Can an Essendon player win the 2003 Brownlow Medal? Captain James Hird won the prestigious award in 1996 and dual premiership player Mark Mercuri was all so close in 1999 when he came runner-up. In last week’s poll Essendon supporters were given the challenging task of predicting what Essendon player will poll the most Brownlow Medal votes this season. 2001 Crichton Medallist Jason Johnson came out as clear favourite with 44% of the votes. Johnson has a good record in the Brownlow Medal, he polled the most Brownlow votes of any Essendon player last season.
Hird was next favourite securing 33% of the votes and the pre-season form of Dean Rioli must have impressed a few of the Bomber fans as he recorded 14% of the votes. The remaining votes were shared between Matthew Lloyd, Dustin Fletcher and Joe Misiti.
This is what the Bomber fans had to say:
Damon Beckwith from Essendon says: Hird is a proven vote winner. He catches the umpires' eye in the middle or up forward with his uncanny abilities. In saying he will get the most votes of Essendon players I am also being a little optimistic that Hird will be at or near his best throughout the season with no injuries. Even at 30, Hirdy near his best for 22 rounds plus finals could win a second Brownlow and a second Norm Smith.
Ben Munday from Bendigo says: I would like to hear Matthew Lloyds name more often because I think he is one of the best goal kickers in Essendon.
Dean Miller from Gladstone Park says: If Hirdy play's most of the games in 2003 he will win the 2003 Brownlow Medal.
Billie Preston from Ocean Grove says: It is hard to single any of these guys out because they are all such fantastic and consistent players. JJ is just a prediction, but has anyone considered the other Johnson at all?
Jarrod Shaw from Romsey says: I think Jason Johnson has been a great player and will be an excellent player this year. I think it is just about time the Brownlow Medallion hung around his neck.
