AFL 2022 Brownlow Medal Winner Betting – Odds, Tips & Predictions

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The 2021 Brownlow Medal race was one of the most hotly contested in recent memory, with a huge four players accumulating at least 30 votes and winner Ollie Wines finishing with a record-equalling 36. Heading into 2022, many of the same names are expected to feature prominently once again in the most prestigious individual award in the AFL, so let’s take a look at some of those names as well as the best potential surprise packet.

Marcus Bontempelli – $7.00 – Marcus Bontempelli appeared destined for big things from virtually the moment he set foot in the league, and he’s delivered on his promise to become who many think is the best player in the AFL. The 33 votes he polled as he led his Bulldogs to a 15-win home and away season last year would have been enough to win the award more often than not, and barring injuries it’s hard to imagine him not being right in the thick of the action once again in 2022.

Ollie Wines –  $6.00  – Ollie Wines was a deserved winner of this award last year, putting together a season brilliant and consistent in equal measures. The Port Adelaide tough nut was a major reason that his side was able to win 17 games and finish behind only the Demons on the AFL ladder, accumulating 30 touches on more in 14 of his 22 home and away games and 29 on another two occasions. His big body and contested playing style makes him virtually impossible to tag, and he’s expected to have another big season as vice-captain of a team that should be a Premiership contender in 2022.

Clayton Oliver –  $8.50  –Clayton Oliver headed into last year’s Brownlow Medal count as one of the favourites for good reason, having put together his best season yet on the best team in the AFL. His partner in crime in Christian Petracca might have taken a few votes off him, but nonetheless the 31 votes that Oliver accumulated suggested that favouritism was well and truly justified. The Demons will head into the 2022 season as Premiership favourites, and with Oliver the heart and soul of their engine room, he should be well and truly in the mix at the business end of the Brownlow Medal count once again.

Christian Petracca –  $8.00 – The second part of Melbourne’s dynamic midfield duo, Petracca is the flashy complement to Oliver’s elite ball-winning skills. The powerful midfielder boasts an explosive first step, an elite right boot and an ability to kick plenty of goals from the midfield – a combination which invariably allows him to put his stamp on most games in which he plays. Like Oliver, he will benefit from being on one of the best teams in the league last year, and the only thing stopping one of these two taking out the Brownlow next year might be the fact that they have to share their votes around.

Jack Steele –  $10.00  – Jack Steele has relatively quickly gone from a reliable midfield piece to one of the best players and captains in the game, something which was validated by his 26 votes and fifth place finish in last year’s Brownlow Medal count. Steele might not possess the precocious talent of some of the other names on this list, but he is tough, more skilful than he looks, and almost never puts in a bad performance. The Saints are one of the AFL’s great unknowns and their fortunes might dictate Steele’s Brownlow chances in 2022, but if they can find a way to put it all together and make a finals appearance, he is a genuine shot at winning the award.

Lachie Neale – $10.00  – The 2020 Brownlow Medallist, Neale had a difficult year last season, dealing with persistent injuries which saw him miss seven games throughout the course of the season and clearly take to the field at substantially less than 100% health on multiple occasions. At just 28 years of age, however, he is still in the prime of his career, and showed it a couple of times last year with 46 touches in a Qualifying Final and 37 touches and two goals in a Round 5 clash against Essendon. If he enjoys a better run with injuries in 2022, he will be back in Brownlow Medal contention.

Best Brownlow Medal Outsiders

Sam Walsh –  $41.00  – It’s hard to believe that Sam Walsh has only played three seasons of AFL football. The number one pick at the 2018 draft was a well-rounded player the moment he stepped foot in the league, but three seasons later he has already developed into one of the most accomplished players in the AFL. In 2021, the year he turned 21, Walsh compiled a massive 30 votes, and what’s more he did it on a Carlton side that won just eight games. The running machine should still have plenty of improvement left in him, and if that improvement combines with his Blues side winning a few more games of footy, he might end his career with multiple Charlies hanging around his neck.

Bailey Smith – $67.00 – Bailey Smith is one of the biggest young stars in the league, and though he is surrounded by more accomplished talent in the Bulldogs’ incredible midfield, his finals series last year suggests the former number seven draft pick is ready to take the next step. He had 27 touches and kicked three goals in the Dogs’ thrilling Semi Final win, backed it up with 23 and four, before accumulating 26 touches in the Grand Final, and if he can bring anything like that form to the 2022 season he will be a chance to accumulate more Brownlow votes than his $81 quote would suggest.

Most Brownlow Medals by player

• 3 – Haydn Bunton Sr. (Fitzroy), Dick Reynolds (Essendon), Bob Skilton (South Melbourne), Ian Stewart (St Kilda/Richmond)

Most Brownlow Medals by club

• 14 – Sydney Swans/South Melbourne (1940, 1949, 1955, 1959, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1988, 1995, 2003, 2006)

Most Brownlow Medal votes in a season

• 3–2–1 voting system: 36 – Dustin Martin (Richmond, 2017), Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide, 2021)
• All voting systems: 59 – Graham Teasdale (South Melbourne, 1977)

Most Brownlow Medal votes in an entire career

• 262 – Gary Ablett Jr. (Geelong/Gold Coast)

More Brownlow Medal votes than AFL/VFL matches

•  Haydn Bunton, Sr.
• Nat Fyfe

If last year’s high-scoring count is anything to go by, there are plenty of names well and truly worth of having a Brownlow Medal in their trophy cabinet. All of the above names and more would be deserved winners, but with the Demons expected to back up their Premiership with another excellent season, it’s hard to go past Clayton Oliver. He rarely puts in a bad performance, will be on a team winning a lot more games than it loses, and it would be no surprise to see him poll in excess of 30 votes for the second year in a row.

Clayton Oliver to win the 2022 AFL Brownlow Medal