Aussie Rules: Swan named Brownlow Medallist

Dane Swan of the Magpies poses with the Brownlow Medal. Photo / Getty Images

Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan would have felt "hollow'' had he become the second player in AFL history to win the medal without polling the most votes.

The Collingwood midfielder overtook Hawthorn star Sam Mitchell with only three rounds left to win his first Brownlow.

Swan polled 34 votes - the most under the current 3-2-1 system - and Mitchell was second on the leaderboard with 30.

But Mitchell was ineligible because of a match review panel penalty he received after round five for a rough-conduct charge.

Swan admitted he was dreading the thought of winning the award despite Mitchell having more votes.

But an awkward situation was averted when Mitchell polled no more votes after round 21, while Swan was judged best afield in rounds 22 and 23 and secured the Brownlow.

"I was kind of praying I wasn't the one to pinch it from him because if he did happen to win it, I would have preferred to give it to him,'' Swan said.

"I wouldn't have felt right taking a Brownlow that I didn't win, so to speak.'' Late in the count, Hawks captain Luke Hodge had also said during the telecast he hoped Mitchell did not top the voting.

"Like Hodgey, I was kind of praying that he didn't get in front of me because it would have been a pretty hollow kind of feeling sitting up here being a Brownlow medallist when someone else got the most votes,'' Swan said.

Mitchell's near-miss will reignite the debate about whether players who are penalised under the match review panel system should be ineligible for the game's highest individual award.

Adding to the controversy, Mitchell did not even miss a game through suspension.

His original punishment for the contact with Geelong's Steve Johnson was a one-game ban, but under the system that was introduced six years ago he could take an early plea.

That meant Mitchell escaped with a reprimand and carryover penalty points, freeing him for the next week's game.

Under the Brownlow guidelines, if the original penalty is one or more matches, then the player is ineligible.

Fines or reprimands do not rule players out of the Brownlow.

Meanwhile, Swan has promised that winning the Brownlow will not affect his focus ahead of Saturday's grand final against Collingwood.

"I'm pretty good like that ... the coaching staff and boys certainly won't let me get ahead of myself - footy clubs are pretty good like that.

"We'll go to the sea baths (on Tuesday morning) and we'll have to get in that freezing cold water - I'm sure just because I'm a Brownlow Medallist ... I'm still going to have to do it, just like everyone else.

"I'm going to be treated exactly the same and that's the way it should be.

"I don't think this will influence the next week at all.''

- AAP