Its like all AFL awards, unless your team wins you don't get shiite. Bob skilton would not have won one brownlow under the current system.

I have railed here before about the RS award. It has morphed into a B&F - favouring most games played and those nominated in rd 1-8. Its another media award.

disagree about skilts

gary abblett jnr 2013

votes were skewed to winning sides too in skilts era

skilts was just so good he won votes in losing sides despite the bias and like gabblett would do so today

some critics even said a really good player in a losing side had more chance for a brownlow than a really good player in a top side who had more good team mates "stealing" votes

don't think things have changed much, but agree there is still a winners bias

disagree about skilts

gary abblett jnr 2013

votes were skewed to winning sides too in skilts era

skilts was just so good he won votes in losing sides despite the bias and like gabblett would do so today

some critics even said a really good player in a losing side had more chance for a brownlow than a really good player in a top side who had more good team mates "stealing" votes

don't think things have changed much, but agree there is still a winners bias

Skilts is 75. I think he'd struggle to get votes in 2014.

(Square-up: But I agree with the point you're making).

Out of interest, anyone know how many players last year got 3 votes in a losing side?

Skilts is 75. I think he'd struggle to get votes in 2014.

(Square-up: But I agree with the point you're making).

But he's a genuinely great bloke and could always get one as the ump's friend.

Out of interest, anyone know how many players last year got 3 votes in a losing side?

no one seems to be arguing there is no bias,jand it has always been there

& just that a truly great player can win a brownlow in a bottom team then (skilton) and now (gablett)

Well, since we're so far off piste already:

If a team full of Nichos beat a team full of Watts at VFL level...........would anyone really care?

If a Nicho felled a Watts in a forest and nobody saw it, would we still say Watts felled himself?

Q: How many Nichos does it take to change a light bulb??

A: Depends on how many Watts are in it.

Out of interest, anyone know how many players last year got 3 votes in a losing side?

Ok I got bored and counted 'em myself.

In 2013 the 3 votes were awarded to a member of the losing team on 13 occasions out of 207 games. I only counted the ones where the games were decided by more than a goal as in a close match a either side could harbour the 3 vote getter.

Anyway, it was more than I expected and in most cases was a midfielder like Ablett, Liberatore, Goddard, Selwood and Dangerfield.