A few weeks ago, we covered an article about Jack Macrae and explained the evolution from a skinny teenager that often relied on uncontested possessions to a genuine midfield star. Eight games into the 2018 AFL season, and this young man, once an unknown entity outside of the Western suburbs, is finally receiving league-wide recognition as one of the game's better midfielders so far this year.
It's hard to argue against this. He is averaging career-highs in disposals, marks, tackles, clearances, inside 50s and is even on track to beat personal best in goals in a season, having kicked nine goals in 2014 – he's already up to five for the season. Having secured back-to-back 40-plus disposal games for the first time in his six-season career in the AFL. Media experts have been wondering whether or not Macrae has what it takes to claim the AFL's biggest individual honour – the Brownlow Medal.
He's been consistently good enough in his eight games, which is why this morning, I thought I'd analyse his eight performances so far this year and ask whether or not Jack Macrae can be a legitimate Brownlow contender. I've also included who I think would most likely garner these votes come Brownlow night.
Round 1 – Loss vs GWS
It was a dirty day in Canberra for the Western Bulldogs as they fell to a horrid 82-point loss to the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the nation's capital. Jack Macrae, who had 31 disposals, nine inside 50s and five clearances, was perhaps the Dogs' best player on the day, but he'll struggle for a single vote as multiple Giants had cracking performances on this day.
Jeremy Cameron (six goals from 18 disposals and nine marks) and Toby Greene (four goals from 25 disposals and 10 marks and five inside 50s) were destructive up forward, whilst the midfielders were sensational. You can draw a raffle with the amount of Giants who shined in the midfield. Stephen Coniglio (32 disposals, 10 inside 50s, eight marks, seven tackles and two goals) looks the most likely for the three votes, whilst Tim Taranto (32 disposals, 10 inside 50s and eight clearances), Lachie Whitfield (34 disposals and nine marks) and Josh Kelly (29 disposals, six marks, five tackles and two goals) were also among GWS' best players. Predicted Brownlow Votes
3 – S. Coniglio (GWS) 2 – T. Taranto (GWS)
1 – J. Cameron (GWS) Round 2 – Loss vs West Coast
Despite another thumping to start the year, Jack Macrae could find himself in with a chance to get his first Brownlow votes after another solid game, he recorded 31 disposals, six clearances, six inside 50s, six marks and three goals and was unquestionably the Bulldogs' best player on the day, but will he be able to snare a vote or two? Toby McLean (30 disposals) also was solid, but a number of Eagles are also in the running.
West Coast captain Shannon Hurn led all Eagles in disposals (29 touches), along with 10 marks and seven rebound 50s in a terrific offensive game off half-back. Jack Darling was dominant up forward with four goals from 11 marks, whilst Andrew Gaff (27 disposals and five clearances) was very good, and Scott Lycett (15 disposals, 21 hitouts, five clearances, six tackles and two goals) may also have a look in.
Predicted Brownlow Votes 3 – J. Darling (WCE)
2 – S. Hurn (WCE) 1 – J. Macrae (WB)
Round 3 – Win vs Essendon In the Bulldogs' first win of 2018, there is every chance that it will be a Bulldogs 3-2-1 here. Not many Essendon players were particularly impressive, whilst a host of Bulldogs starred. Among them, is Jack Macrae, with another solid stat-line of 30 disposals, seven marks, six inside 50s, five clearances and five inside 50s. Is it enough to get his first best on ground on Brownlow night? He's got a few names to contend with here from his own side. Lachie Hunter (35 disposals, seven inside 50s, 13 marks and one goal) perhaps is the other Bulldog that will threaten for three votes. Luke Dahlhaus (31 disposals, five tackles and four clearances) was very productive in the congestion, whilst Marcus Bontempelli's 3.3 performance up forward will also be considered.
Predicted Brownlow Votes 3 – J. Macrae (WB) 2 – L. Hunter (WB)
1 – M. Bontempelli (WB)
Round 4 – Loss vs Sydney
It was an agonising seven-point loss at home to the Sydney Swans, but it was a very good performance by Macrae here that should land him some more votes. A performance that read 34 disposals, seven marks, seven clearances and four tackles, may even get him another huge chance for best on ground honours here. Marcus Bontempelli (21 disposals, two goals, seven clearances and six inside 50s) and Matt Suckling (28 disposals) could also snare votes.
Whaat will help Macrae get votes here is the lack of Swans that really stood out here. Lance Franklin (3.4 from 16 disposals and 10 marks) was very dangerous up forward in the second half and could snare a vote, whilst Luke Parker (21 disposals, three goals and six clearances) was also amongst Sydney's best players.
Predicted Brownlow Votes
3 – J. Macrae (WB)
2 – L. Parker (SYD)
1 – L. Franklin (SYD) Round 5 – Loss vs Fremantle
It was an awful night in Perth for the Western Bulldogs, as they were stomped by the Fremantle Dockers at the Optus Stadium. Whilst Macrae was named as one of the Western Bulldogs' better players on the evening, he will most likely not get any votes here. This is his only game that he recorded less than 30 disposals, with a stat-line of 26 disposals, six marks and five clearances. But there were a number of Dockers who had better games. This game belonged to Fremantle's Nat Fyfe, who had the ball on a string all night long, recording 43 disposals, 13 clearances, seven inside 50s and seven marks in a best afield performance, and without doubt, will get the three votes on Brownlow night – nobody had more influence in a game than him. Michael Walters was prolific up forward with five goals, whilst Lachie Neale (29 disposals) and Nathan Wilson (27 disposals and 10 inside 50s) were also terrific for the Dockers. Predicted Brownlow Votes 3 – N. Fyfe (FREM)
2 – M. Walters (FREM) 1 – L. Neale (FREM)
Round 6 – Win vs Carlton Macrae will likely to get votes here in the Doggies' second win of the season, but he will have a hard time getting the three. Macrae's stats show a game-high 32 disposals, seven marks and nine tackles. However, the night was about the battle between the young stars Marcus Bontempelli and Patrick Cripps.
Both of these players are stronger chances than Macrae to nab the three votes here. Bontempelli's 30 disposals, seven inside 50s, seven tackles, five marks and four clearances is a formidable stat-line even more so that he uses the ball with such class. Cripps was at his contested best on this night, recording 32 disposals – 24 of those being contested ball, along with 12 clearances and nine tackles in a mighty effort. Predicted Brownlow Votes 3 – M. Bontempelli (WB) 2 – P. Cripps (CARL) 1 – J. Macrae (WB) Round 7 – Win vs Gold Coast In their first win in Ballarat's Mars Stadium, Macrae turned in a performance similar to their game in Ballarat last year. He had 41 disposals, seven tackles, eight clearances, seven inside 50s, but yet, he could only get one vote for his troubles I don't think it will be the case here, as not many players on this day were as influential on the ground as Macrae.
40 disposals, 25 contested possessions, 12 clearances, eight tackles, six inside 50s and a goal should be more than enough to get the three votes. Not many will threaten to take the three votes away here, but Toby McLean's 33 disposals, 13 tackles and seven clearances should also get him some votes here. Predicted Brownlow Votes 3 – J. Macrae (WB) 2 – T. McLean (WB) 1 – D. Swallow (GCS) Round 8 – Win vs Brisbane Three wins in a row for the Western Bulldogs and this win is perhaps the best individual performance of his career. Before this night, his personal best in disposals was 43 disposals against the Gold Coast Suns in just his second year. On Saturday night, he eclipsed it with a 47 disposal effort, along with 10 clearances, eight inside 50s and eight tackles. If he doesn't get the three votes here, it would be highway robbery. Team mate Marcus Bontempelli was back to his best with a career-best four goals along with 24 disposals, six marks, five clearances and five inside 50s and perhaps is the best chance to pip Macrae for the maximum votes. But it's going to be impossible for the umpires to think of anyone rather than him for the three votes - he brought his own football to Etihad Stadium on this night. Predicted Brownlow Votes 3 – J. Macrae (WB) 2 – M. Bontempelli (WB) 1 – D. Zorko (BL) The Conclusion So if the votes were to roll out in a fashion similar to this, Jack Macrae would have already smashed his personal best in Brownlow votes with four best on grounds. The most exciting part about this is that we still have 14 games left in the season and Macrae would no doubt be capable of continuing to produce performances such as this.
I can't say the Brownlow Medal is in the bag right now, but judging on eight rounds of footy, he is more than a good chance for it if he continues to play the way he has been playing. If You Enjoyed This Piece, Jump Onto www.patreon.com/AlexDocherty and click on the 'Become A Patron' Button To Join An Exclusive Community!!