Dustin Martin won the 2017 Brownlow Medal by three votes from Patrick Dangerfield who was ineligible.
A conspiracy theory arose after the event that Dangerfield was robbed of three votes to make sure he didn’t win.
The 2016 Brownlow winner gathered 32 disposals, won 12 clearances and kicked two goals in his side’s Round 22 win over Collingwood – and yet he polled no votes.
Dangerfield commented on the conspiracy, with tongue firmly placed in cheek.
“Look, I’m not going to go into that, but 32 touches, 12 clearances and two goals, you know, I won’t comment on that more!” Dangerfield told SEN’s Whateley.
The AFL Players Association President said all players keep track of their votes and where they think they should poll.
“You just do it as a player. It’s just human nature, you know,” Dangerfield said.
“You go to games and go, hang on, I was pretty influential here. There’s a few games and it happened in the last few seasons as well where you go I might have pinched a few votes there from Joel (Selwood) or Rory (Sloane).
“You’re happy to take them (the votes), you just don’t want give them away to someone else!”
Dangerfield expects heavy favourite Tom Mitchell to get the job done.
“I do (expect Mitchell to win), I think the games where he had (40 plus touches) and Hawthorn had won, there wasn’t any other real standout in their team,” he said.
“They’ve been so even across their whole side, that’s been the reason for their success this year.
“Really, I think Tom, by pure weight of numbers, has just been far and above their best player.”