Good decision umpies

by NEIL BELFORD
THERE has been a lot of noise made during the season about who should cast the votes for the Brownlow.

Kevin Sheedy went so far as to besmirch the legitimacy of a former winner. He has subsequently apologised I believe, but clings to his argument that umpires are not the correct people to be running the league's highest award.

Sheedy is a thought leader, and that can be a perilous task, it can be an extreme act of leading with your chin. Still he is ugly enough and rich enough to look after himself. And he is wrong.

It's true, you can't come from nowhere and win a Brownlow. You have to have played a fantastic season some time in your past, and best if it was the preceding year - before you are really on the radar.

Hence the polling of Darcy, and hence the polling of Francou and Black. So next year if either of the Bulldogs or West Coast do really well, look out for Cousins and Darcy. The Lions will go well next year but hopefully Des Headland will be winning votes elswhere.

Where are the doubters about the system this morning. Kevin's gone very quiet. Seems like the umpires got it just about exactly right.

2002 Brownlow medalist - Simon Black - 25 votes Runner up - Josh Francou - 21 votes Michael Voss, Shane Crawford, Adem Yze 17 votes

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