brownlow voting change; McGuane finds footy home after snubs — AFL Daily

A key change to Brownlow Medal voting has been confirmed at league headquarters.

Meanwhile, Tom McGuane has a footy home after several snubs, while the incoming Tassie Devils have taken a big step in their recruiting drive.

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AFL umpires will be given access to statistics when voting on the Brownlow Medal, but there’s a key detail within the adjusted polling procedure.

The league on Wednesday morning confirmed that its umpires would be allowed to request access to 17 key stats to assist in making their voting decisions.

Those figures will be provided by the AFL and “accessed on an AFL-issued device”, such as an iPad or mobile phone, if the umpire is seeking further information about players’ performance.

Stat access will be closely monitored, and umpires won’t be able to use their own devices for ethical reasons.

However, key to the new development is that it “is designed to assist deliberations only”, rather than act as the key indicator in the four field umpires’ voting process.

The aforementioned 17 key stats are kicks, handballs, marks, disposals, tackles, contested marks, goals, behinds, goal assists, score involvements, clearances, contested possessions, intercept marks, intercept possessions, spoils, kick-ins and hitouts.

“The Brownlow Medal is the most prestigious individual award in the AFL competition. Field umpires who are entrusted to vote are instructed to take time, care and thoughtfully deliberate before reaching a unanimous decision to ensure the integrity of the award is upheld,” AFL football boss Greg Swann said.

“While statistics can provide useful and reliable data, the essence of the award is clearly set out on the ballot paper. It is the subjective opinion of the field umpires that will determine the voting for the award, and the umpires are acutely aware of the importance of the award and the standing in which Brownlow Medallists are held in the game.”

Herald Sun and Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph reported that seasoned AFL whistle-blowers had pushed for access to stats, “sick of being mocked on Brownlow night for perceived errors”.

There was major uproar last September when St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera received two votes instead of three after his matchwinning Round 20 performance against Melbourne when he kicked four goals from 34 disposals.

But while there’ll be a change to the way some votes are finalised, umpires will continue to follow the same procedure as in seasons past; convening to adjudge their best players in 3-2-1 format as a consensus.

ROOS SKIPPER OPEN TO LIFTING CONTROVERSIAL BAN

First-year North Melbourne captain Nick Larkey says he’s “all ears” for outspoken commentator Kane Cornes’ access to the Roos’ rooms to be reinstated.

Cornes was barred from North’s four walls before or after games last year after the club took exception to a barrage of criticism about star Harry Sheezel and the club’s performance.

The Kangaroos last May accused Cornes of “bullying behaviour” and “vindictive attacks” on North Melbourne and its players, prompting back-and-forth barbs with coach Alastair Clarkson.

But in an interview with Code Sports this week, spearhead All-Australian forward Larkey says he’s open to a fresh start provided Cornes “doesn’t go too hard” on the Arden St club early in the campaign.

“I think it would have blown over I think from last year,” Larkey told Code Sports.

“I’m all ears to have him in there. But we’ll see how it goes, as long as he doesn’t go too hard on any of the boys at the start of the year, I’m sure it would have washed over by then.”

North Melbourne, which has been a bottom-four outfit each of the past six seasons, kicks off its 2026 campaign against Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.

Read the full story at Code Sports here.

McGUANE FINDS FOOTY HOME AFTER SNUBS

Overlooked Collingwood father-son prospect Tom McGuane has reportedly signed a deal with VFL powerhouse Footscray.

Passed up at last November’s drafts and by the Adelaide Crows after training at West Lakes as an SSP chance, McGuane has joined the reigning VFL premiers, per Code Sports.

The midfielder was a standout for the Western Jets in the Talent League, averaging 28 disposals across 10 games last year while also appearing in Collingwood’s VFL side.

The Magpies had priority access to drafting McGuane, given father Mick played 152 games for the club, but the club opted against picking up the left-footer — a “blindsiding” move that “hit like a tonne of bricks”.

McGuane maintained in late November: “My ultimate goal is to play AFL footy, and I’ll do whatever it takes.

“I believe I’ll be good enough at that level, and I just bring it back to hard work, and I’ll just stick by that.”

Also in the Bulldogs’ VFL fray is utility Will Lewis, who’s pushing hard for an AFL list spot at the Dogs via the SSP.

The 26-year-old, who hit the scoreboard in the club’s match simulation hitout against Sydney last Thursday, is competing with ex-Blue Will White for the vacant list spot left by retired forward James Harmes.

FLY SAYS PIES STAR ‘WORKING ON HIMSELF’

Craig McRae says he’s “hoping” star forward Bobby Hill can be back in the mix at the Pies in the “short or medium term”.

The Norm Smith medallist took extended personal leave from the club amid his personal situation, with his precise return date still up in the air.

Speaking on SEN Breakfast, McRae explained the “delicate” balancing act between providing necessary support for the player and demanding a standard in a high-performance environment.

“Bobby is working on himself at the moment. We’re hoping that he’ll be in the program in the short or medium term. We’ll see how that progresses,” McRae said on Wednesday.

“But I think there are two parts to this situation… I want to be a coach, and we want to be an environment where we just love and care for our people, all our people, from players to staff, and then there’s the high-performance part.

“We’re paid to win. You come to the MCG not to love and care. You want to see winners.

“For most of the year, for Bobby, it was about love and support, and there was very little attention to high performance because we just wanted to care for him.

“Then there comes a time late in the year when they become about high performance. That’s where it’s sitting at the moment.

“It’s always a delicate balance of those two magnets. They somewhat collide at times.”

The Magpies are 11 days out from their Opening Round season-opener against St Kilda at the MCG.

‘CUT-THROUGH’ MOMENT IN BIG DEVILS PITCH

The Tasmania Devils have made it clear they’re a recruiting force to be reckoned with, less than two years out from when their draft concessions kick in.

Per several reports, the Devils, headed by list manager Todd Patterson, made a shrewd presentation to 30 of the sport’s most prominent player managers on Monday night.

According to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey, the “cut-through” moment of the two-day exhibition was Patteron’s address to the tens of agents in attendance, which included a sample Devils team comprising the top picks from the past two drafts.

The exemplar reportedly included players like top 2023 choices Finn O’Sullivan and Ryley Sanders, and prized 2024 picks Sam Lalor and Jagga Smith. The side is said to have been based around if Tasmania’s list concessions started ahead of the 2023 draft.

Starting this year, the club has access to pre-list 17-year-olds ahead of their draft-eligible year. At next year’s draft, the Devils will hold 11 first-round picks, with four to be on-traded.

Tasmania will also have a $5 million sign-on bonus fund to help in attracting ready-made rival players down south.

“We’re about to get serious,” Patterson told the room of agents, per Twomey. “We’re ready to get busy in the market.”

And while the sample team that included names like Lalor, Smith and O’Sullivan was theoretical, The Age’s Pete Ryan reports uncontracted players from that heralded 2024 draft “will be targets” of the Devils.

The draft’s top 20 picks have standard three-year contracts, so those who haven’t already added to their initial deals — with Fremantle’s Rising Star winner Murphy Reid one who has — are set to come out at the end of the 2027 season.