- St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster could technically win the Brownlow Medal
- He comes despite a seven-game suspension for a hard hit in a preseason game
- AFL rules state that suspended players are eligible if Brownlow votes are not counted
St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster remains in contention to win this year’s Brownlow Medal despite receiving the longest suspension in 2024, the AFL has confirmed.
Webster, 31, has been handed a seven-match ban for the pre-season knock that severely concussed North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin.
But thanks to long-standing code rules, Webster is still eligible to win the Brownlow.
This is because the incident occurred at a match where Brownlow votes were not counted.
Swans star Isaac Heeney was ruled out of contention for the coveted individual award this week when the tribunal and the AFL appeals board failed to overturn his one-match suspension for strike action.
This comes as the AFL acknowledged that Webster could still technically win the award, but it is unlikely given he was never voted for in the 150 games he played prior to this season.
“The effect of those provisions (and, in addition, 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 who is suspended for conduct in (a) pre-season competition match is still eligible to win the Brownlow Medal,” the governing body said in a statement.
In section 21 of the AFL rules and regulations are ‘those provisions’ which state that the offence must occur at an AFL home and away match in which Brownlow votes are cast, Age reported.
St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster (pictured, right) remains in contention to win this year’s Brownlow Medal despite receiving the longest suspension in 2024, the AFL has confirmed.
Webster, 31, was handed a seven-match ban for the pre-season knock that concussed North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin, but under long-standing code rules he is still eligible to win the Brownlow (pictured)
The loophole exists because the Webster incident unfolded at a match where Brownlow votes were not counted (pictured, 2023 winner Lachie Neale of the Brisbane Lions)
Webster’s eligibility has highlighted why the rules need to change.
Players including former Brownlow Medallists Gerard Healy and Patrick Cripps, as well as coaches Simon Goodwin and Brad Scott, have said this week that eligibility criteria should 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 the AFL’s most prestigious award.
This comes despite receiving a four-match suspension in pre-season following a hit on Adelaide’s Mark Keane.
Bookmakers are tipping Carlton Blues star Cripps to take home the award this season, ahead of Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos and Western Bulldogs general Marcus Bontempelli.
