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4 months ago
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St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster remains in the running to win this year's Brownlow Medal - despite receiving the longest suspension in 2024, the AFL has confirmed.
Webster, 31, was issued a seven-match ban for his bump in the pre-season that severely concussed North Melbourne skipper Jy Simpkin.
But thanks to the long-standing rules of the code, Webster still remains eligible to win the Brownlow.
It is because the incident unfolded in a fixture where Brownlow votes were not tallied.
This week Swans star Isaac Heeney was rubbed out of contention for the coveted individual award when he failed to have his one-match suspension for striking overturned at the tribunal and the AFL appeals board.
It comes as the AFL conceded Webster could technically still win the award - but it is unlikely given he has never polled a vote in the 150 matches he played before this season.
'The effect of those provisions (and additionally, the definition of 'home and away matches' in AFL Regulation 1.1, which is a match for which premiership points are awarded and specifically excludes a pre-season competition match) is that a player that is suspended for conduct in [a] pre-season competition match is still eligible to win the Brownlow Medal,' a statement from the governing body read.
Contained in section 21 of the AFL rules and regulations are 'those provisions', which state the offence needed to occur in a home and away AFL match in which Brownlow votes are cast,' The Age reported.
St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster (pictured, right) remains in the running to win this year's Brownlow Medal - despite receiving the longest suspension in 2024, the AFL has confirmed
Webster, 31, was issued a seven-match ban for his bump in the pre-season that concussed North Melbourne skipper Jy Simpkin - but under the long-standing rules of the code, he is still eligible to win the Brownlow (pictured)
The loophole exists because Webster's incident unfolded in a fixture where Brownlow votes were not tallied (pictured, 2023 winner Lachie Neale from the Brisbane Lions)
Webster's eligibility has highlighted why the rules must change.
The likes of former Brownlow medallists Gerard Healy and Patrick Cripps, plus coaches Simon Goodwin and Brad Scott have all said this week the eligibility criteria must be reviewed in the off-season.
Healy added: 'change has to happen, and the only debate is what that change should be.'
Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper also remains eligible to win AFL's most prestigious award.
It comes despite receiving a four-match suspension in the pre-season following a bump on Adelaide’s Mark Keane.
Carlton Blues star Cripps is the bookies tip to snare the award this season, ahead of Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos and Western Bulldogs general Marcus Bontempelli.
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